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mmm REFLECTIONS by nelson dunstan BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 11. With Saturdays Belmont Stakes the sophomores reach a definite milestone, but whether it will be "the true test of a champion" is something that only the racing of the future can determine. This has been an unusual year for the division. With with Determine Determine winniner winning the the Ken- mmm With with Determine Determine winniner winning the the Ken- Kentucky Derby and Hasty Road taking the Preakness, there "is a question who ultimately will be crowned. Considerable confusion was injected last week end when Porterhouse suffered a stunning defeat in the Peter Pan, and Chevation was first over the line in the Kent Stakes at Delaware. This writer was at Woodbine Park in Canada at the time, so we did not see either event. But eyewitnesses have told us of the surprisingly poor showing of Porterhouse and the equally good showing of Chevation. Porterhouse gave 10 pounds to the King Ranchs High Gun, and at Delaware, War of Roses was conceding 15 pounds to Foxcatcher Farms Chevation. That could have been the answer, but Saturday they will all meet at 126 pounds, with the exception of the filly Riverina, and the distance of one and one-half miles also could put an entirely different aspect to the race. AAA The three-year-old picture has undergone many changes since winter racing, and John B. Campbells Experimental highweights have been subjected to many revisions. Determine is now back on the West Coast and this game little colt would have an edge in the championship rating if he wins the 00,000 Californian at Belmont Supreme Test of Three-Year-Olds Division Has Been Confusing to Date Filly Riverina Adds to Interest This Year Arcaro Has Chance to Tie McLaughlin Hollywood Park Saturday. It was unfortunate that, due to an oversight, he was not nominated for the Belmont, as he would have injected considerable interest in this Long Island race. Hasty Road is now in Chicago and is being rested until the Arlington Park meeting. There is no telling when the Derby and Preakness winners will race it out with the Belmont winner,, That could come in the Classic or American Derby at Chicago, or it may be even later. When these three winners get together in a race it would have a decided bearing on the championship of the division. We cannot recall when a Derby or Preakness winner has not been a starter in the Belmont Stakes, and that is another point to show what an unusual season this has been. Turn-to may have been an outstanding star, but he was the first to go to the sidelines, so it is futile to discuss him. AAA There is considerable interest in the Belmont in King Ranchs filly Riverina and her stablemate, High Gun, the surprise winner of the Peter Pan last Saturday. Members of the weaker sex have been conspicuous by their absence in "Triple Crown" events in recent years. The last filly to win the Belmont was Tanya, back in 1905. Apparently those were great years for fillies. In 1904, Artful and Tradition defeated Sysonby, giving him the only setback of his entire career. Not since 1932 has a filly started in the Belmont, but judging by her latest workouts over the full one and one-half miles route, Riverina is fully capable of going the distance against what are the top colts now in training in the East. This daughter of Princequillo, out of Bee Mac, dead-heated with Happy Mood in the Acorn, and then finished third in the Coaching Club American Oaks at a mile and three furlongs. Regret was the only filly to win the Kentucky Derby. In 1924, Bud Fishers Nellie Morse was the last filly to win the Preakness. In the Belmont is has been almost 50 years since a filly beat the colts. It would be a sensation indeed if the King Ranch filly was to do it this year. AAA Another interesting horse in the Belmont is Correlation, the California-bred son of Free America. He is to be ridden by Eddie Arcaro, and this great jockey has an opportunity to tie the record of six winners established by Jimmy McLaughlin in the 1880s. Arcaro now holds the Kentucky Derby record with five victories, and has won the Preakness four times. He rode his first Belmont winner" Whirlaway, in 1941, and the following year was atop Shut Out when he defeated Alsab. In 1945, he was on Pavot, and in 1948, completed the "Triple Crown" with Citation. Then he rode One Count in 1952. The riding record holder, McLaughlin, was one of the foremost jockeys of his time. Earl Sande is another jockey who rode five winners of the Belmont, his first being Grey Lag in 1921, and his last the "Triple Crown" winner, Gallant Fox in 1930. Sande and Arcaro were on television Wednesday night. Sande selected Gallant Fox as his best winner, and Arcaro, as usual, said that Citation was the best he ever rode. Both agreed that the last quarter-mile of the Belmont is "the true test of a champion."
