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New Jersey By William C. Phillips 1 Some Bits of News Gathered on Backstretch Trainer Ray Metcalf Reviews Derby Running Opines Open View Ran Good Race in Classic GARDEN STATE PARK. Camden, N. J., May 6 — A tour of the immaculate Garden State Park back-stretch on a bright spring morning is always a pleas- ure — no muddy heels or dusty cuffs. It was doubly enjoyable this a.m. because of a rich harvest of news gathered on the way. Elkcam Stables Open View goes in the Preakness. Elkcam Stable and Lou Cheslers Atoll does not, although both can be expected in the Jersey Stakes. Spring Hill Farms Easy Spur has "no chance" of starting in the Preakness but may be repaired in time for the Jeresy. Brookfield Farms Intentionally and the Mrs. Ada L. Rice duo of Rare Rice and/or Cedar Bird will start Saturday in the 6 furlongs Delaware Valley Stakes and their Preakness and Jersey status will depend on developments. Bayard Sharps Troilus, who arrived yesterday in the same van with Open View and Atoll, kept right on going until he reached his owners farm in Middletown, Del., where he will be nursed and rested. In addition, the Rice stable Thursday will van Talent Show to New York for the Grey Lag and Air Pilot to Pimlico for the Dixie. Ray Metcalf was friendly and all smiles over the excellent condition in which both of his colts emerged from the Derby. Open View finished eighth, beaten seven and three-quarter lengths, and Atoll was another position and three lengths farther behind. Metcalf believes Open View ran a good race in the Derby. "I thought he might win coming to the final turn, but he was on the outside, and when they fanned out heading for home he wound up beyond the middle of the track. If he could have traded positions with Atoll I think he could have won. Atoll was laying third, not more than a length off of the lead. A little mud might have helped him, but hes not a real mile and a quarter horse and he couldnt come on. Open View could have and did, but had to lose too much ground." Both Definite Jersey Candidates Metcalf went on to declare both colts dead fit" and that Open View would go in the Preakness with Karl Korte having the return mount. Atoll, who is not as rugged a colt, will be freshened. Both are "definitely" being pointed for the Jersey Stakes here on May 30, and Sam Boulmetis will be back on Atoll in that race. Metcalf agreed that it was a roughly run Derby but thought most of the trouble was caused when Troilus stopped so abruptly. The latter colt, incidentally, was severely cut up by horses running over his heels as he threaded back to last place, and he is not likely to be in training again until next fall. As for Open View brushing Tomy Lee away from the gate, Metcalf says the Turner colt came out as much as his colt came in, and that "Shoemaker was pulling out all of his tricks all of the way." The last, incidentally, was spoken in admiration and not as a complaint. Paul L. Kelley was gracious and considerate as ever in the face of the adversity suffered by his colt, Easy Spur. As far as the running of the Derby he feels Easy Spur "did not have an excuse in the world," and that "Hartack rode a perfect race." Kelley spoke warmly of the cooperation and friendliness of the Derby reporters, but added his colt finally became so gun-shy of photograph bulbs popping that when he sighted a camera he would hide in the corner of his stall and shiver. Kelley smiled as he said, "yes, if you want me to play the red-board, Ill admit Im sorry I ran in the Derby. Nothing went exactly right, after he twisted his ankle in the Stepping Stone, but Ill take all the blame." Easy Spur Passes Up Preakness Easy Spur is described by his capable conditioner as a "delicate" colt but one who never took a false step until twisting his ankle. The homebred son of Crowfoot — Easy Reeling was one of the Derby choices after winning the Florida Derby but finished 13th in the Kentucky classic. The colt was being washed down as Kelley spoke. The injured right fore-ankle was slightly swollen but it was holding his weight and the leg appeared firm. "I guess Ill paint him a little bit," Kelley mused, "and see how he comes along. Theres no chance of him going in the Preakness but Id like to run him in the Jersey. Those were my plans all along. Its not wise putting the races too close together, especially with a small colt like this." He supports the decision made by Frank Childs not to run Tomy Lee in the Preakness, saying, "Tomy Lees a delicate colt, too. Remember, the Derby is a tough race. Look at all the colts who ran in the Derby last year. Where are they?" The unspoken answer was "nowhere." Eddie Kelley spoke with satisfaction about his black colt, Intentionally, saying the son of Intent seems to have held his speed after running middle distances in the Gotham and Wood Memorial. He gives the colt no excuse in either race, incidentally, and did not seem enthused over Intentionally s Preakness prospects. "It will depend on his race here Saturday, and a lot will also depend on who else is in the race." As for the Jersey Stakes, he admits he is "keeping an eye on it."
