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Reflections By Nelson Dunstan Swaps, Racing Fool Gain Derby Followers Veterans Still Say, A Two-Horse Race Race Sure Test of Condition and Stamina NEW YORK, N. -YM May 2 —Boston Doge was the magnet at Belmont on Saturday and while everyone present was. interested in seeing whether he could con tinue his winning ways, most of the discussion in the stands centered on the 81st running of the Kentucky Derby this week end. Many are still of the opinion that it will be a two-horse race between Nashua and Summer Tan. However, California fans have an added incentive in the Khaled colt, Swaps, and .Easterners are not overlooking Cain Hoy Stables Racing Fool. Both horses have done well in Kentucky, but the one who will command the greatest attention this week is Plying Fury, stablemate of Racing Fool. It is our view that when it comes to the test, Nashua and Summer Tan will fight it out again but, should there be an upset, we expect Swaps, Racing Fool of Flying Fury to effect it. The Derby will be a new set-up for the pair who were one-two in the Experimental Handicap and also one-two in the most thrilling finish of a Wood Memorial to be seen in many a year. It may narrow down to a question of fitness and that final eighth of a mile of the Derby stretch run. As we said about the Wood Memorial, even though we called the turn on that race, it is difficult to judge what the position of the horses will be. at the various furlong poles at Chuchill Downs. Wood Outing Aided Summer Tan In the Wood Memorial, one of the most thrilling races this writer has seen in many years. Summer Tan gave all he had and, as we saw the race, he was going back rather than Nashua staging a rush that . could not be denied. Nashua, after three hard races in Florida and then the Wood, is just about7 as tight as the veteran "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons can make him. Sherrill Ward has done a remarkable job in bringing the Galbreath colt back after his severe illness last fall. Although Nashua has the benefit of those tough races in Florida and New York, we still hold Summer Tan will improve on his Wood Memorial form, his second start of the season. Ward is satisfied with Summer Tans condition and we doubt that the son of Heliopolis will be short in the "Run for the Roses." There are many angles to this 81st running of the Louisville classic and we cannot agree that the Belair colt has the "Indian sign" on the Galbreath horse. There is not more than one pound difference in the class and quality of these two colts. We believe it will be one of the most thrilling Derby renewals in a long, long time. If there should be an upset, it will be one of the most stunning in the long history of the race that was first run over the same track in 1875. Having won four out of five of their meetings it seems to many that Nashua really has the Indian sign on Summer Tan. So say some of the veteran trainers at Belmont, but we will not believe it until Nashua scores again over the Galbreath colt. We read an v "interesting article by Clevelands ace pitcher, Bob Lemon, who said, "Weve still got the Indian sign on • the Yankees." We can think of many instances where one competitor, horse or human, appeared to have an edge on an arch-rival. Years ago, we recall our editor asking us to trace, if possible, that expression as it applies to racing. As near as we could find, it started when Hindu fell before his rival Crickmore. Coming down to recent years, we recall when the Irish-bred Noor gave Citation a hard time of it on the West Coast. Then the imported horse came east to be defeated twice by the Greentree gamester, One Hitter. Should Nashua score over Summer Tan on the week end we will have to concede that he has the Indian sign on the son of Heliopolis. Aga Khan May Pass Spa Vendue Breeding Shorts: If a deal now pending in England is completed, there will be no consignment of the Aga Khans yearlings to Saratoga in August. The pick of the crop is said to be on private offer as a package ... Nantalla, promising juvenile son of Nasrullah, looks like a twice-well-sold horse. Whitney Stone, owner of the Morven Stud in Virginia, sold him to the partnership of E. D. Benjamin and W. Miller for 1,000 at Saratoga last summer, with Benjamin then buying him outright for 0,000 when the partnership was dissolved at Hialeah last February . . . Mereworth Stud, the Kentucky establishment of Mrs. Walter J. Salmon and Walter J. Salmon, Jr., is expected to consign the best crop of yearlings they have ever offered at the Keene-land sales . . . Humphrey Finney, president of the Fasig-Tipton Co., is in England. After witnessing the two thousand Guineas, he is now inspecting horses at the leading farms. He will also visit Ireland to inspect a number that he- has on option for a well known Texas client . . . Henry H. Knight, of Almahurst in Kentucky, and Larry MacPhail will offer the largest consignments at Saratoga, Knight selling about 40 and MacPhail 30. Knight has one colt and two fillies by Heliopolis, the sire of Helioscope and Summer Tan. MacPhail will feature the first crop of General Staff and others that the former baseball magnet purchased in England last fall. * «.,-»
