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i 1 i * dBKand tew1* " * ■Bii™ California By Kent Cochran — J All California Rooting for Silky Sullivan How Local Horsemen Pick Kentucky Derby Flashback to Great Closers Early Days GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, Albany, Calif., May 2.— California horsemen, racing fans, your man in the street, housewives and children are a unit in rooting i 1 i for for Silky Silky Sullivan Sullivan to to win win tomor- for for Silky Silky Sullivan Sullivan to to win win tomor- tomorrows Kentucky Derby. The big chestnut was. bred in this state and learned his racing lessons in this state. His manner of running has from the outset been so sensational that ever since last fall, when he began electrifying the racing public with his tremendous stretch charges, everyone has been discussing him and his unique but brilliant and effective effective . . racing racing manners. manners. Fans Fans ■Bii™ effective effective . . racing racing manners. manners. Fans Fans recall that in his very first start, last, summer at Hollywood Park, he came from far back to get up and win in the last jump. Shortly thereafter he suffered a slight indisposition in a foreleg and was wisely put away until autumn, at Golden Gate Fields. Trainer Reggie Cornell as well as owners Ross and. Klipstein realized Silky was too big a colt physically to warrant much racing at two, so the stocky, thick-chested fellow was not unduly used. This "waiting" tactic paid off, for when he was returned to racing he seemed sound as a silver dollar in a Las Vegas casino, a state of health which has continued down to the present. We buttonholed several horsemen to get a cross-section of opinion here as to the outcome of Americas most talked about race, and found them preponder- " antly for Silky Sullivan, with many rating him at least an equal chance with Tim Tam and Jewels Reward. Noble Threewitt said "Silkys race last Saturday fitted him perfectly: he should win". . . . Clocker Schwartz: "I hope and believe Silky will do it". . . . Mrs. Lillian Dwyer told friends before taking off for Louisville" "Ill bet on Silky, but I think Flamingo will be right there". . . . Max Bell: "Tim Tam, Silky, Jewels .... Harry Daniels, whose Your Host led the field the first part in his year: "Tim Tam is the one to beat". . . . Covert: "Im a Silky Sullivan man". . ; . Trainer Eddie Hefferan: "Speed is king, so I take Tim Tam". . . . BiU Finnegan: "Tim Tam; but Silky could do it". ... •Wayne Stucki: "Silky, Jewels Reward, Tim Tam". . -.. . Carl De Benedetti said "Jewels Reward," while his wife said, "Gone Fishinn* ". . . . John Pappalardo: "Itll come either Silky and Gone Fishin* or Jewels Reward and Tim Tam". . . . Track photog Jimmy Dryer: "Silky Sullivan by three". . . . Lydell Ruff: "Tim Tam". . . . Joe. Hernandez: "Im a Silky Sullivan rooter". ... Vic Klinker: "Silky will win." Enforced Diet Prior to Sales A flashback to Silkys colthood would seem to be in order: Bill Phegley, Three Rings Ranch manager where Silky was weaned and raised until sold as a yearling, says that the chestnut son of Sullivan was "handled in reverse from the normal procedure" when he was being prepared for the Del Mar yearling sales. "We took feed away from him to keep him from getting too fat, whereas we stuffed the others," Bill recalls. "He was big and lusty, and had an appetite like three horses. He was very thick of body, big-barreled, and had a tremendous girth. Jack Lynaugh, one of my aides at the time, made Silky his special care. When I took him to Del Mar I thought hed be a real good one, but I didnt dream hed ever be one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby. I toM several prospective buyers I thought hed be a steal at 5,000." Phegley enumerated his reasons for liking Silky as a yearling: "His ruggedness. He held his own in the pasture with a dozen other colts at the ranch and never got a scratch. His mild temperament and his predisposition to soundness. His unusual depth through the heart and his lusty appetite. Also, one of his dams first two foals. Doc Uptown, showed high promise as a racer, so I figured this colt might turn out to be a corker." Three jockeys now riding here have won the Kentucky Derby. Ray York was up on Determine in 1954, Henry Moreno is the lad who beat Native Dancer with Dark Star in 53, and Johnny Longden. the old master, coasted home on Count Fleet in 43. None of the boys has a mount this year. Admiral Drake Colt Wins Debut Another winner by Admiral Drake popped up Wednesday in the equine person of Sir Admiral, who, making the first start of his career, came home on the bit. The colt is a year-younger full brother to Brown Drake winner of six races to date. Sir Admiral showed speed, and then, racing a bit greenly when headed near the finish, came again to win going away. Despite being a June foal, he shows fine physical development, and looms as Phil Klipsteins candidate for juveniles stakes. Klipstein bred the colt. Incidentally, the co-owner of Silky Sullivan owns but two two-year-olds of his own breeding, and both won at first askingr here, the other being Tiger Taylor, by Radiotherapy. Klipstein sends his mares to outside stallions but raises their progeny at his farm near Bakersfield. The retired cattleman races those of his own breeding in his own name, but in partnership with Tom Ross usually buys a few yearlings every year at the Del Mar sale. Another Admiral Drake juvenile who has caught the eyes of horsemen is. Go Admiral, undefeated in his starts here and at Santa Anita.
