Waterbury Democrat., 1902-10-11

That there will be field Of 125 en- trants in the next Derby seems quite probable, despite the presence of Say. able. J. B. Respess has grand colt. Dick Welles, that might be figured to be a better animal than Savable Welles was beat once in the mud, and the pretty son of King Eric Teas Over
 may De set down as no s1mudder." He would not do against some of the less royalty bred animals that find the heavy going to their advantage Rome" Respess is willing to back his colt for good deal on a dry track, and is out with the announcement that if the track is fast next June when the flower of the three-year-olds line up for the start in the heart breaking mile and half race, Dick Welles will capture the classic with ease.
 Dick Welles was 'touted" as wonder when he first appeared this year. Saw able, on the contrary, is practically a cast-off. That astute trainer and turf seer, Pat Dunne, had the son of Sal. vator in his stable and considered him very unlucky animal. MT. Drake and his advisers, however, had more faith. in the Salvador strain than had MT. Dunne, and the latter was importuned to sell Savable. Dr.sDrake offered $25,- 900 for Sayable and another colt, and the deal was closed. Now MT. Drake would spurn you were you to offer $5o,000, the price paid for Nasturtium, for the prospective Derby winner.
 The longer a critic watches the re. curing and annual struggle of owners to capture the American Derby the stronger becomes the conviction that the two-year-olds that perform the hardest tasks in the fall are the ones that must be taken into consideration for the Derby the next year. It was, Robert WaddelIs- brilliant showing ia the latter part of his two5y ear-o1d form that made the wise ones think he was; a Derby possibility. When a two-year- 5old with weight up can run mile in 1:40 fiat and go over all sorts of routes against his own age and against older horses, he will do to watch. Sidney year-old in the late season, once un. dertaling to win two races in the same afternoon, and succeeding.
 < Derby honors came to this animal although there were many who did not like his breeding. He was a son of imp. Topgallant, said the critics. and would not class with his Derby company. The gelding Waddell, too, was by Aloha and not "stylishly'' 'bred. No fault can be found withIthe bredinc of Savable and Dick Welles
 Yet it would be ridiculous to give either of these colts monopoly al this time on the classic. Acefull, beat en badly in the Futurity, and winner of the Junior Champion stakes, in which he defeated Mir. Belmont's Lo1d of the Vale, is q doubtful starter in the American Derby. He is owned by Whitney 85 Duryea, and they may start him in the English Derby. Ii Skilfu1, now racing on western tracks, is fit to face the flag Derby day, his owner, c. R. Ellison, will back him roy ally.
 It was Ellison who, at the eleventh hour, made that combination possible
 Jockey Pullman and Robert Wad- dell. .Pa" Bradley was virtually rushed" into accepting Ellison's offer to have Pullman ride hegelding at the eleventh hour, and Pullman won the Derby for Bradley. Ellison will have another winning jockey for Skilful Other certain Derby nominees are Irish Lad, Barca, Colonnade, Linguist, St. Minor, Au Revoir, Topsoil, Flores tan, Rankin, Sidney c. Love, Early, Gold Bell, Hearstburne, Gregor K, Watkins Overton and a score of other fair performers. At this date it is safe to say Look out for the best field in years in the Derby of 19o3."
 JOE HooKER-