Evening star., 1940-04-16
Skinny Competition
In Juvenile Year
Dopesters' bane
Classic Would Be Wide
Open This Time Were
BimeIech Scratched
BY ROBERT HENRY.

BY ROBERT HENRY.
In the last 81 years only three
Kentucky Derby winners were win
ter book favorities and during that
time no less than II victories were
quoted at 20 to l or better in the
long-range betting.
This year Col. Edward r. Brad
ley's great colt, Bimelech, is rated
a 2-to-1 shot, even though the race
is over two weeks away, but ac-
cording to latest information from
his owners Idle Hour Farm at Lex
ington, where the peoples choice is
training, everything is not just
right. Talk has it that Big BIN is
way back in his workout schedule
due to bad weather, and unless he
is perfectly fit May he will not
60 postward
Should this happen the 66th run
ming of Americas greatest race will
be thrown wide open. Any ones
horse could win it without causing
much surprise.
OF the 18 Derby winners that
were given little consideration prior
to the race none had done much
as a 2-year-old But how come
these horses improved enough in
the short space of a few months to
dash from oblivion into the spot
light?
Race Little as 2-Year-Olds.
In the first place most of them
had done little racing as juveniles
their trainers evidently figuring
that they were slow developers and
needed plenty of time to find their
best racing legs. Such a colt was
Col. Bradley's Brokers Tip, which
had failed to win a race in three
starts the year before he astounded
the equine world by galloping of
with the 1888 blue ribbon classic
Among the also rams that day was
Ladysman, leading youngster the
previous year and favorite. Brok-
er's Tip was a 40-to-1 shot in the
winter book.
Another example that shows how
early choices bow to the winter un-
knowns came about in 1925, when
Quatrain was considered a cinch
He opened at to l soon after the
entries were released and gobs OF
cash flooded the bookies. Also en-
tered for that Derby was Flying
Ebony, 40 to l. but no one heard or
talked much about him because he
hadn't done anything as a 2-year-
old. However, he soon changed
that lack of notice by splashing
home first as Quatrain ran 18th
Other long shot winter book win
ners include Sir Barton, Paul Jones
Burgoo King and Bold Venture
Each was 80 to or better.
Take away Bimelech. and the Der
by figures to be wide open. Last
year the experts picked Ell Chico to
breeze home first and until Johns
town won race or two in New
York he was not highly regarded
outside his stable. When the race
was over Big John had his picture
taken with the wreath of victory
Ell Chico ambled back to his stall
like any other also ran.
Several Prospects Overlooked.
This year there are several colts
which have been overlooked in al
Derby stories. None of them has
done anything to warrant notice
but just as Black Gold, Flying
Ebony and others popped out Of
nowhere and won, so might one O1
these thoroughbreds. All of them
are bred in the purple and simply
because they have not yet distin.
guished themselves is 20 reason why
they won't soon.
OF the 127 runners eligible for the
race, we figure there are 8 that coulc
surprise. Together they have started
total of IS times. won 16 races anC
about $4,000 Bimelech alone wor
$139 900 last year. -All of them have
shown fondness for mud and dis
tance. The Derby is IL miles anG
often is run in mire.
Comprising the list is Asp, Blue
Suit, Chatted, Corydon, Dusky Fox
Sir jeffrey, Snow Ridge and Star
Hunter. Odds ranging from 40 to
on up can be had now on their Derby
chances. Is there another Flying
Ebony or Brokers Tip among them?
Two of these colts, Star Hunter
and Chatted, were high-priced year.
ling at the Saratoga sales in 1898
Star Hunter, whose sire, Gallant
Fox, won the 1880 Derby and sired
Omaha, 1885 winner, cost John JAY
Whitney $4,000. Chatted, by Dia.
volo, cost $500 and was the highest
priced youngster by that stallion sole
that year. Star Hunter has moi
started, but is highly regarded by
his wealthy owner. Chatted mas
flashed improved form on the West
Coast this winter and won three Of
five starts. He ran second to Weigh
Anchor in the Gold State Derby aftel
ragged start.
Asp and Snow Ridge Promising.
The Wheatly Stable, which 1.
trained by Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons
conditioner of three Derby winners
has two colts that appear posi-.
biIties. One is Asp, winner of ont
race in eight starts. and Snow Ridge
by Gallant Fox, double winner ir
nine starts. Both are reported train.
ing well in New York. Dusky Fox
also trained by Fitzsimmons anc
owned by William Woodward, who's.
colts have won three Derbys, il
another Gallant Fox runner tina
seems ready to live up to his breed.