New-York tribune., 1907-05-09
ROSEBEN THE FAVORITE
B41TLE ROYAL PROMISED
GOOD Field for metropolitan Handi-
cap at Belmont Park

Hilie' should furnish a battle roval AT ReInoon,
Fark to-day. Fourteen horses have been named
as probable starters. and unless all signs fail
struggle VIII ensue which is bound to stir the
blood or the thousands which will go down 70
see the historic fixture decided The field IS a
good one, as good in fact. as any which has
competed for the rich prize in recent years. Bet
ter yet. the majority of those which will go to
the post have been tried ont in public so that
the handicappers have a fair line on their condi-
uoh- This does not necessarily mean that the
winner will be easy To find. as to all appear
ances the weights have been so cleverIy ad-
justed that five six horses, ut least figure
heads apart
The Metropolitan Handicap is the feature Of
the opening day of the first spring meeting of
the Westchester Racing Association al Belmont
Park which 10 many still means the opening Of
the Eastern racing season. To change from the
little one-mile track at Jamaica, with its sur
roundings none too attractive, to the broad
stretches at Belmont Park with a picturesque
vista of woods and fields. will be a welcome one,
particularly to those who like to combine a
days outing with days racing. Everything
was in readiness for the opening yesterday. The
big, parllike inciosure. with its roomy paddock.
sumptuous clubhouse and commodious grand
stand. looked spick and span, and it is safe to
say that twenty thousand persons will go down
to-day TO enjoy It all.
The Metropolitan Handicap will be run as the
third race, Harry Payne Whitney's Tanya may
not go to the post. but the thirteen others are
almost sure to face the starter, Roseben, D. c.
Johnson's great weight carrying sprinter. which
holds the American records for six and seven
furlongs, was the overnight favorite for the
race. and in all probability will hold that posi-
ton when the field lines up at the barrier. His
plunging owner could not wait until the prices
We're posted to bet on the good son of Ben
Strome, and has already placed $4,000 to $1,000
accepting 3 TO l. He bet $1,000 with clubhouse
commissioners at Jamaica yesterday ar that
price and offered $1,000 more at > to . without
any takers. His confidence in Roseben is infec-
tiOus and hundreds Of persons Will follow his
lead to-day, as the horse is more or less a pop
ular idol.
Roseben has started only once this year, when
he ran second to Glorifer in the Carter Handicap
after stormy journey. He was the real hero
of that race. and since then has been carefully
pointed for the Metropolitan Jack Martin in
stead Of BeCkman, Will have the mount to-day,
and this means good handling With a lucky
break the Big Train" as he is sometimes called.
Will unquestionably force fast pace. and the
only question that could then arise would be his
distance Of one mile. His final work for the
mile IN a fraction under 40,
which shows that he is ready.
OF the others, Sewell qualified in impressive
style when he won at six furlongs a few days
ago in the fast time OF l: 13. He is handicapped
a hundred pounds, and If little Brussell can
himself. Bat Masterson has not had public
trial but his private work has been such that
NJ L. Schwartz and his friends supremey
confident OF victory. J. c. Core. another three
year-old, did not show particularly we'll in the
Excelsior Handicap. but his work since then has
been highly satisfactory, and the Millerites will
bet him to a man. James Z. Keene has
strong candidate in Superman.
Tokalon. the Brooklyn Handicap winner last
year, showed that she fit and ready in win
ming a last Saturday, but she, Dishabille
and " n. Carey are such slow beginners that
they will have to overcome a serious handicap
possible. however that Of these slow begin
ners will come booming along in the stretch
and snatch the prize from those which will bear
the brunt Of the early battle. Zienap, Blandy
and Nealon Will probably be the outsiders but
Dandelion and Tanya must not be overlooked II
they go to the post, although both must be
taken on faith to a large extent.
All things considered, the appears TO be
among Roseben. Sewell and J. c. Core but
the uncertainties Of racing oftentimes best
illustrated in q OF this kind. and where one
will pick the winner tomorrow eight or ten
others will fail.
The Metropolitan Handicap first run at
Morris Park in 1891. when Tristan beat Tenny
ming at Belmont Park, in 1905. the great Syson-
by and Race King dead heat. Last year
Grappe furnished a surprise by defeating Dan
deion. Oxford and nineteen others. on the roll
of winners are such good horses Irish Lad,
Gunfire Arsenal, Barastar, Ethelbert, Filigrane,
Bowling Brook. Voter, Counter Tenor, Ramapo,
Charade and Pessara.
The entries other than for the Metropolitan Han
dicap follow: