Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-05-15
MUD LENGTHENS
PREAKNESS ODDS
ON WAR ADMIRAL
$4,000 Will Watch Derby
Winner Try to Repeat
at PimIico.
ABILITY ON WET TRACK
DISPUTED QUESTION
Suffered Setback Last Year on
Soft Course-Pompoon Has
Some Supporters.
Pictures on Page Az
BY ORLO ROBERTSON,
Associated Press 6portk Writer.

BALTIMORE, May l5.-A mile and
three-sixteenths journey over q rain
soaked track at Pimlico today stood
between War Admiral and the turf's
hall Of fame as the little brown son
OF Man o War came down to the $780,
900 Preal11ess, the outstanding choice
to whip six other 3-year-old colts and
= lone filly.
Ordinarily. that Journey, over which
only Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Burgoo
King, Omaha and Bold Venture trav-
elled to victory after winning the
Kentucky Derby. would be tust 4
breeze for the colt that left a much
larger field far behind in the Derby
q week ago.
Yesterday. however, Jupiter Pluvius
took a hand in the proceedings, soaked
the track with rain until it was fet-
lock deep In slop and threw q slightly
different light on a race that a few
days ago figured to be . one-horse
affair.
w: Admiral's undermining ability
is questionable. The ma jority Of his
hackers, and they were legion among
the nearly $4,000 that headed toward
"Old Hilltop" stood staunchly by the
Derby winner, however. They back
their belief with dollars. Trainer
George Conway said his charge would
go, rain or shine, but that he would
much rather the track be fast.
Loser in Mud Last Year.
Samuel Riddles colt suffered one
of his few setbacks over a muddy
track last year. He was Improperly
shod for the slippery going at the
time, Jockey Charley Kurtsinger said
But that is expected to be corrected
this time by such a shrewd trainer az
64-year-old George Conway.
While the question Of War Admiral,
undermining ability provoked heated
discussions along Baltmore's Rialto
the odds on the Riddle colt heightened
until 1t was expected he would 60 to
the post at 4 to S. Over a fast track
he probably would be one Of the short
est priced choices in Preakness history
Post time is about $50 pm.
There were many among the incom-
ing throng who failed to subscribe to
the strong belief of War Admiral,
followers. They for the most part
settled on j. H. Locheims Pompoon
second in the Derby, as the one to beat
over a muddy track. A few went for
Eunice G. Rands Merry Maker, q
former platter which moves up many
pounds in the mud. while Walter M
Jeffords' Matey, another son of Man o
War. slowly lost favor. There was
some doubt whether the latter would
start II the going remained bad.
If c. F. Danny Clark, trainer
OF Pompoon, holds to his announced
plan, he will instruct Jockey Wayne
Wright to keep the son of Pompey at
War Admirals fla1fks until they hit
the stretch and then strike. Happy
Dan was hoping that some speed
horse such as Joe W. Browns, Jewell
Dorset. would 60 out and run with
the favorite for at least 6 furlongs.
Charley Kurtsinger, Louisville's
flying Dutchman," informed OF
Clarke's strategy. merely smiled and
said:
They'll have to catch me first
I've never really let the Admiral run
II those other horses think they can
run with him in the first or the last
quarter just Let them try. Well show
'em what speed is and I don't care
whether the track IS muddy or fast. u
While Merry Maker rated some con-
sideration off his mud performances
the others remained strictly outsiders