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Oaks to Wedlock and Hidden Talent Downs Filly Stake In Two Divisions Guggenheim Miss Weathers Foul Claim by Indian Maids Rider in Second Section By CHARLES HATTON CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 1. — A lighthearted Derby eve crowd of some 24,600 assembled on the ancient Downs this sundrenched afternoon to see the 85th running of the 9 furlongs Kentucky Oaks and rewarded with two spirited contests though neither resulted as the majority expected. In the first division, Paul Shawhans reformed ,500 plater Wedlock won by two lengths at the direct expense of Daniel Bellows and Mrs. Ray Nallys Rays Fairy Gold, with Hal Price Headley Aesthetic third a nose back. Wedlock returned a rags-to-riches 6 with the heavily backed Ruwenzori out of the money and jockey J. L. Rotz sent her the distance in a moderate 1:45 in fast footing. In the second and better half, Harry Guggenheims Hidden Talent and Mrs. Mary Keims Indian Maid waged a bitter, stretch long duel that provoked the stewards inquiry. Hidden Talent beating her rival to the line by a length and a quarter going away. Four lengths back, Miss Verdis Havards Kathy H. was third before the highly fancied Rich Tradition. Hidden Talent carried 121 pounds, including Manual Ycaza, and conceded the runner-up five, going the distance in 1:44% and bettering the time of Wedlock under 116. She returned and each of the -winners of this dual "derby for fillies" earned a gross of 5,908.75 or net of 5,-558.75 from a gross purse of 4,475. Wayward Miss Makes Pace Wedlock won the first division of the filly classic by pegging Wayward Miss I pace closest until the latter ran out of oxygen at the end of the backstretch in I I a futile effort to purloin the race, then i going to the front in the turn, shaking off j Aesthetic and Responding with good courage to J. L. Rotzs drive through the I ] stretch. She was doing her utmost at the end to* be two lengths iri advance of Rays Fairy Gold, Aesthetic and New Star, who were inches apart in a "near thing" for the minor awards in that order. Rays Fairy Gold was unobtrusive early, I then made a good move in the stretch, coming through between horses to outnod Aesthetic, who was becoming leg weary, I and the swerving New Star in the last yards. Aesthetic followed Wedlock like a shadow around the clubhouse turn and down the backside, then went to her resalutely soon after she had wrested the j lead from Wayward Miss, but could not l keep pace with the winner. It is possible New Star would have been mare troublesome except for making a wide arc into the stretch, then drifting out before Maid O Steel coming to the eighth pole before 1 F. A. Smith straightened her. Wedlock carried 116 pounds, the same ■ impost shouldered by the runnerup, and 1 seven pounds more than Aesthetic. The topweights here were the favored Ruwenzori and New Star, carrying 121. The torrid choice had no visible excuse after breaking well enough from the rail position, failing I signally to concern herself with the con-. I tention at any stage. , I The fractions were a fairish :223/5, :46%, 1 1:13%, 1:38% and 1:45. . | There appeared from the stands to have I been seme bumping between Indian Maid L and Hidden Talent in midstretch, with the I J winner coming out on Willie Hartacks j | challenging mount and the latter going in Continued on Page Forty -Two , 1 r Wedlock, Hidden Talent Capture Divided Oaks Latter Survives Foul Claim Made by Indian Maids Rider Continued from Page Seven on her rival. However, the result was ratified after some rather tedious deliberation. John Cella, president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association, presented the trophy to the winning owners in both divisions. Indian Maid had the most early speed in the second half of the Oaks and first was opposed by Wind Rose, who led her by a half-length at one stage, but finally capitulated. Hidden Talent was jumping right in their tracks and when the stretch loomed pounced on Indian Maid like a cat on a mouse, moving through inside. Indian Maid offered stubborn resistance in the early stretch, but near the finish it was clear Hidden Talent was her superior. E. P. Metz Battle Heart drove to a hard-earned front-running victory in the 6 furlongs fifth race styled the Swaps Purse. The winners margin was a length at the end. with secondary honors falling to Mrs. Christine L. Holtsingers Joanie Gal, who, in turn, preceded T. and L. Andersons Red Baby under the line of finish by a neck. Kenny Church was astride the victor keeping the three-year-old filly in front at every pole while racing the distance in 1:11. She returned .80 as a solid choice. Robert Dever. a Louisville boy, narrowly escaped injury following the start of the second when his mount. J. A. Hikes and J. B. Hilliards Djmila, bore out. clipping the heels of John Wozneskis Dawn of Chi, eventual winner, and fell, throwing the lad heavily to the ground. Dever was removed from the strip by stretcher via the track ambulance but upon the examination by track doctors it was found that he had suffered nothing worse than a good shaking up and was able to ride his remaining mounts on the afternoons program. Dawn of Chi, bothered not at all by the incident at the start, raced the 6 furlongs ; in 1:12%. while eking out a head decision over Donald Fords Schoolmaster which had previously gained the lead a furlong out from the line of finish. Theodore D. • Buhls Superior Miss finished third after ■ having charged boldly to the leaders while racing along the inner rail at the top of the stretch. Bill Hartack was astride Dawn of Chi I with his followers receiving a .80 win I mutuel. There was no Daily Double wagering on i the two opening events in deference to I "Pre-Derby Day crowd."
