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Mexico City Nibelungo Winner Of Derby Mexicano By GAY DALTON MEXICO CITY. — Justo Fernandez, whose pretentious Cuadra Xalapa stable captured the Handicap de las Americas, Mexicos premier stake, in the past three seasons, finally registered its first win in the 125,000 pesos-added Derby Mexicano. Nibelungo, the Turn-to — Miss Doreen sophomore who has dominated the three-year-old ranks this year at the Hipodromo de las Americas, carried the Xalapa colors and managed to stick his nose ahead of Cuadra Leos Lea-B., a daughter of Sagittarius — Aluana, bred by Thomas Piatt, after a furious stretch drive that saw -the two sophomores battle it out head and head for the last sixteenth, of the 1% miles classic. Lea-B. and veteran jockey Santiago Leal were the heroes of the race, and everybody at the track, including the Xalapa forces and jockey Jorge Nunez, rider of Nibelungo, had conceded the victory to the game filly, to the extent that the son of Turn-to had been unsaddled and was being led back to the barn when the official result was posted, making him the winner. He was returned to the winners enclosure, the rider hoisted up bareback for the pictures, while the huge crowd stood confused, with some of the most boisterous fans whistling in protest. However, when the photo finish pictures were posted, the victory of Nibelungo was acknowledged. The action of the horses, driving furiously toward the wire, had "been quicker than the eye, but there was no doubt. The Xalapa colorbearer was the winner by a couple of inches, Lea-B. having lowered her head right at the wire, while Nibelungo was just moving up at the time they hit the wire. In annexing his sixth consecutive victory in as many starts at the 1958-59 meeting, Nibelungo also conquered the three-year-old crown. Among his winning efforts were the Stakes Jockey Mexicano and the Derby Mexicano, first and third legs of the Mexican Triple Crown.* He was not eligible for the middle" leg, the Gran Premio Nacional, which is reserved for Mexican-bred three-year-olds. However, his right to the crown, which seemed clear-cut before the Derby, was somewhat obscured by Lea-B.s close defeat. Although 11 of the 16 nominees went, "postward; the 17th running of the Derby turned out to be a two -horse race, and up to the stretch turn it seemed that" Nibelungo was running away with the title without opposition. Cuadra Xalapa sent postward a triple entry — Nibelungo, the homebred El Tajin and Ceiba — with El Tajin in charge of setting the early pace and taking care of any speed horses that might have tried to escape. This he did, battling for the lead with Rancho Blancos El Patron for 6 furlongs, while Nibelungo was held in third position waiting for El Patron to go back. Lea-B. was kept in fifth place to the half-mile post, and then moved %o fourth as Nibelungo started to move nearing the far turn. The Turn-to colt had no, trouble disposing of his stablemate and El Patron and entered the seretch with a two-length margin, giving the impression that he could coast, the rest of the way. But at this junction, Leal started a drive with Lea-B., got up to the winner on the outside, and the thrilling duel developed with the outcome already explained. Ceiba, Nibelungos other running mate, came from behind to earn third money, seven lengths back of the leaders, with El Patron and El Tajin, the early pacemakers, in the next positions. v Cuadra Xalapa, who nominated and planned to start Nibelungo in the upcoming 200,000 pesos-added Handicap de las Americas May 16, may revive their plans after the Derby, while Lea-B., who seems to improve with distance, and has already met older horses in prep races for her Derby effort, may have earned the right to start in the Americas with her brilliant Derby display. Weights for the "big handicap" will be out this week. Tempranillo, owned by Rancho San Rafael, and Cuadra Carrusels Chilcal, should head the list, but last weeks Handicap Gay Dalton changed the status of some of the likely starters, and the result of the Derby should also have some influence in the estimation of tfie handicappers.
