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w—— — — t r «m , Tm I I New York Bob Horwood By — ; Derby Finish Enhances Sophomores Reputation Outer Space Is Proving Model of Consistency Mr, Vale Wins Juvenile Bow Very Impressively JAMAICA. L. I.. N. Y., May 5.— Apart from any excuses that track conditions or incidents of the race might provide the beaten horses in this years Kentucky tucky Derby, Derby, we we suspect suspect that that the the w—— — — t tucky Derby, Derby, we we suspect suspect that that the the "regularity" of the race, evidenced by the fact that the four "solid" colts in the classic mile and one-quarter were the first four to finish, should do considerable to enhance the reputation of this generation of 1955. So far as we can see, tnere is no longer any reason for anyone to low-rate this crop on what has been shown in what has become a long series of of races. races. Tim Tim Tam Tam has has now now won won of of races. races. Tim Tim Tam Tam has has now now won won r «m , Tm I I nine out of 11 starts this year and his last seven In a row, which should convince almost anyone that the * Calumet Farm "colt is, at least for the present, the best of his generation and a genuinely superior thorough-, bred. And when a colt with this sort of record of class and consistency wins the Derby it adds to the prestige of the entire generation. Lincoln Road, on the other hand, has not been able to win a race this year, yet he has. not been worse than third in seven starts, racing repeatedly against the best of his age. The races of the With Pleasure colt in the Florida and Kentucky Derbys were almost identical, even to the half length that separated him from the son of "Tom Fool in both events. Noureddin has also been a model of regularity, astonishingly so when it is considered that the son of Noor has raced steadily since last July, getting only a brief breather in January, with the longest space between his races in 20 starts being that between December 14 and February 1. In those 20 races, the son of Noor finished seventh once oh a heavy track last September and on four occasions finished fourth,, while finishing in the .money 15 times. Jewels Reward Not Disgraced Jewels Reward, whom we had thought to be a slightly better colt than Tim Tam, and who might have been the afternoon of the Flamingo, has also demonstrated consistency, finishing first in his three races before the Derby and not being precisely disgraced on Saturday, though "reporter" Hartack remarked on his "failure to display the courage he showed in previous races." This is a rather surprising comment. It requires considerable temerity to impute the courage of any thoroughbred, other than those who have repeatedly folded when challenged. At any rate, we feel that this Derby lends some substance to our estimate of last week, when we declared the present crop of three-year-olds to be as good, on the whole, as any of the past 20. Turning to the local scene. Mis. Gerard S. Smithes Outer Space, winner of Saturdays Bed o Roses Handicap, is herself a model of consistency. So far this season, the daughter of Saggy has two victories and a third to her credit in three starts, while a year ago she ran up a string of six successive victories, followed by two seconds and a third in stakes events before •her form just wore out. The sloppy track and a favorable weight 113 undoubtedly helped Outer Space on Saturday, with, the track probably being more of a factor than the impost. Lori-El, who proved to be the chief rival to Jim Maloneys charge, also was aided by the track,, evidently relishing all forms of wet footing. Searching has demonstrated in the past that she can handle a sloppy track, but in the case of the War Admiral mare, the weight undoubtedly was a deterrent factor. One could sense as Searching began her move along the rail, that she was having trouble carrying her 123 pounds through what had become a fairly deep stream of goo. Mrs. Ethel D. Jacobs "rags to riches" mare turned in an honest and creditable performance, but one which demonstrated once again that she is not quite top drawer. Plotters race, we think, can be disregarded. This long-striding filly is at a distinct disadvantage on anything but a firm strip, like almost all horses of her leggy conformation. The Bed o Roses was not the first race in which Plotter has been able to show early speed despite sloppy footing, but became exhausted after five furlongs by the effort of maintaining her footing. Saturdays race will quite likely result in Plotter being an "overlay" the first time she appears oh a fast track at Belmont Park. Sky High Is Something Special The two-year-olds on display in Florida last winter seemed decidedly below par, though we are told by observers whose judgment commands respect that Sky High, a half-brother by Bull Brier of Needles, is something special. This fellow made his debut after we had left Gulfstream Park. If the youngsters who raced during the cold months were below average, that situation seems to have been abruptly reversed. Ralph Lowes Mr. Vale, whose impressive debut on Saturday overshadowed the stake in our eyes, is just the most recent in a parade of unusually good-looking and unusually talented youngsters. Llangollen Farms Restless Wind, Christopher T. Chenerys First Landing and Reginald N. Websters Royal Anthem all won like good colts and look the part. The same can be said of Circle M Farms East Indian. Jimmy Kilroe had been hopeful that Johnny Nerud would start Mr. Vale back in Wednesdays Youthful Stakes, the widespread cough putting a premium on all healthy juveniles at this time. Nerud. however. Continued on Page FHtf-Fhe NEW YORK BY BOB HORWOOD Continued from Poge Seren intends reserving the roan colt with the white face that recalls Greentrees Maharajah for later racing at Belmont Park. Though the Youthful has been won in the fairly recent past by such good colts as Battlefield, Primate, Native Dancer, Summer Tan and Bold Ruler, it does carry with it a penalty out of proportion to its monetary value to the winner. Mr. Vale is a lean, not especially handsome colt, but one who definitely gives the impression of being an eager athlete, while his action is low to the ground and remarkably sure-footed and smocth. Lueien Laurin, trainer of Royal Anthem, was frankly delighted to learn that Mr. Vale was not going to be in the Youthful field, but the French-Canadian, along with most horsemen, is even more respectful -of First Landing, who is a probable starter in the mid-week dash. Restless Wind and East Indian are both coughing, or were barking last week and will not be able to race for another few weeks at least. A reader begs that we dont "tease" by withholding the name of the fleet two-year-old A. G. "Bob" Robertson is readying at Belmont Park. Robertson is the one who is doing the teasing, but you may be sure that the work-watchers have seen and remembered him and he will be no secret the day he makes his debut. Incidentally, only a fewsdays ago "Robby" was remarking that the advent of pari -mutuels made it much more difficult for trainers to keep their friends. "It used to be," the. veteran said, "that you could get your own bet down with books at -a" fair price, then you didnt care who knew about your colt. Nowadays, you cant even tell people you know to not bet more than five or ten dollars because they cant help telling their friends and some of them really send it in. So you cant tell anyone and everybody hates you and everybody on the race track knows that you have a runner anyway." Greentree Stables Prank, an outsize son of Tom Fool, should not be too much con-; demned for his disappointing fourth in his seasonal debut on Saturday. The big fellow was caught in a jam turning for home and was not shifty enough to extricate himself in time to be effective. One wonders if Irish Johnny Ruane .is quite strong enough to handle this sort of heavy headed horse. . . . Brookfield Farms Ive Got Rhythm, easy winner at Garden State on Saturday is expected up. for next Mondays Withers Mile. . . . Jules "Little Sweeper" Schwartz Teports his three-year-old Wirey-Marks fully recovered from the cough.. Hell be seen under silks at Belmont.
