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i — jbs™ New Jersey ! By William C. Phillips Vertex Ready to Prepare for Return to Races Son of The Rhymer Grows New Front Left Hoof Piarulli High in Praise for Homebred Runner GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 3. — Usually everything movable at a race track twangs with the vibrancy of a taut string due to the excite-, i merit ment caused caused by by the the opening opening of of a a merit ment caused caused by by the the opening opening of of a a new meeting and season, and it was quite amazing to find an air of complete relaxation, and complacency prevailed at barn K this morning along the shedrow where young Joe Piarulli houses the run- -ers he is training. The visit was occasioned by an interest in Vertex, the colt who last summer emerged from almost absolute obscurity to become one of the fanciest, fanciest, roughest roughest and and toughest toughest — jbs™ fanciest, fanciest, roughest roughest and and toughest toughest handicap performers in New Jersey or, for that matter, anywhere. Oblivious to all of the surrounding tension. Vertex just nuzzled in an occasional munch of hay from the hanging rope-rack and appeared the picture of contentment. Piarulli pointed through the webbings to Vertex* left front hoof, explaining, "Thats the one where he lost a shoe in the Roamer and broke down a small part of hoof wall." It caused a temporary halt to the spectacular march toward stardom which Vertex began in his two-year-old season, but Piarulli says, now that his charge is as sound as they come. Fame is fleeting but there are none who witnessed this big handsome colt in action last summer who will not recall his achievements. The homebred son of The Rhymer — Kanace, by Case Ace, won his maiden start as a juvenile by seven open lengths, in a breeze. He won his next start under allowance conditions. Then, for the first and thus far last time in his career, he finished unplaced running in the Worlds Playground Stakes at Atlantic City against colts who were better seasoned and farther progressed. Flashed Speed in Sophomore Debut Piarulli brought Vertex out as a three-year-old here last spring and the colt proceeded to literally run away from his field in one of the fastest 6 furlongs times of the meeting. After that he started seven more times and was never worse than a respectable second. He was second to The Crack in the Select Handicap at Monmouth Park, won the Choice Stakes at that course, was second to Promised Land in the Roamer while giving that accomplished rival a seven-pound handicap and finishing with three shoes and a broken hoof. In all he had winnings of 7,308 for the year. It was generally conceded that there was "no telling" how good Vertex might be and several offers, ranging beyond 00,000, were turned down by his owner. The owner, incidentally, was Frank Piarulli, the father of the colts trainer, who bred him at Sam jPistorios farm in Maryland, where he was foaled. The senior Piarulli finally was persuaded to sell half-interest in Vertex to J. J, Brunetti, owner of a construction firm in Maywood, N. J., and a long-time friend. It was the initial racing venture for Brunetti, but shortly afterward he paid the high dollar of 1,800 at the Garden State yearling sales for a colt by Big Dipper II., and the second high price of the sale for another colt by Coaltown. They wintered at the Ridge Farms in nearby Mt. Holly, where Vertex spent his recuperation period, and have impressed the younger Piarulli as being excellent prospects. Vertex took about three and one-half months to grow a new hoof, according to Joe Piarulli, and it developed strong and true. He has been galloping a two-mile lick and will begin to breeze within the next few days, with a view of having him racing fit before the end of this meeting. As immediate objectives he has been nominated to the Washington and Equipoise Mile in Chicago. Piarulli says he will make New Jersey his training headquarters, however, and from here will make his selections between the local stakes and those in New York. Ready to Challenge the Best "Who would you be afraid to race against?" Piarulli unhesitatingly and calmly replies: "Nobody." According to his mentor he is "the most honest and intelligent horse I have ever seen, takes a ,lot after his mother who was a free -running mare who beat horses like Three Rings in her time. He likes to work hard, eats good, and never seems to do a thing wrong." As to racing style, Piarulli says ie has "so much natural speed that he fights against being taken back, but he has come from behind in several of his starts, and won races from 5 furlongs to 9 furlongs, and has come close to track records under weight. If there is anything he doesnt like it might be a muddy track. Like his mother, again, he likes to hear his hoofs rattle." The writer will add his observation that Piarulli is not too high in his praise. Only one. thing remains to be thoroughly tested and that is his class, and if he proves that, the name Vertex will be making headlines. The Homestretch: Over at the William G. Helis Jr. barn, Maurice "Jock" Barshak and Howard Hausner looked over Light n Lovely and declared that they were pleased with her progress after a winter aj; the farm. The four-year-old Alibhai filly will be pointed for the Colonial Handicap here on May 30, with prob- Continued on Page FHtf-Three NEW JERSEY By WIIXIAM.C. PHILLIPS Continued from Page Nine ably a prep beforehand, and one or more of the "Distaff Big Three" at Delaware Park. "Tile only trouble." says her handlers, "is that she is on the small, side and doesnt like her races too close together." . . . Probably the highest-priced and most handsome two-year-old on the grounds Is •a Roman colt purchased by John E. Mc-Auliff e at Saratoga for 3,000. He is a igrowthy individual, looking much like Hasty Road, and trainer Glenn Felkner says he will give him a little time before asking for too much. . . . Lloyd Murray followed the floodtide with a quick flight to Kentucky this week, but not to see the Derby. He checked over the yearlings at the farm and was back for the inaugural. Murray trains for the Boncrist Farm and has the colt Backbone who won the Chesa-j peake. No immediate plans are being made for Backbone to go in the Preakness. His first target is the 6-furlong Delaware Valley here on Saturday, the 10th, and it is likely that Murray will pick his spots for the colt for a while. Sammy Boulmetis will handle Brook-meade Stables Oligarchy in the Grey Lag . at Jamaica this coming Saturday. The word comes from "Schnozz" Krieger, agent exemplar. . . . Racing secretary "Ty" Shea, is hopeful that rumor is correct and that Lawdy Claudy will be shipped in from New York for the Rancocas on May 14. . . . Mrs. Colin MacLeods Balmacara has arrived from Virginia and is reported ready to run in the Delaware Valley on Saturday. . . . Prominent among the newcomers to the local riding fraternity is Gordon Glisson, the riding champ of 1949 who handled Lincoln Road in the Derby. He is to check in on Monday and remain as a free-lance through the season.
