Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-06
SEVEN CHAMPIONS
IN RACING PICKED
However, There Is Room
for Much Dispute in Some
of Divisions.
BY ORLO l.. ROBERTSON,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

n 7EW YORK, July 6.-Picking
turf champions in July Is dan
gerous business, but II titles
/ were awarded on the basis Of
performances since April, seven
thoroughbreds would be well qualified
| today to wear the crown of their re-
spective divisions.
A selection Of title holders after the
Fourth of July races would look some
thing like this: Two-year -old, Boojum;
3-year-old, Blue Larkspur; 2-year-old
of Sharon; sprint champion, Osmand !;
handicap champion, Diavolo, and
steeplechase champion, Bangle.
Many Fine 3.Year-Olds.
But even after the above list is de-
cided upon there Is Stin much room for
dispute Not in recent years has the
3.year-old division been so devoid Of an
outstanding horse. Blue Larkspur Is
good colt, but not a great one. He
can be beaten, as shown In the Ken
lucky Derby. and Dryer but deserves
the rank Of the Fourth Of July cham
pion because Of victories in the With
ers and Belmont. No other Swear Fold
has won more than one important stake
event. The rnuddle, however, may be
Strengthened out next Saturday, when
all the leaders Of the division, with the
possible exception of Jack High, meet
at Arlington Park in the $4,000 Ameri-
can classic.
Even the 2-year-old scramble for
yearly honors Is still q wide-open prop
osition and probably will remain SO
until the rich and important juvenile
and Belmont Park In September. Oft
times IN the past the real good young
sterS 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 been
pushed, always winning with several
lengths to spare.
Like the 3-year-old division the
handicap section Is sorry-looking mess.
Beating each other with almost every
with the runners in this division.
Diavolo won the Calyerton, Dixie and
Brookdale Handicaps this Spring and
was beaten only once and that by the
lightly weighed Light Carbine. But out
West Misstep has been having things
his own way and might be able to
handle Diavolo.
In the 3-year-old filly division how
champion. Rose of Sharon is without
question the best Of her class. Victor
In the Ashland KY, and Illinois
Oaks over all the best Of her age and
sex, she may prove worthy opponent
for the colts In the classic.
Hal Price Headley's Alcibiades has
done all her racing In the West, where
she has knocked of the 2-year-old
fllltes with great regularity. The East
has failed to develop an outstanding
Juvenile lilly.
weight Hurts Osmand.
The record Of Osmand in the sprint
class has been none too impressive, but
the gelded son ofe Sweep Is always
weighted heavily In his races factor
that may account for his one defeat Of
the season. Given anything like an
even break in weights, the Widener
gelding is practically unbeatable. The
Oakride Stables 3-year-old Chestnut
Oak might challenge Osmand, but what
ever doubt exists as to their ranking
probably will be settled at Saratoga.
with jolly Roger waiting for his
Initial start Of the season and Fair
mount failing to race impresstvely,
Thomas Hitchcock, sr.,s, Bangle Is just
about the class Of jumpers. In fact
he has gone up so fast In the estimation
Of the oficial handicappers that he Is
now assigned more weight than FAIR
mount. The final test Of championship
caliber win be in the Grand National
at Belmont Park in September, wilen
al three of the leading contenders viii
likely be starters ut weights nearly level