The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-05-16
WhiSkery Not Yet Cham
pion of CoIts-Faces
Hard Competition.
By Clark b. Kelsey

Cntted PreSS star C0TreSD0ndeRr
LOUISVILLE, Ky, May 16.-With
the Preakness and Kentucky Derby
out of the way, the long summer
battle for the three-year- turf
championship of 1927 was on today.
Out of the flying dirt clods and
pounding of hoofs in the Derby run
here Saturday, Harry Payne Whit
rey's Whiskery emerged as the out
standing thoroughbred of America.
He proved the greatness of the
Broomstick strain. to which he traces
his ancestry, and established him.
self as possessing the essential quail
ties of speed, gameness and staying
ability.
But Whiskery is not yet the I'M
disputed champion. BY the time the
rich Belmont Stakes is run, and the
other big stakes to be contested in
Whiskery must fight and fight hard
to withstand the challenge of perhaps
half a dozen good -year-olds that
this season has developed.
He has yet to meet the Rancocas
Stables Sweepster and the Seagram
Stables Sir Harry, neither of whom
contested in the Derby J. E. Widen
er's Osmand was beaten only a head
in the Derby and apparently is still
capable of giving the Whitney speed
ster a tough battle.
Had Legitimate Alibi
j. w. Parrishs Rolled Stocking
ran a terrible Derby. but he Of all
the starters had a legitimate alibi.
He was badly cut when Buddy Bauer
jumped on him at the start and
when he is back in shape may JUS
tify the confidence of those who
backed his odds down TO less than
5, to l in the Derby. j. n. Cam
denis Hydromel, too, which ran a
splendid race to be fourth. had been
out of condition lately and the Bel
mont may tell different story.
The way of a Derby winner is
hard. A horse brought to the top
of form so early in the season to
win a race that always is a severe
struggle has too much taken out of
him to stay fit all summer, as a rule
Colts such as Zev are notable ex-
ceptions, and they have been few.
Whiskery has had an exception
ally hard campaign. He won the
Chesapeake Stakes at Havre de
Grace, ran third in the Preakness at
Pimlico and then won the Derby, all
within about two weeks. If Jimmy
Rowe and Fred Hopkins can keep
him in shape all summer to trample
down the kind OF competition he
must meet, Whiskery will be one of
the greatest horses of all times.
There is nothing to detract from
the glory that the Whisk Broom II.
Prudery colt won at the Downs Sat
urday. His spectacular race and
glorious stretch finish brought him
immortal glory and made the 1927
Derby one that will long be remem.
bered.
1t was truly run race and Whis-
kerry proved himself a better racer
than Osmand. The latter, with
Sande up, ran to his utmost ability
and failed by "a head. Both showed
a remarkable performance in finish.
ing so strongly after the hot early
pace set by E. B. McLean's Jock.
especially Osmand, which chased
Jock while Linus McAtee held Whis.
kerry back.
Jock Goes Great
Jock, incidentally, did himself
proud by staying in at the finish,
and probably will be a great horse
this year at shorter distances than
a mile and a quarter.
The only real flops of the race
were w. NJ. Jefford's Scapa Flow
and the Sage stables Rip Rap. The
Man o. War colt now looks almost
hopeless as anything but a sprinter
1t may be that Rip Rap needs races
and will do better by fall. Most of
the others ran good races.
The Derby was witnessed by the
greatest crowd in it's history, esti-
mated at from $4,000 to 100000. The
crowd bet nearly 100000 in the
mutuels on all races. but. contrary
to all expectations, the take" on
the Derby was less than last year.
1t had been expected to total nearly
a million dollars, but actually was
$676,4S3.