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New York By Bob Horwood Bed ORoses One of Best Races This Season Big Effort Cards Honest, Courageous Victory First Landing O. K.; Due at Belmont Today JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y., May 4. — The comparatively small crowd that turned out in gray, chilly and occasionally drizzling weather at Jamaica on Saturday were treated to one of the best races of the young season in the Bed o Roses Handicap. Racing secretary Jimmy Kilroe brought eight of the 10 fillies and mares together within less than four lengths at the finish of the mile and a sixteenth and a little better racing luck could have had at least two of this group a bit closer to the leaders. King Ranchs Chistosa had no place to go in the final yards, after saving ground along the rail at the head of the stretch, while Mrs. Ethel D. Jacobs three -year-old Hope is Eternal had to lose almost as much as the two and a half lengths, by which she was beaten back into fifth place when circling the field at the head of the stretch. Mrs. Isabel Dodge Sloanes Big Effort turned in a thoroughly honest and courageous effort to win the Bed o Roses, something she has not always been willing or able to do. Only a few days ago, we remarked that none of the four-year-olds had thus far been able to replace Searching, Outer Space and Alanesian, so Mrs. Sloanes strapping daughter of Endeavour II. promptly brought credit to her generation. Last year, Big Effort won the Acorn Stakes in the style of a genuine champion, but came back with a dull effort in the Coaching Club American Oaks, won by Calumet Farms A Glitter, who has been anything but a model Showed Improvement at Gulfstream Later in the summer, Big Effort trounced Idun, Tempted and A Glitter in the Delaware Oaks, but was beaten in her next eight starts. Last winter, Big Effort trained well, but her exceedingly bad races at Hialeah completely mystified both Elliott Burch and his father, Preston. Then, at Gulfstream Park, she finished a close second to the useful colt, Day Court, in a fast mile and a sixteenth. Her next two starts were victories in an allowance race here and in the Bed o Roses. So, for the first time in her career, Big Effort has put not only two, hut three good races together. Now that she has added consistently to her virtues, she may become a really good one. A Glitter, who was receiving two pounds from Big Effort, also ran one of her best races in the Bed o Roses, but the daughter of Khaled has yet to put even two good races together. Though earning 44,645 last year, A Glitter has not been able to win since August 20, when she scored in an allowance race at Saratoga. Her trouble seems to be mental, but, in the week-end stake, she stood a drive every step of the way and was still trying at the finish, nosing out Mile. Dianne at the finish and only succumbing by a neck to Big Efforts closing rush. Mile. Dianne, for her part, had much more early speed than usual and held on gallantly, but has still to win her first stakes. Far more consistent than either Big Effort up to now or A Glitter, she has earned a check in all but two of her last 11 starts. Monday morning Big Effort grazed in the grassy green quadrangle inside the circular barn that shelters the Brookmeade horses at Belmont Park, as placidly content in the warm spring sunshine as though she knew she had accomplished a job well done. It was not always thus with the daughter of Endeavour II. Marvin Greene, who saddled the filly Saturday in the absence of Elliott Burch, who was otherwise engaged at Churchill Downs, remarked that Big Effort had never been able to relax in Florida during the winter. The assistant trainer seemed to think that this tension had accounted for her bad races at Hialeah. Beaten Warrior Sports Battle Scars Over at barn 6A, owner. Christopher T. Chenery supervised the stock Monday morning in the absence of trainer J. H. "Casey" Hayes, who was still cooling out after the Derby. Chenery had no trouble cooling out himself, and reported that First Landing had also cleaned up his supper Saturday night. "He came out of the race with about four or five nicks and a rubbed place on his right hip where he bruised himself in the gate," Chenery said, "but hell be all right." First Landing is due at Belmont Park Tuesday morning, while Sword Dancer is going straight to Pimlico. We remarked that some observers thought that First Landing might have won the Derby had he not been in trouble going to the first turn, then been bothered by Open View near the quarter pole. "You dont have much chance in the Derby if you cant be clear and near the lead at the first turn," Chenery said, but added philosophically, "You have to expect these things in a field of 17 horses. First Landing has beaten those two horses, Tomy Lee and Sword Dancer, before and I think he can do it again. Therell probably be a much smaller field in the Preakness." Mentioning the now historic bit of conversation between Willie Shoemaker and Bill Boland at the head of the stretch, we suggested that "Shoe" might have been inciting his rival to make a premature move with Sword Dancer. "That seems a bit sophisticated for a jockey," Chenery said with a chuckle.
