Weighing In: Horses for Courses Exemplified in Shevlin Quick Lunch Finds His Track for Smart Tally, Daily Racing Form, 1954-06-23

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W E I G H I N G IN *y EVAN shipman AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 22. — One of the turfs oldest adages, "Horses for Courses," was vividly illustrated yesterday with the running of the seven-furlong Shevlin, the Queens County Jockey Clubs preliminary leading toward next weeks rich and important Dwyer Stakes. This Shevlin renewal .brought out a large field of well-regarded three-year-olds, but the victory went to Wheatley Stables Quick Lunch, who from his juvenile form has always shown a special liking for • this highly individual strip, while the real contention was provided by Hal Price Headleys Revolt and James W. Rodgers Due de Fer, a pair who are most at home over yesterdays distance. Certain favored starters in this I Shevlin, such as Mrs. Elizabeth Persons Porterhouse, were coming off efforts over the classic route of a mile and a half. They did not show well; this was a sprint, and the issue was fought out strictly by sprinters. As might have been anticipated, Due de Fer showed the most foot as the field left the chute leading to the back-stretch, but Greentrees Card Trick and J. B. Ryans Buttevant were right at that speed specialists heels, while Quick Lunch, too, was always in the leaders immediate vicinity. Shaking off bid after bid, Due de Fer was down to the half in :45 flat, and he was still in front, although by now they were pressing him terribly close, when the furlong pole passed in a slashing 1:10%, rapid travelling indeed when the "dead" nature of the Aqueduct strip is taken into consideration. AAA For a brief moment inside the sixteenth pole, it looked as if Revolt would take it all, Due de Fer shortening stride a trifle under extreme pressure, but in the closing strides Horses for Courses Exemplified in Shevlin Quick Lunch Finds His Track for Smart Tally Its Time to Give Up on Deceiving Hill Prince Winfrey Makes a Reconnaissance for Dancer "extra ounce" of effort, the Blenheim U. colt earning the decision by a neck over Revolt, while Due de Fer, who had held on admirably, was a half length farther back in third place, nearly a length to the good of Quick Lunchs fast-closing stablemate, Full Flight. None of the beaten colts, and that, of course, includes Porterhouse, could claim the shadow of an excuse. This Shevlin was truly run from the drop of the flag. Making a bold run along the rail between the turns, Porterhouse was in perfect position to make his presence felt as the field drove for home, as were also Buttevant and Menemsha. All three were found sadly wanting in the long drive, Porterhouse totally unable to maintain his position. Judging from his recent starts, this colt, from whom so much was expected, is now but the shadow of himself, and a long rest would appear to be the best thing for last years juvenile "champion. A A A At one time last season, Wheatleys homebred Quick Lunch appeared to be one of the leaders of the generation, but his races in the fall did not fulfill that promise, while, this year, his ranking has definitely been that of a good, useful sprinter. Pleasing as this score must have been to Quick Lunchs trainer, the veteran "Mr. Fitz," the Shevlin was by no means the sum of his accomplishment for the afternoon. In a smart dash for maiden fillies, fourth on the card, the Fitzsimmons-trained entry of Mrs. Whitney Stones Gallair, Belairs First Flower and Ogden jyMaiTingfinishene-twojt the long memory of all the oldtimers to recall another such feat at a Metropolitan course. Diligent search of the records finally disclosed that, just 30 years ago, Harry Payne Whitneys trio of Maud .Muller, Swinging and Mother Goose had turned the trick in the Astoria Stakes, one of Aqueducts own features. AAA Among the horses we are crossing off our list is Hill Princes younger brother, Prince Hill. We spoke yesterday of Assaults notorious brother, Mazinga, and we have finally come to the conclusion that Prince Hill belongs in much the same company. Because of his royal breeding and attractive individuality, this bay son of Princequillo — Hildene has been given every chance by trainer Casey Hayes, but, for all that, he definitely does not make the grade in stake company, while his ability in modest overnights is also extremely suspect. Yesterday, Prince Hill was favored against a field of distinctly moderate capacity. He was soundly "trounced as the four-year-old Equal Strift outgamed the aptly named Counterfeit, nor were the favorite players ever deluded with the notion that , their choice might take an active part in the proceedings, Prince Hill trailing for most of the trip. The Lestor Manor Stables Near Shore, a recent winner at Belmont, was another member of this field who failed to raise a gallop. AAA Bill Winfreys flying trip -to Europe augurs well for Native Dancers chances of going in this Octobers Prix de lArc de Triomphe at Longchamp, the great international stake for which the conditions appear ideal as far as our gray champion is concerned. A mile and a half at weight-for-age should be right up Native Dancers alley, and we can depend on the astute and cautious Winfrey Continued on Page Forty-Nine *** s WEIGHING IN By EVAN SHEPMAN Continued from Page Sixty to make a thorough examination of the grounds. Unlike some European distance tests, the Arc de Triomphe invariably is run at top speed from the start, some stables always including a "quick" horse in their entry to assure the pace. Important as it is for Winfrey to study the scene of action, Native Dancers success will depend almost as much on jockey Eric Guerins familiarity with foreign conditions, and we wish he could have been spared to join Winfrey in this reconnaissance.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1954062301/drf1954062301_60_2
Local Identifier: drf1954062301_60_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800