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* Maryland By Hugh J. McGuire ■ Nances Lad Better Without Blinkers Withers Next Start for Dabson Charge Decide Colts Preakness Status Later LAUREL, Md., May 4.— Hilton Dabson returned happy from the successful jaunt to New York that saw his and Chester Caithness Nances Lad join the list of invaders from. Maryland who picked up the important end of New York stakes money this season. The galloping triumph of Nances-Lad in the seven-furlong Swift Stakes convinced Dabson of his error in equipping the son of Slide Rlue with blinkers for his unfruitful Chesapeake engagement. The strategy of the partners now is to send Nances Lad back to New York for his next engagement, whlch will be in the Withers on May 21. The reasoning behind this move is that the outcome Of the Swift convinced Dabson that he now has the three-year-olds racing in New York "over a barrel" unless he runs into some unexpected resistance from an as yet undisclosed source. The Withers is at a mile and Dabson doubts that he will be asked to meet Boston Doge on that date and at that distance. He is also satisfied that such a meeting would result in a repetition of the result of the Swift, in which Nances Lad handed the Andolino colt his first defeat. His engagement in the Withers* does not necessarily mean that Nances Lad will not be a Preakness starter, for there is a week between the Withers and the Pimlico leg of the Triple Crown. The decision on this will be made after the running of the Withers, when- it is determined just how hard an effort Nances Lad will haye put forth in the Belmont race. Dabson holds the Preakness candidates Nashua and Summer „ Tan in high esteem and reasons that he would rather win the Withers than be third in the Preakness.. McLean Awaits Pimlico Campaign Horsemen of the old school who hold that experience in a rider offsets the apprentice allowance and that live weight is preferable to poundage in the lead pad, will have an opportunity during the Maryland season to utilize the services of a, rider who brings a wealth of experience to the local colony. This is Pete McLean, who altered his usual routine of laying up during the winter by riding a few races in Florida and galloping horses. McLean expects to scale 114 pounds during the Pimlico meeting and is usuing a reduction method prescribed by Eric Guerins physician, along with the old practice of "hitting the road." McLean has ridden for such stables as C. V. Whitney and those trained by Jim Ryan, Charlie Shaw and Al Jensen, and is currently on first call to the public stable conditioned by Frank Wright. McLean is no newcomer to Maryland racing He piloted Whitneys Small Favor to success in the Selima, won the Chesapeake and Cherry Blossom with Repe-toire and the Laurel Handicap with Alerted. He also guided Repetoire in Experimental and Wood Memorial victories, won New England stakes astride Noble Impulse and Winter Wheat, and successfully guided Royal Governor to win at Delaware Park in the six-furlong Brandywine on a Saturday and the mile and a sixteenth Wilmington on the following Monday. McLean also rode very successfully for several years in California. He should prove particularly useful to trainers of two-year-olds and to those horses that need experienced guidance in stakes engagements. Over 25,000 Suggest Names for Colt In Brief: The winner of Laurels "Name-the-Colt" contest will be announced later this week. Sponsored by the Baltimore News-Post, the contest has drawn more than 25,000 suggested names for the colt by Phalanx — Roman Matron, owned by Mrs. S. M. Pistorio. The winner will receive a weeks vacation in Bermuda. .... Jockey Robert J. Martin has given second call on his services to the Christiana Stable of Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Lunger for the remainder of the Maryland season. . . . With divisions of the Ada L. Rice stable at Laurel and Garden State, trainer Tom Kelly is a busy commuter.. Kelly has the 1954 Chesapeake winner, Ring King, .training steadily here. . . . Jockey Pete McLeans wife is the former Powers model Pat English. While riding in California, McLean played several bit parts in the movies with Mickey Rooney, Ava Gardner and others.. The stable of E. Barry Ryan checked in at Pimlico from Keeneland. The unit includes B. C. Betner, Jr.s, Native Son and Whence, Fortune P. Ryans Chalevoix and Marlborough, and E. Barry Ryans Beaver Street and White Cross. . . . James P. Ross, Sr., former manager of Havre de Grace and Bowie and now retired, paid his first visit of the season to this course. Hale and hearty, Ross greeted many of his old friends. . . . Jimmy Bakewell of New Orleans, former rider and now a valet here, saddled both Boston Doge and Social Outcast for their Maryland victories this season. . . . C. W. Kershaws juvenile, First Home, popped an osselet in his left ankle and will be turned out at his owners farm for firing. . . . Bill Zakoor sold Reveille, Some Friend, Alacassula and Johns Admiral to Mitchell Andrews, Detroit representative of the California Fruit Growers Association. Zakoor had trained for Andrews late father and will continue to condition the foursome. Andrews new colors of white with clusters of red cherries have been registered. . . . Jockey Norman Cox is due back at Laurel after a short sortie to Garden State*. i y 1 1 i y . n * 1 1 -1 i , i , * ■* Fl»if r . . t t » f t . f»-,. f v r i - »■ lu t! r t t o x 3
