The Saint Paul globe., 1905-04-16
FIRST WATER IS A
WONDERFUL COL 7
Bennington Refuses Fabulous
Price for Greco
Youngster
Special to The Globe

Special to The Globe
NEW YORK. April ia big chestnut
colt with a blaze face and white hind
feet is just now the sensation of the hour
at Gravesend He is First Water, a son
OF Watercress, James b. Haggin's great
est sire, and Sweet. Trainers who have
watched the aristocratic youngster work
for the past two weeks united in predict
ing that he will be close to the top when
the season ends. First Water is the star
of Newton Bennington's string. He is
under the care of Fred Burlew, the trainer
who developed Beldame for her wonderful
campaign last summer and If the hand
ling counts. the Watercress colt will not
lack for anything that will enable him to
achieve glorious career, If the ability
is within him.
The youngster came into Mr.. Benning
tons hands as a yearling at the Haggin
sales held at Sheepshead Bay last sum-
mer. Even at that age he was big,
handsome and attractive. His present
owner paid large sum, said to be IS 900
or IS, ,000, for the colt in accordance with a
desire to get together one of the strongest
stables of 2 year olds on the American
turf.
In anticipation at least, Mr.. Benning-
ton appears to have achieved his object.
First Water is only one of the many good
juveniles now being trained by Buriew
for the local turfman. He may be the best
of the lot, but he is not immeasurably so.
Jerry Weinberg IS one that can get out
with First Water and run quite as fast.
But First Water has already achieved a
makes good at the game of racing or not.
So well has he galloped in his baby trials
that an offer of $4,000 has been made
and refused for him. Recently Dave
Sloan, acting. il is said. as an agent, ap-
preached Bennington after seeing the colt
work. and offered $4,000 for him. The
latter asked for week in which to de.
eide. Upon the expiration of the allotted
time he told Sloan that be did not care
to part with First Water.
Recently First Water appeared on the
track at Gravesend and covered half a
mile well inside of so seconds. or prac-
tically at good racing speed, without ap-
pear1ng TO extend himself unduly. This
move, according to reports, brought forth
another offer of $50 600, presumably from
the same source. although some of the
spectators say that Matt Allen. trainer
for James Brady, appeared to be much
interested in the colt, and that the offer
might have been inspired by the former
owner of Gold Heels. The second offer
brought forth the announcement that the
colt is not for sale at any price.
In turf history 5000 is fabulous
price for colt that has never faced the
starter, no matter what he has shown in
preliminary work: Many horsemen be-
horse for which a large price has been
offered and refused. Bennington is evi-
IDENTIFY not afraid of the hoodoo. First
Water is engaged in practically every
II
gramme, and his possible winnings foot
up many times the amount that was Of
fered for him. II he trains on into what
Is expected, Bennington will have no rea-
son to regret not letting him 60
First Water is superbly set up and
moves like a coming champion. His fun
brother, Lindsy Gordon. raced on the 10
cal tracks last summer. He was short,
chunky animal, of altogether a different
build from First Water despite the rela-
tionship, and never amounted to anything;
He could get out in the morning and reel
off a fast half mile, but when 1t comes to
racing under colors he was disappoint-
ment. Judged by this colt the present
star of the Bennington string could be
set down as a precocious youngster, but
this estimate would be wrong. First Wa
ter. even now, acts like a mature racer in
his manner of going. He will be closely
watched, and if he does not train into
one of the best youngsters of the year
the trainers around GraEesend will leave
large portion of their salaries with the
layers of odds.