Evening star., 1938-05-04
MAY TAKE
FROM STAGEHAND
Equals Track Mark, Shows
Stamina as StabIemate
and LaWrin Trail.
BY ORLO ROBERTSON,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

Associated Press Sports Writer.
LOUISVILLE, KY. May 4.-The
stage is all set, the principal actors
selected and only a minor role or two
remains to be filled for the 64th
matinee performance of the Kentucky
Derby at Churchill Downs Saturday.
It'll be a small caste, probably not
more than a dozen, but it'll be one
studded with stars vieing for the spot
light that'll be thrown on the winner
of Americas most famous horse race.
Then, too, there always is the possi-
billty that some minor actor will steal
the show, when they come laundering
through that last quarter mile.
Eleven horses are considered def
mite starters and there is possibility
that another one or two may be added.
If less than IL face the barrier it'll be
the smallest field since Twenty Grand
hung up the Derby record Of 2:0l4t
in 1881.
Greatly Changes Outlook.
Firmly entrenched as the public
choice for the $50,0 900 show over q mile
and quarter is the combination Of
Stagehand and The Chief, owned by
Maxwell Howard of Dayton, Ohio,
and trained by the one and only Earl
Sande. Playing the leading roles is
nothing new for Sande and Stagehand.
The Earl did it three times at the
Downs when he was a jockey. Stage
hand starred in the rich Santa Anita
Derby and Handicap last winter.
But to the Chief, it'll be something
new. Until yesterdays trial stakes
he was considered just good run
ming mate for Stagehand. The ex-
perts were saying he'd probably set q
burning pace for 6 furlongs or a mile
and then drop out in favor of his
more illustrious stablemate.
Now these same experts are not 80
sure but what the Chief will be able
to take care OF matters himself. He
did it yesterday with track record
equaling performance that whipped
Herbert M. Woolf's Lawrin by a nose
and left Stagehand five lengths in his
wake. The time for the mile was
1875 As after the Chief and Lawrin
had reeled off the first 8 furlongs in
the almost unbelievable time Of
1:103-5.
Stagehand Becomes Tired.
The Chief was showing no signs Of
weakening at the end. but Stagehand
was tired. Even Sande admitted that,
but declared he had not lost faith in
his star.
He needed the race to put him In
shape" said Sande. Now, Just rs I
told you the other day. have two
horses instead Of one for the others to
beat"
Lawrin was the only other leading
Derby contender in the field. but his
race, run under the handicap of
wearing four bar plates to protect
tender feet. indicated q new Derby
record is within the realm of pos
sibility. When Trainer Ben Jones
removes the plates Saturday, the
Kansas City~owned colt should be
ready to really burn oil.
There Is no lack Of speed and
stamina among the other ranking
candidates. Warren Wright's Bull Lea
and Hal Price Headley's Menow tan
gled in mile and an eighth stake at
Keeneland last week with the latter
setting the pace and the former the
track record.
Fast Stretch Runners.
Fighting Fox, ace Of William Wood
wards Belair Stud, has speed, and II
he's anything like his famous brother,
Gallant Fox, he also has plenty Of
what 1t takes in the home stretch,
Dauber from William du Pont, r.'s.
Foxcatcher Farm and Myron Selmick's
Can't Wait are two more that like to
run fastest when headed for home.
Three and possibly four of the horses
which finished out of the money in
the trial are expected to complete the
field. Following the race, trainers Of
Mrs. M. E. ORIOLES Elooto of Chi
cago, Bert Friends Co-Sport of Lock-
land, Ohio, and Mrs Ethel v. Mars
Mountain Ridge said their charges
would be in the big parade. They fin
ished fourth, nth and sixth, respect
lively.
A. q. Tarn, Canadian owner and
trainer OF Wise Fox, the seventh place
horse, was still on the fence, while Mrs.
Payne Whitney's Redbreast was rated
doubtful starter as he finished last
while being left is lengths behind the
field after the break.