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Derby Starting Field to Be Reduced Parke States Injuries to Keep Jet s Alibi on Sidelines Today ► Can Trust Not Expected to Go to Post Either; Several Candidates in Blow-Outs By JOE IIIRSCII CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 2. — Grayish clouds hung menacingly over the historic Downs this morning as a city afire with excitement and jammed with turf fans from every corner of the nation awaited Saturdays eighty-fourth running of the Kentucky Derby. The field for this classic 1 1-4 mile leg of racings Triple Crown for three-year-olds was further reduced today when trainer Ivan Parke announced that Jets Alibi, injured two days ago; would not compete. Hasty House Farm trainer Harry Trotsek also reported that Can Trust was almost sure not to start, but would run instead in an overnight race on the week end card. Thus, it appears now that 14 horses will go to the post in the" blue riband of the American turf, with the added possibility that this evenings forecasted rains will further eliminate several contestants, whose interests have indicated that they want a fast track. In any case, a single 14-stall gate is likely to be sufficient to accommodate all the participants. In other pre-Derby activities: 1. Maine Chance Farms Jewels Reward and Ebony Pearl both blew out three-eighths of a mile in :35%. C. V. Whitneys Flamingo and Sunny Blue Farms Lincoln Road covered the same distance in :36, and Mrs. Anna Cannulis Chance it Tony was timed :48 for 4 furlongs.. 2. Shortly after 9:30 a. m., trainer Reggie Cornell, trailed by ah ever-increasing entourage of newsmen and visitors, now numbering in the hundreds, brought Ross and Klipsteins Silky Sullivan out on the lightning-fast strip for a gallop and brief blowout through the stretch. 3. Maine Chances Ivan Parke confined thta Manuel Ycaza would ride Ebony Pearl in the Derby. Thus, the unlucky Dave Erb, who was scheduled to ride Calumets Iron Liege last season and Mrs. Grahams Jets Alibi tomorrow, again loses a Derby mount on the eve of the Run for the Roses. If the track were to remain in the same condition it was yesterday afternoon, a 2:00 flat Derby would not be beyond the reach of the likes of Calumets Tim Tam, Jewels Reward or Silky Sullivan. T. Alie j Grissoms Shan Pac, a four-year-colt who had won one of his 12 previous starts this year, captured the 7-furlong Clarke Handicap in 1:22. three-fifths of a second faster than that distance had ever been run before at Churchill Downs. This morning, shortly before Silky Sullivan galloped, this writer and jockey Ycaza walked to a point on the track where the clubhouse turn enters the backr stretch, stuck a pencil in the strip, and found that it hit solid bottom three-quarters of an inch from the point. At 11:45, while this account was being written, a lig-ht drizzle .began to fall, increasing in intensity at 12:15. However, because of the tracks fine bottom, it would seem that no matter how much precipitation the Louisville area receives this afternoon and this evening, the Downs strip could probably be no worse than sloppy, a condition which would probably help Jewels Reward more than any other Derby horse. As a point of information, the Derby has been run on fast tracks every year since 1949, and the law of averages would seem to indicate off going for Saturday. Promptly at 8 a.m.. the brilliant young veterinarian. Dr. William O. Reed, who had flown to Derbytovn from New York Thursday night at the bequest of Mrs. Graham, arrived at the Maine Chance barn to inspect Jets Alibis right front foot. The Jet Pilot colt bruised his heel and grabbed his quarter during a Wednesday morning galloj. Yesterday, a blacksmith tacked on TRAINER IVAN PARKE— Declared the Maine Chance Farms Jets Alibi from the Kentucky Derby. a jar caulk, using only three or four nails so that the shoe might be easily removed! Jets Alibi, touring the shedrow, seemed to be walking out of his soreness after sev- eral spins around the barn and trainer Parke hoped that he could use the colt to insure a, realistic pace in the Derby. However, today the situation appeared lost. Dr. Reed, with a pair of pincers, gingerly tested the hoof and found. Jets Alibi re-1 sponsive to probing of the right heel, near the coronet band. "If he had another 48 hours," Dr. Reed observed, "he could probably run. However, it wouldnt be wise to take a chance with such a nice horse. Its not a serious condition at all and should clear shortly." Parke intended to poltice the leg after a warm-water tubbing, and regretfully scratched Jets Alibi from the Derby. As for the stables "big horse," Jewels Reward was seen standing calmly in his screened-off box while a nearby radio blared put several hot "rock and roll" numbers. This is Parkes way of preparing his high-strung ace for the engagement of Derby day, and after extended treatment with victrolas and radios, "The Jewel" could probably walk .through the assembled brasses of John Sousas original band while they were reaching crescendo with "Stars and Stripes Forever" and not turn a hair. Silky, "the greatest thing to come out of California since gold was discovered at Sutters Creek." had to elbow his way onto the track this morning through a throng that included Hialeah-Garden State-Tan-, foran president Gene Mori, Arlington-Washington-Balmorals Marge Lindheimer Everett and numerous other nationally-known turf personalities. Attired as usual in bright red trapping. "Himself" pranced once around the mile, oval under exercise boy Pete Kozar, then stepped up his pace through the last quarter mile. As for Tini Tam. likely favorite in the Derby, trainer H. A. "Jimmy" Jones tentatively planned to bow him out on Saturday morning, with Ismael "Milo" Valenzuela in the irons. Jones is more than satisfied with the way the handsome son of Tom Fool and Two Lea is coming up to therace;.and the colts coat, while grazing alongside his barn today, left little to be desired. Jones has done a typically outstanding job with Tim Tam, who should handle any kind of track with the confidence of a good horse. j | |
