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Charles Hatton Spoon May Alter History and Racing Map Bids to Take Three-Year-Old Honors to Coast Exceptional Filly Meets Unexceptional Field CHURCHILL DOWNS, May 1.— This observer divines that Silver Spoon is the one to beat in the Run for the Roses, and by a process of ratiocination that would make Admiral Rous bite his nails and W. S. Vosburgh turn in his scale of weights. Was it not the latter who libelled the entire female species with the abandoned estimate: "When a filly can beat the colts, depend upon it they are a bad lot." Our opinion of the colts we have seen up to now is not exactly maudlin. Neither is Charley McLennans, we take it, for he arrived at the same conclusion about Silver Spoon. Though his opinions are rather weighty it is nice to have him for a fellow passenger on this limb. In stating our preference, it is with the comforting knowledge also that it will take a dauntless player to be persuaded to rush right into the machines and plunge on C. V. Whitneys chestnut charmer. Someone with the instincts of a rebel, recklessly flouting history, physiology, form, racing luck and the "voice of the Turtle." Such a player is unlikely to drown himself in mountainous waves of despair and juleps if Regret still stands on her pedestal as "the only" at 5 p. m. CST. More likely, he is the sort to put it down as a painless tax and charge it off to the national euphoria called "Derby Fever." Great Chapter in Racing — If It is not merely that Silver Spoon is on the "weaker" side in this battle of the sexes. For that matter coquetry has never yet occurred to her, according to her doting groom Don Doty, who says, "She does not know she is a filly." Consider the tremendous impact on history and the future of the 1959 season a victory for Silver Spoon could have. Not only will she have bested the defeatist odds of 83-to-l Derby history casts against her, she will have created the most wrenching geographical upheaval since the Great Glacier for this Sunday afternoon she will be winging her way back to Hollywood Park. With her would go the pro tem championship of the three-year-olds. And three-year-old champions are traditionally the wards of jealous guardians in the East. The West will have at long last superceded the East, the Mountain will have moved to Mohammet, and the remaining events in the Triple Crown become consolation prizes. You can imagine the consternation in the East, and the celebrations in the press out West, without benefit of claquers. It will be amusing the note what the public makes of Silver Spoons chances in the tote. Ever since entries were taken and she drew number 4 this question has been debated in the Tribune de la presse. Guesses have ranged all the way from 10-to-l to 4- or 5-to-l and near favoritism. Sentimentalists, femmes and femists are always rampant here Derby day. In addition, a good many dyed-in-the-charts racing men, who know all about fillies in the spring, are disposed to think roseate thoughts of "Spoons" chances in this Run for the Roses. So she may be at less long odds than Cali-fornians hope or professional line makers expect. Especially if the weather man is right and the track presents her the traction to accommodate her long, bold manner of striding. Incongruous as it seems, in the light of her 1:36 mile, trainer Bob Wheeler is unconvinced she cared for the Downs going Stepping Stone day. We are unconvinced she was not a trifle short. As a Prejudiced Witness Sees It Just as a prejudiced witness Silver Spoon is in our view an exceptional filly meeting a race track full of colts who are unexceptional enough they have gone about beating one another all spring. Sword Dancer is a rather light specimen, badly drawn in number 15, but he can be troublesome as far as he goes. Easy Spur has a goodish run, but missed one or two vitally important moves for clinical reasons. First Landing has the most polished rider and was a brilliant two-year-old, but he gives the impression he is not sure whether he is a half brother to Mangohick or to Hill Prince. Troilus people might wish he had more time in which to be ready, after his siege in Florida. There have been more "open" Derbys than this but we cannot remember when. And we remember vividly George Smiths, for we were given a proper hazing when our choice, Star Hawk, managed to get himself left at the post and George Smith beat him inches in a head bobbing finish. Perhaps that should have been a lesson. But our thirst for knowledge is not that unquenchable. We may eventually immolate ourselves on a pyre of tote tickets pursuing such unsystematic systems as that which gave us Silver Spoon. For those who wish to go scientifically, and not for broke, we suggest consult Hermis, or communing with Univac and the Genius.
