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t-x-wHw- -wi ;■■*■■,.■■ ■::!■;.! ■:,-,. i ~ , Effifir* Mli ttti-mi. Maryland Charles Hatton » — — — — — — By Triple Crown Exciting Continued Story Iron Liege Calumets Best Hope Saturday Belmont Looms Real Test of the Champion PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md.. May 13. — We would not care to say these are the best three-year-olds who ever graced the Triple Crown events, but they are a t-x-wHw- -wi ;■■*■■,.■■ ■::!■;.! ■:,-,. i vintage vintage crop, crop, at at the the most most un- vintage vintage crop, crop, at at the the most most un- ungenerous estimate. One finds it difficult to recall a generation so replete with record breakers, except that their marks were established at distances from six to nine furlongs, and there appeared few genuine stayers behind Iron Liege and Gallant Man at the classical mile and a quarter of the Derby. However one feels about the 1957 three-year-olds, they are writing writing a a singularly singularly exciting exciting chap- Effifir* Mli ttti-mi. writing writing a a singularly singularly exciting exciting chap- chapter in the annals of the Triple Crown. These are not just races, although the breathtaking Derby finish will never be forgotten. Ralph Lowes prophetic nightmare, Shoemakers ride, when he was all too "tall in the saddle,* Gen. Dukes last minute withdrawal. Iron Lieges surprising success as a .pinch-hitter, all combined to give the Derby a story book quality. This labyrinthian drama still is ramifying, as a good continued story should, here on the scene of Saturdays coveted Preakness, second leg of the Triple Crown. As this is written, we are marking time to see how Bold Ruler, who behaved abominably in the Derby, performs in blinkers in the Preakness Prep. And how Gen. Duke will react when he tests his sore foot. Late yesterday Gallant Mansv connections declared him from the Preakness. Thus there will be no repetition of his desperate duel with Iron Liege on the hilltop, and interest in the Triple Crown will be sustained until the decision of the Belmont, which is billed as "The Test of the Champion." You are not to infer from this, however, that the Preakness will lack either spectator appeal or academic interest. Federal Hill Not to Be Overlooked There still are Iron Liege and Bold Ruler, and Eddie -Arcaro steadfastly believes Mrs. Phipps opinionated colt can beat either or both Gen. Duke and Iron Liege. After all he has. at various times and places. And mark you there is a clipper-rigged, hickory tough, profligate speedster called Federal Hill to be considered. He will be better suited by the sharp turns, short stretch and shorter route of the Preakness than he was by the Derby conditions. Track conditions are a matter of supreme indifference to him. Stanley Rieser, who used to work for this newspaper, and is chief of his fathers factotums in Federal Hills training, said just now that: "I am not so concerned about the track as the company." For some days, Gen. Dukes Preakness status has been rather equivocal, with everyone, including trainer Jones, awaiting further developments. On the one hand, the Missourian has said he wishes Iron Liege, having won the Derby, could go on to capture the Triple Crown. On the other he has rated the three best three-year-olds Gen. Duke. Bold Ruler and Iron Liege in that order. So he was not just making conversation when he said: "I would like to run Gen. Duke." This morning, Jones had an important decision to make. This afternoon. Gen. Duke himself provided the answer, so far as the crowd went, when he pulled up nodding after his public mile trial. The decision was his. "Thats horse racing." a bystander said as Gen. Duke limped off the course. Now again it appears up to Iron Liege. Calumets Derby Record Supreme Turf ana: The annual national average of winning choices is about 33 per cent. Somebody has totalled Calumets Kentucky Derby score as follows: 14 starters, six winners. L. B. Mayer and others have spent fortunes, importing the best blood, buying the best yearlings, in a futile effort to win one Kentucky Derby. . . . A Shriners" convention has made Preakness week hotel accommodations scarce. . . . Rosewood now is doubtful in the Black-Eyed Susan, trainer Jones noting she beat no great shakes in Jersey, still is rather backward and slow to learn. . . . The Kentucky Oaks heroine Lori-El comes of the immediate family of Milcave, herself a good mare several years back. . . . Iron Liege has achieved his record on a small curb on his left hind. No "excuse horse." . . . Odd that, no matter what new wrinkle is adopted at Pimlico, it still has an informal, homespun atmosphere that Baltimoreans enjoy. . . . Pimlico s J. Fred Colwill does not wait until fall to card races at respectable distances. Four of Mondays races were beyond one mile. . . . The mores of the Preakness include champagne for the winners attendants. This stimulating custom will be observed again Saturday. The Powder Puff Preakness, for feminine riders, also will be renewed, . . . Once in New England we interviewed a sensational apprentice out of the West, who had ridden a match against a feminine jockey of local renown. "How did I make out? Man, she bounced me off the fence like a rubber ball!" Herman Cohen made his first appearance in the luxurious Pimlico press box. waggishly promises to come out Preakness day. ... It is claimed here that the file on the 1956 Preakness was the largest of any sports event in Maryland, coming to 78,000 words. A total of 54,000 was filed to newspapers about the country on the Navy-Notre Dame game. . . . Placard in the publicity department notes 15 Preakness winners have sired the winners of 00,000 or more.
