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Weighing In By Evan Shipman Once Popular Searching Badly Overlooked Head Wind Slows Front-Runners in Stakes *" Programs Lay Too Much Stress on Sprints JAMAICA, L. I., N.Y., May 10.— Once resigned to a feature at the distinctly over-worked six furlong distance, we will readily admit yesterdays Correction Handicap to have been a corking contest, our pleasure in this sprint no little enhanced by the winning Searchings justification of our prediction, even though this honest, hard-hitting War Admiral miss was comparatively neglected in the wagering. Again as we had hinted, the highweighted Myrtles Jet and Brookmeades Gandharya, this pair starting almost equal choices in the ultra-select field, engaged in a cut-throat duel al most from the start, and although Gandharva survived this encounter, probably because of her five-pound pull in the weights, she had been softened up enough to fall easy prey to Searchings well timed and determined stretch challenge. Nor was it their front-running tactics alone that caused the downfall of this strongly favored pair; the miserable weather too comes in for its share of the blame. With the thermometer dropping steadily from the start of the program, a high wind blew up in the middle of the uncomfortable afternoon, and the two speedy fillies found themselves bucking this wind from the moment they turned into the hort homestretch for the drive. Just why the crowd proved itself .so fickle in regard to Searchings chances is still a mystery. From mid-summer of last season, there was not a more popular performer active on the Metropolitan circuit than this same Searching, a bargain of bargains when the sharp-eyed Hirsch Jacobs obtained her from the Wheatley Stable, that barn " overloaded with talent where three-year-old fillies were concerned. Against a field comparable to that she met yesterday in this Correction, Searching, last fall, would — we venture — have gone to the post at something less than 2-to-l instead of the 8-to-l actually posted. True, Searching had finished out of the money in Garden States recent Colonial Cap, a race that went to Maine Chance Farms beautifully bred Myrtles Jet, but just prior to the Colonial, Searching had finished a bang-up second to Sometime Thing in Bowies Barbara Frietchie. McCreary Enjoyed a Stroke of Luck Conn McCreary, who fits this filly to perfection, kept Searching just off the pace, all the Correction field, with the lone exception of George p. Wideners Rare Treat who could not seem to find her racing legs, in a. compact group right behind Myrtles Jet and Gandharva. Looping for home, McCreary enjoyed a stroke of luck when a wide hole opened for him, and Searching responded immediately as he sent her up between horses to engage the leaders. With Myrtles Jet faltering at the- furlong pole, the Jacobs filly fastened on Gandharva, appearing todominate at a-good distance from the wire, even though the eventual margin was a mere three parts of a length. Taking into account the unfavorable weather conditions as well as a rather "dead" strip, Searchings time of l:ll?s was perfectly respectable. On this perennial subject of sprints versus what we consider a reasonable distance; secretary and handi-capper Jimmy Kilroe is not going to appease us with any one race. As a matter of fact, yesterdays secondary * feature, an allowance affair at a mile and three-sixteenths, does nothing so much as to illus- , trate by contrast the Woeful poverty of the ordinary Jamaica card. Convinced as we are that something a .great deal more important than our own private taste is concerned, we intend to continue harping on this theme, in the hope naturally that our persistence will discover allies who agree that over-emphasis on sprints is va sure sign of degeneration as well as a complete neglect of racings potentialities as an interesting spectacle. Yesterdays route race was well worth looking at. The field included good horses, and the riding had to be considerably more subtle than the whoop-de-do style demanded by events at five, six or . seven furlongs. Handling the erratic Guardian II. with both caution in the early stages and brisk energy in the drive, Ray Mikkonen, whose work with Rare Treat we often praised last season, delivered his mount first at the wire by a head, the stretch tussle with Jeans Joe not only pretty to watch, but indication that both horses tire preparing nicely for important stake engagements at Belmont Park. Cundall Has Well Conditioned String Naming a few trainers whose charges are presently particularly sharp yesterday, we omitted F. E. Cundall, and altho.ugh we had no intention of compiling a complete honor roll, the oversight was still hardly excusable considering the record of the Woolford Farm horses at the current Jamaica meeting. Each of the stables mentioned yesterday campaigns a different type of thoroughbred. Those saddled by Cundall for the Kansas City owner and breeder are by no means stake prospects, but this newcomer — he was a complete stranger to us at the opening of this meeting, nor do we recall ever hearing his name mentioned — has time after time sent his platers out to capture the more -modest events. It is hard to recall a single entry under the maroon silks and white dots who has not been a serious contender.
