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NEW JERSEY : . .:......... . * w//,™ c. pm* GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 13. Trainer Anthony Puglisi this morning reported on Fairlawn Farms Sharpsburg and said that his pros- pects of being in condition for the 0,000 added Camden Handicap here on the Saturday of May 23 are "strictly touch and go." The six-year-old Calumet-bred son of Alibhai is galloping but his young ex-jockey trainer reports he pulled up the worse for the wear after finishing second at 6 furlongs in a good effort last week. "Im tubbing him now," Puglisi informed, "and the first sign he shows of coming around * 1 11 start him on some more serious exercise. Right now it looks improbable that hell be up to the race and I naturally am not going to start him if hes not in good condition." History is repeating itself with Shafpburg. He has been beset by a variety of leg ailments since his juvenile year when he fractured bones in both of his front feet. He was recovering from a quarter-crack at Calumet Farm when purchased by his Johnston City, Tenn., owner, but within a few short weeks he ran an impressive skein of triumphs for his new stable and achieved high ranking in the handicap division. Last summer he gave Bold Ruler one of his strongest challenges when he finished second to the Wheatley Stable champion in the 00,000 Monmouth Handicap. In the Pimlico Special last autumn he finished second at equal weight with Vertex. In 19 races last year he won six and purses amounting to 29,331. Not bad for a congenital cripple. Puglisi assumed direction of his training last winter in Florida. His second out he placed to the briefly sensational Venezuelan invader, Petare, in the Royal Palm Handicap, and returned to a decisive four lengths triumph in the McLennan.. While training for the Widener the big chestnut bruised the bone in his left hind foot. Puglisi then sighted him for the Campbell at Bowie only to have Sharpsburg twist the ankle above the same foot. — ~ Sharpsburg is strong in his recuperative powers, if Leg Injuries Continue to Plague Sharpsburg May Prevent His Starting in Camden Handicap Jersey Stakes Expected to Lure Large Field nothing else. Puglisi returned him to the races here last Thursday and he closed like a powerhouse at the unaccustomed distance of 6 furlongs, only to be out-finished on the wire by Sonny Dan. "He doesnt usually like to run inside horses," Puglisi commented, "and I-thought it was a big race. I dont think anything in particular happened to injure him in the race. He just has delicate bones and those old injuries are always liable to flare up." The lameness this time is located in the right forefoot, one of those that were fractured early in his career and later had a- quarter-crack. Puglisi summed up the discourse by saying, "Hes such a wonderful horse and he does everything you ask of him. Its downright frustrating, though, to have one so good and then have him on the sidelines while some other runner who may not be nearly as good wins all the money and the glory." The Homestretch: If everybody who says they are pointing a horse for the 0,000 added Jersey Stakes here on May 30 fulfills his word, the field will be the largest in its 18-year history. No less than 13 locally stabled three-year-olds have been mentioned by their trainers, not counting those who will deal with the Preakness first, and a few others who may be hiding-under a bushel in New York. The Jersey Stakes, at 9 furlongs, was originally planned as a fourth leg to the famed Triple Crown. It has never quite achieved that status but it has become an important adjunct. It has been won by such as Sunny Blue Farms Lincoln Road last year and the Calumet trio of Iron Liege, Fabius and Triple Crown winner, Citation. In winning the Delaware Valley Stakes with Intentionally last Saturday, the Brookfield Farm of Harry Isaacs was completing a-double. I Geegee won the same feature for Isaacs when the stakes was inaugurated in 1954. . . . Herb Fisher, who is training a useful stable here in which he owns part interest, opines that the recent Kentucky Derby was nowhere near as rough as the. one in which he staged his now famous rough-house with Don Meade in 1933. The latter won with Brokers Tip and Fisher was second on Head Play. Incidentally, Fisher is pulling for Reggie Cornell to win the Preakness with Mrs. Halina Braunsteins Royal Orbit. He and Reggie were buddies in the old days. . . . Now that Brunetti and Piarullis Vertex is capturing the nations turf headlines, perhaps they will believe the superlatives accorded him by us in New Jersey who spoke of him as being -ilany kind of horse" when he began his career here as a three-year-old. Trainer Kenny Noe Sr., speaking of Wm. M. Ingrams Scotland: "I imagine hell like the Belmont Stakes. He""looked like he wanted to go on in every race hes run and the mile and a half might be right up his alley." The roan son of Princequillo — Vermont Marble is expected to go in the Jersey Stakes here, but Noe obviously has the Belmont set as his ultimate goal. . . . Not much imagination is required to figure out why James D. Norris named one of his homebred colts * "Maybe Best." The son of Crafty Admiral — Nell K., by Crowfoot, finished second to Brookfield Farms Intrusting in a good effort last time, and the paint on his front ankles suggests he may be bucking. Jockey Chris Rogers drove to Anthony Imbesis Briardale Farm near Mays Landing, N. J., this week to confer with Imbesi on the strategy to be employed ~with Rico Tesio in Saturdays Preakness. Rogers was at Pimlico today to ride Milton Shagrins San Ju Lee in the Black-Eyed Susan, but he will return to fulfill engagements here on Thursday and Friday. . . . New Jersey is losing one of its most promising apprentices in Richard J. Hurley. The young reinsman, the top young rider in Florida last winter, received a 10-day suspension here and he is planning to leave for Detroit. . . . Agent Gene Fisher has taken over the engagements of apprentice Victor Ca"stagna, a newcomer who broke his maiden at this meeting. . . . Phil Grimm returned to Suffolk Downs after handling B. A. Darios Dandy Blitzen in a race here Monday but will be back to ride her again Saturday in the 5,000 added Colonial Handicap.
