Judges Stand: Sherrill Ward on Summer Tans Plans; Galbreath Colt Eats Four Meals Daily; Honeys Alibi Californias Dark Horse, Daily Racing Form, 1955-05-02

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Judges Stand , Charles Hatton By — ■ ■ — Sherrill Ward on Summer Tans Plans Galbreath Colt Eats Four Meals Daily Honeys Alibi Californias Dark Horse CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., April 30.— We were chatting in J. Graham Browns determinedly •exclusive hostelry today with horsewise young Sherrill Ward, who is doing his utmost to inspire Mrs. John Galbreaths Summer Tan to win next Saturdays 25,000 added Kentucky Derby. Ward told us that on the whole the vital, intense son of Heliopohs is progressing satisfactorily in his training for "Derby Bill" Corums classic mile and a quarter. "He is the sort of colt who looks a lot,, taking in the scenery," the trainer said. "This place is new to him, and he has not settled down altogether as yet. I sort of anticipated that, which is why I brought him here soon as possible. He was that way at Garden State Park last fall. I breezed him a slow six furlongs the other day, just as a conditioner and to relax him more than anything else. He will probably go a route this Sunday or Monday. I do not want to work him hard too near his race." Ward, incidentally, noted that Summer Tan is fed, mostly light snacks four times daily. "That is on the vets advice," he explained. "We cannot take any chances with him since he had that digestive trouble." The colts diet comes to a fairish quota of grain in a 24-hour period, and his metabolism is all that could be desired. Ward has no definite plans for him beyond the Derby, sensibly waiting to see how he comes out of that engagement. "If it is decided to point him for the Preakness, I would prefer to ship him directly from here to Pimlico rather than to Belmont, then Maryland," he said. "There is an interval of three weeks between the Derby and the Preakness and this schedule should help him if "he has a hard race." " j Studied Films of Wood Carefully j Ward proffers no excuses for his courageous charge in the Wood, in which Nashua beat him a neck in the last exciting strides. Others have noted there was some fresh sand from the sixteenth pole to the finish, placed along the inner rail. But it was only half a load. "I studied the-film patrol pictures several times," the Galbreath conditioner recalled, "but I could not see any difference in the going. Quite possibly Nashua was running through it, too." Ward is making no chest thumping prophesies about the Derbyr-He has an abiding confidence that Summer Tan, a generous colt of the highest integrity, will run a good race. "I think we have a chance," the trainer summed up. Despite the fact that the astonishing Nashua now has beaten the rangy son of Heliopolis in four of their five encounters, a great many people still prefer Mrs. Galbreaths bay homebred. Some of them because they distrust the whimsical Nashua, some because Summer Tan has an underdog appeal, and others simply because they remain unconvinced he. cannot beat the Derby favorite. . The Californians have a "dark horse" in this Derby in Harry M. Warners Honeys Alibi. This brown son of the noted Alibhai and the brilliant racemare Honeymoon came to the Downs with a recommendation that he has appeared to improve with each start. Further that he impresses as the type who will fancy the mile and a quarter route of the Downs classic. He is Warners first nominee for the Derby since he ran W. L. Sickle and Stepfather in 1947, which was Jet Pilots year. These two finished eighth and ninth, respectively, and both incidentally now are in stud at their owners place in California. Honeys Alibi is a homebred, which affords Warner a larger rooting interest in ,him than he could invest in W. L. Sickle or Stepfather. Indications at the moment are that Honeys Alibi will be one of a trio of Californians starting in the ensuing Derby. There are also Swaps and.Murcains Jeans Joe. The last named is a native son only by adoption, but all three were developed in West Coast racing and it is something of feather in Californias cap it has so many whose people consider it worthwhile starting them in the Derby. - Insouciant One to Beat in Oaks Turf ana: Insouciant would appear the-one-to-beat for the Kentucky Oaks next Friday, if only she can reproduce her Ashland form. In accordance with the enlightened practice of the present day, she has not been overraced, and could have a future . . . The Gal-breaths are expected later in the week for the Derby . . . The first race Derby day goes postward at 11:30 a m. . . . The LaFayette winner First Lap is a candidate for the Bashford Manor at this point. Ditto Warner Jones Keeneland winner Old Bull, who is A. B. "Bull" Hancock, Jr.s namesake . . . Bwamazon Farms M.. A. Waldheim dazzling Judy Rullah, winner of a division of Keenelands Dinner Purse with lengths topare, is a prospect for the Debutante Stakes here on Derby Day. Her ancestress Betty Derr won the 1930 renewal. Because of its date, more people will see the 0,000 added Debutante than will attend any other two-year-old filly feature all season . . . J. Graham Brown is negotiating for more motels and hostelries . . . Bill Corum was in the Blue Grass Stakes attendance -. . . Munchausen had ample early speed in the Blue Grass, but compounded after a mile and a sixteenth . . . Lou Pondfield plans to be present for the Derby . . . The Downs press box elevator is called, appropriately "The Buck Weaver" . . . Alibilt stopped in the Blue Grass Sta"kes . . . Hasty House will test Prince Noor in the * Trial and reflects he likes the going here.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955050201/drf1955050201_52_1
Local Identifier: drf1955050201_52_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800