New Britain herald., 1929-07-06
PICKING
 RACE CHAMPIONS
Seven Tho7Ou9hbreds Qualified to Wear Crowns in Divisions

New York, July 6 LP-Picking turf champions in July is dangerous business but if titles were awarded on the basis of performances since April, seven thoroughbreds would be we'll qualified today to wear the crown of their respective divisions.
 A selection of title holders after the Fourth of July races would look something like this: Two-year- old. Boojum; three-year- old, Blue Lark spur; two-year- old lilly, AlcibiadeS; three-year- old lilly, Rose of Sharon; champion, Diavolo. and steeplechase champion, Bangle.
 But even after the above list is de- cided upon there is still much room for dispute. Not in recent years has the three -year-old division been so devoid of an outstanding horse. Blue Larkspur is a good colt but not a great one. He can be beaten, as shown in the Kentucky derby and Dwyer, but deserves the rank of the Fourth of July champion because of victories in the Withers and Bel mont. No other three-year- old has won more than one important stake event. The muddle. however, may be strengthened out next Saturday when all of the leaders of the division, with the possible exception of Jack High. meet at Arlington Park in the S60 900 American classic.
 Even the two-year- old scramble for yearly honors is still a wide open proposition and probably will re- main so until the rich and important juvenile fixtures at Saratoga Springs in August and Belmont Park in Sep tember oft times in the past the really good youngsters have not come to the fore until Saratoga. But up to the present time Harry Payne Whitneys Boojum has shown the most speed. In his few times out this season he never has bcnn pushed. al ways winning with several lengths to spare.
 Like the three year-old division the handicap section is a sorry look ing mess. Beating each other with almost every shift in weights appears to be q habit with the runners in this division, Diavolo won the Cal verton, Dixie and Brookdale handl- caps this spring and was beaten only once and that by the lightly weighed Light Carbine. But out west Mlsstep has been having things his own way and might be able to handle Diavolo.
 In the three year-old lilly division however, there is no argument as to the champion. Rose of sharon IS without question the best of her class. Victor in the Ashland, Ken lucky and Illinois Oaks over all the best of her age and sex, she may prove a worthy oponent for the colts in he classic.
 Hal Price Hcadley's Alcibiades has done all her racing in the west where she has knocked off the two- .year-old Allies with great regularity. The cast has failed to develop an outstanding juvenile lilly.
 The record of Osmond in the sprint class has been none too i'm pressive but the gelded son of Sweep is always weighed heavily in his races-a factor that may account for his one defeat of the season. Given anything like an even break in weights. the Widener gclding is practically unbeatable. The Oakride stables thrce- -ypar-old Chestnut Oak might challenge Osmond, but what ever doubts exists as to their rank ing probably will be settled at Sara toga.
 With Jolly Roger waiting for his initial start of the season and Fair mount failing to race imnressively, Thomas Hitchcock s Sr's Bangle IS just about the class of the jumpers. in fact he has gone pp so fast in the