The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-09
GOSSIP or THE RAGETRGK
ROSEBEE rs FAVORITE FOR TO-
DAYS METROPOLITAN,
Biz Train Picked to Beat TOkAIon. seweII,
Tanya and Others In . Fine Field at
belmont Park -Dave johnson Has Al.
ready Wagered %, 900 Against 10000.

belmont Park Dave johnson Has Al
ready Wagered %. 900 Against 90, 1000
II the weather is favorable to-day an i'm.
ntnse crowd will see the running Of the rich
Metropolitan Handicap, one mile, at Belmont
Park, where the spring meeting OF the West
chester Racing Association will be inauEu-
rated. With q fast track II is generally be-
liered that a most sensational race will be
run and that there may be q new worlds
record for the distance. Among horsemen
who have studied the form and physical
condition OF the various candidates for this
important event the impression prevailed
yesterday that David G. Johnson's phenom-
email Splinter Roseben would carry the day.
Roseben will pick VI 124 pounds, a COM
psratively light burden. and will be ridden
BY Jack Martin. Tn Big Train, who should
have won the Carter Handicap in a gallop
with a competent jockey on his back, has
not been to the races since that event.
He showed so much quality in that affair
that Dave johnson felt convinced that no
horse could beat Roseben In to-day's race.
With that object in view, therefore, Trainer
Frank u, Weir has been subJecting r oseben
10 a most careful preparation. The big
fellow has done all that the clever trainer
has asked Of him and Ia in superb trim. The
other day as a sort OF final prep for the
Metropolitan Roseben worked a mile over the
Grayesend track in lA0 is. He had about
1856 pounds on his back and Martin kept him
al least twenty feet away from the inner
rail to avoid a new covering Of SOIL. Roseben
was lighting for his head most Of the journey,
which was so easily covered that those who
looked on have since declared that they do
not see how the son Of Ben Strome can be
beaten. In fact a majority Of the trainers
a. Jamaica said yesterday that barring acct
dents Roseben would CONT home on the bit.
Last fall it will he remembered that Rose
hen, with l?6 pounds on his back, ran seven
furlonEs over the Belmont Park track. around
one turn, in 1922 fiat. a new worlds record.
II he can duplicate this remarkable perform
aDce to-day experts declare that he will race
the other horses OF their feet In the first
three-Quarters OF a mile. Martin will receive
Instructions to take Roseben to the front at
the start. That is the best way the Big Train
can travel. and as Martin Ia In excellent form
Just now it is safe to say that for az least a
part Of the race Roseben will be the pace
maker. Those who are handling the great
horse say that II he can take a big lead at the
outset no horse can overhaul him unless he
stops in the last ~furlong. The fact that In
past years Roseben has never shown fond
ness for distances Of more than seven fur
longs cannot be overlooked in the calcula-
tons. hut as the horse has been especially
trained to last out the Metropolitan distance
his handlers are supremely confident.
Davy johnson was trying to bet a bundle
on him at Jamaica yesterday. He made one
bet OF s.. 900, against $1,000 with Cad DogRett
and another of 81 900 to 5000 with William
Dubois. but afterward when he tried to get
on more he was informed that there was
nothing doing. The stable connections In
tend TO bet heavily on him In the ring to-day,
and as the public 10 sure to follow Roseben
will 20 TO the post a ~favorite. II 1t should
rain and the track is heavy Roseben will
start Just the same. fCr he can run in the
mud as well as anything else in the race.
Sharp calculators figured yesterday that
with Roseben the most dangerous factor
he would have some very fast horses TO con-
tend with. j. W. Fuller's Tokalon. who won
the Brooklyn Handicap last year and is in
tiptop condition. 10 one OF them. She won a
handicap at five and u half fufiou6s the other
day with top weight, beating her field with
consummate ease. She is a great stretch
runner and is game to the core. Further
more she likes q route. and for that reason
1t is thought that she will be close 10 the
winner at the end OF the race. The Brown
leigh Park Stables three-year-old Sewell
Is also highly regarded. This colt. in the
of his owner and trainer. hast
speed enough to go out with Roseben and put
up a strong argument.
Sewell has done some fast work and in q
al Jamaica last week he easily disposed
Of n. p. Whitney's Tanya. running three
quarters In l.1S. with bis rider easing him up
a. the end. Tanya will surely 90 II the track
Is good and by many she IL regarded as a
possible winner. She had not raced for two
years up TO a week ago. but she is as sound as
q gold dollar and Trainer Rogers believes
she will take a beating. Tanya is at
best at a mile or over. She can carry
has a fine turn of speed and possesses
plenty OF courage. When.it comes to fighting
/ out with an anita Ronist in the stretch there
= no race mare in training that is her superior.
koerner will have the mount and the Meddler
mare will probably rule second or third
.hoice in the speculation.
i. n. McCormick's Gloriher, who won the
arter and ran second TO DR.. Gardner in the
Excelsior. MAJ run a good race. He is keyed
~ 10 the right notch and his owner feels sure
he will get a part OF the stakes. +. r, |
Hitchcock's Dandelion. an unlucky horse
ast year. will go 10 the post for the first time
his season with Radtke in the saddle. He
las been fitted for the race by John Z. Mad
and is ready just what the California
,orse, W. II. Carey. will do in the big event is
matter OF much interest. He was invinoible
Is Aqueduct. where he had a long home
iretch on which 10 extend himself. b Il he
rould not negotiate the turns at Jamaica.
where he was beaten OF in the Excelsior.
arey will probably run well at Belmont Park,
loVeyer, because OF the wide, long stretches,
% that he may be knocking at the door.
George c. Bennett's good mare Dishabille
: another starter worth considering. She is in
condition. and IL she gets way from
he post she will probably make a strong bid
or some part OF the money. Boots Durnell
vii start Nealon. for whom he paid SIS. 900 for
half interest last year. This horse likes a
and he has run some of his best races
yer the Belmont course. August Belmont's
preventative will be Blandy. who ran third
q Sewell and Tanya at Jamaica. James r.
will start the three-year-old Com
nando colt, superman. who has done SOM
ast work in his trials. and IL ready. The
'ewcastle Stables colors viii be carried by
he three-year-old J. c. Core, who will be
idden by Miller. This colt worked a mile
he other day In I:4o and a fraction. and may
e in the early pace.
Bat Masterson, another three-year-old that
as shown much In his work. will have eS
ounds for a burden. In private waeers his
vner, NJ. L.. Schwartz. stands 10 win $1,000.
'svy Johnson recently bet him $50, 600 TO 81 900
hat Masterson would not win. There are
ourteen horses named TO go. but there may
2 some added starters. The Metropolitan
be run at about $40 O'Clock. The con-
i!tions and entries fellows:
IN. Metropolitan Handicap. for three year -olda