Evening star., 1938-05-14
MUDDERS' STOCK
IN $4,000 RACE
BOOSTED BY RAIN
Only Nine Will Go to Post in
Preakness as Dab He
Is Scratched.
ANAFLAME WITHDRAWN
BECAUSE OF ILLNESS
Dauber, Second in Derby, Made
Favorite in Early Betting
at Odds of 5 to 2.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PIMLICO, BALTIMORE. Md. Nav
IA steady rain that started falling
in midmorning threatened to furnish
a dismal setting for the 48th run
ming of the Preakness late today as
the overnight field was reduced to nine
by the scratching of William Wood.
wards Anaf1ame and Hal Price Head
ley's Dab He.
The skies were still overcast four
hours before post time for the first
race, but there was evidence thev
might clear before the 3-year-olds
parade for the big $4,000 race at ap-
proximately ass pm, Eastern stand
ard time
A continuation Of the rain, however.
would furnish ideal conditions for the
enthusiastically Dauber, the IA
Vorite, and Sun Egret, a doubtful
starter unless the track is muddy, The
last time the Preakness was run over
an on track was in 1888, when Head
Play won.
Anaflame Is Ill.
Anaf1ame, only filly in the overnight
field of IL, was withdrawn officially
this morning after Trainer James
Fitzsimmons had announced last night
she would not start, due to illness,
The withdrawal of the filly left Fight
ing Fox as the lone representative OF
Woodward's Belair Stud.
Mr.. Headley also decided TO rest
hopes on Menow, early pace setter
and fourth in the Derby. Dab He
was regarded as rank outsider, any,
way.
A continuation Of the rain would
play havoc with the crowd. All of
the reserved seats have been sold, but
the stands seat only about $4,000.
Several hundred ushers stood in small
groups under the shelter Of the stands,
with nothing to do as the expected
early arrivals failed to put in their
appearance
Although Dauber, second In the
Derby, reigned So favorite as the
f1rst of an expected crowd of $4,000
poured into Pimlico. most experts
classed the field for the 48th running
as ''well-balanced"
Probably not more than seven will
face the barrier at about ASS pm.
eastern standard time). Doubtful
starters were Bull Whip and Sun Egret.
Short Stretch Hampers Dauber.
Dauber's ability as stretch runner
brought him the place position in the
Kentucky classic just a week ago.
That very virtue worked to his disad-
vantage today
The Preakness is Lie mile shorter
than the Derby and Pimhco's stretch
is less than 3-16 of a mile as COM
pared with the a mile straightaway
at Churchill Downs.
Coupled with that is the No. 6 post
position drawn by Dauber. That
called on Jockey Maurice (Moose)
Peters to exercise all his riding skill
to keep the slow-starting William
Dupont, jr., colt out of early trouble
and in position to bid for victory
during the final jarring drive before
the grandstand.
The Preakness' major question
marks are Fighting Fox, owned by
woodward, and Bull Lea. Warren
Wright's colt. They disappointed in
the Derby. but on form flashed in
early-season races rate another
chance.
The Fox and Bull Lea were the
heavily played favorites in the Derby.
They'll get no such support today with
Myron Selznick's Can't Wait and Hal
Price Headley's fleet Menow, third
and fourth at the Downs, rated above
them.
Can't Wait Second Choice.
Can't Wait, son of Victorian, 1928
Preakness winner, figures to be the
second choice with George Woolf on
his back. The California veteran is
we'll acquainted with the track. He
won the Preakness two years ago with
Bold Venture and hung up a new
track record of 1-6 miles with
Pompoon in the Dixie Handicap on
Wednesday. He and Raymond Sonny
Workman, who'll be up on Menow, are
the only former winners in the field.
Menow, juvenile champion of last
year, offers his high speed as his
greatest foundation for hopes of VIC
tory. He set the Derby pace for a
mile then weakened However, Pim-
lico's sharp turns and straightaways
favor Menow.