Judges Stand: Swaps Impressive in Derby Qualifier; Nashua Ready for Final Route Prep; Passengers Defer to Choice on Arrival, Daily Racing Form, 1955-05-03

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Judges Stand By Charles Hatton Swaps Impressive in Derby Qualifier Nashua Ready for Final Route Prep Passengers Defer to Choice on Arrival CHURCHILL Downs, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — On the week end at this time-mellowed course we saw Californias Swaps inject an added element of interest in the upcoming Derby, when he carried top weight of 123 pounds and won by over eight emphatic lengths in the scorching time of l.lOVs, just a fifth off the six-furlong track record. And now on Tuesday comes the last of the public qualifiers with the presentation of the 0,000 added Derby Trial. This mile brings together two of the more accomplished prospects in Hasty Houses Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner, Prince Noor, and Harry Guggenheims Champagne winner, Flying Fury. The latter is generally estimated to be superior to his stablemate, Racing Fool, who, nevertheless, accounted for the Blue Grass Stakes several days ago. Returning to Swaps, he impressed hard boots as "a runner," and he worked out a mile in 1:36%, and and two-fifth seconds below the track mark; skipping to the seven furlongs in 1:22%. This exactly duplicated the Downs seven-furlong mark. Though these standards were established around one turn and Rex Ellsworths colt was negotiating two. It is true he | "beat nobody" in his race, but he won in such consummate fashion and stylish time few who saw it still regard the Derby as a virtual match race. Swaps was a three-time stakes winner on the West Coast and, as you doubtless, know, included the Santa Anita Derby among his successes. Plan Workout Between Races " Nashua detrained at Derbytown looking like split silk last week end, far better than he did in Florida in point of fact, and owner William Woodward, Jr., tells us there are tentative plans to give him a final distance tightener for the "Run for the Roses" here on the scene, perhaps this Tuesday, and possibly between races. It depends upon the weather and track conditions, and some showers are anticipated in the area. Americas premier jockey, Eddie Arcaro, is due as this is written, to handle the massive son of Nasrullah in his prep. It, incidentally, still is a question if Mr. Fitz who has saddled three Derby winners without ever having actually seen the race will be present here next Satur- I day. Bart Sweeney, who has been one of Mr. Fitz aide de camps for 27 years and who used to rub" Gallant Fox, presently is looking after Nashuas welfare here. We complimented him upon the gladiatorial bays appearance and remarked that he looked more the athlete than he did at Miami. Sweeney supplied that he does not now "break out" in galloping and breezing as he did back in February and March. He still is coltish and playful, and has several times been cast in his stall while rolling and expressing his high spirits at various occasions, but there is not a pimple on his underpinning. As Sweeney obreserved, "You dont get many like, that." Truly "the horse is king" here in Louisville these days. When Nashuas train wheezed to a halt hi the yards of Fourteenth and Main Street, a portable ramp with a canvas carpet was placed at the door of his car, and was covered with protective straw to prevent his slipping. The bold, 16.2 hands bay strode out like a veteran trouper. Meanwhile, the many passengers on the train were not permitted to leave it for about 10 minutes. When they inquired of conductors about the delay, it was explained that "Nashua is being unloaded." Indulgently, they settled back into their seats to await their turn, and if possible catch a glimpse of the famous horse through the car windows. Summer Tan Appears Ready Nashua and his arch rival, Summer Tan, have established residence in barn 10."theDerby barn," and the most modern of those on the Downs. "They are buddies now," Bart Sweeney commented. Inspecting Summer Tan we found that he, too, has improved immeasurably since he was last seen at Hialeah Park. He is, like his nemesis, carrying just the right amount of flesh, and is in resplendent bloom and condition. His racing record is an honor to himself and a tribute to the skill of his personable young conditioner. The source of Summer-Tans almost fatal illness last fall is aneurism. These things usually form in the loins, and are caused by parasytical strongyles attaching themselves to the inner walls of the blood vessels. Turf ana: William Woodward, Jr., visited Claiborne over the week end to inspect the foals and yearlings. . . . Olin Gentry is a Summer Tan fan. . . . Almost all those occupying key positions on the Downs staff were long-time employes of the late Col. Matt Winn. . . . The Galbreaths will be en route soon from Columbus. ... Both Summer Tan and Nashua are nippy, in the way ■■j£°lay. . . . Charlton Clays Lea Lane turned lifcfcrep for Fridays Kentucky Oaks, whei. ~ j*9 1:14 and tne mile *n i40 the other mui„ . he Derby colts have a forbidding amount of police protection. . . . Jeans Joe and Swaps are neighbors on the backstretch here. ... The overnighters here are graduated from ,300 upward. . . . Nashuas favorite sport is mooching sugar from owner Woodward. . . . Sherrill Ward is usually last of the Derby trainers to leave the course morn- j ings. . . . Prince Noor has some of the whimsy characteristic of the descendants of Nearco and has sulked a time or two. ;,


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955050301/drf1955050301_52_1
Local Identifier: drf1955050301_52_1
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800