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Tru Tru Blu Blu Lu Lu Registers Registers Close Close Victory; Victory; Royal Royal Orbit Orbit Takes Takes Preakness Preakness Prep Prep Manassa Mauler Half Length Back Posts Swift Time of 1 :44%; Black Hills Third in Tune-up For Big Event on Saturday By CHARLES HATTON PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 11. — Royal Orbit, a golden colt from the Golden State, gained support for the week ends 50,000 — added Preakness when he responded to one crack of Willie Harmatz whip to wear down Emil Dolces rags-to-riches Manassa Mauler and win the Preakness Prep by a half length before an approving audience of 8,853 this afternoon. Two lengths away from the leaders, who had pulled out all the stops at the head of the stretch. King Ranchs Black Hills was third by a length and a half over the limber pacemaker, Marauder, in a field of six Preakness eligibles. . Fastest Time of Meeting Mr. Halina Braunsteins successful son of Royal Charger and Admirals Belle returned in the tote and went over a mile" and a sixteenth of fast race track in 1 :44% under 112 pounds, swiftest time of the meeting on the main track. Manassa Mauler gave a good account of himself, for he carried 120 and prompted the pace closer than did the winner. Both were a little tired at the end, as their connections desired, in order to have them thoroughly tightened for the week ends mile and three-sixteenths. None of the others in the field ever looked like beating them today._ Upon dismounting from Manassa Mauler, who saved a bit ,of ground over the winner racing on the rails, jockey Ray Broussard said, "My horse just got tired. We ran exactly as we had planned it, except I think he needed the race. No, I dont think Continued on Page Six MRS. HALINA BRAUNSTEIN — Royal Orbit carried her colors to victory in the Preakness Prep. ► r — — -Tr- ; 1 i ROYAL ORBIT — Triumphed in the Preakness Prep for his firsfsuccess of the year and to indicate his readiness for Saturdays big race at Pimlico. Royal Orbit Takes Preakness Prep Manassa Mauler Half Length Back ; Posts Swift Time of 1 :44%; £ Black Hills Third in Tune-up * For Big Event on Saturday F Continued from Page One the added distance Saturday will bother him." Trainer Frank Pancho Martin of the Dolce colt said, "We pushed him pretty hard and he needed the race. "I think Royal Orbit is the horse we are going to have to beat Saturday, and I think we can do it." Trainer Reggie Cornell said, "The boy only tapped Royal Orbit once/ He was outside all the way, which means that he gave up more ground. I thought he ran a terrific race and Im very satisfied." Harmatz commented Royal Orbit ". . . handled the track very well, but when he got to the lead, he seemed to pull himself up a bit and appeared to be playing. I have ridden him three times and this was the first time we have gotten to the front, so when he began to play, it was something new to me." Obedience to the Whip The playfulness to which Harmatz referred occurred in midstretch., After he popped Royal Orbit with the whip, his mount became very objective indeed, and it was well he did, for Manassa Mauler was in grim earnest. Larry Adams said of Marauder, "I had to take a good strong hold on him. He appeared very sharp and likes a fast track." Sammy Bulmetis dismounted from Black Hills to say, "That track was a little cuppy and every time I asked him to run a little, he seemed to resist. Mr. Hirsch is training him right up to the big race and he did just as well as we could have, wished. I wasnt picking up any ground at the end, but I wasnt losing any either." Each or the first four at the finish are more or less definite Preakness starters, which leaves only Master Palynch and the King Ranch pair to be accounted for, and none of these came here to sit it out. The fractions for the Prep were: :24, :47%,~1:12, 1:38% and 1:44%. Marauder, wearing blinkers today, dashed to the front in the run to the clubhouse turn, with Manassa Mauler and Master Palynch showing the most early speed of the others. Going down the backstretch, Marauder opened up six lengths on Master Palynch, with Manassa Mauler saving ground racing alongside the Chicago invader. Over these early furlongs, Royal Orbit, who broke from the outside, was bidihg his time several lengths off Manassa Mauler and on the outside of his field, ready to lodge his bid. Master Palynch Tires Toward the end of the backstretch, Marauders action shortened and he commenced coming back t X o the others. Master Palynch gave way on the turn with him and Manassa Mauler went to the front, practically falling heir to the lead. But the invader from California was closing with a smart run along the outside and joined him coming to the furlong pole. Once alongside Manassa Mauler, Royal Orbit began bobbing about and playing, evidently feeling that he had made his point. Harmatz shook him up, smacked him once with the whip and he went back to work with renewed energy. Over the last yards, Royal Orbit and Manassa Mauler matched strides in a duel that carried them daylight before the others. Right down to the very shadow of the finish it appeared the Wood winner might prevail, but he was "forced to captiulate at the weights in the final few strides. Black Hills plugged along evenly all the way and beat tired horses for third. Marauder was on a treadmill in finishing fourth.
