The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-13
PORTER'S CAP NOW SEEN AS
 DERBY THREAT
Howard Bargain Horse Makes Show of Field at
 Santa Anita
BY JACK GUENTHER

(Untted Press Staff COrreSpOndent)
 Arcadia, Calif., Feb. 13.-(UP)- The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes, maybe the threeyear-old crown.
 That was the glory road envis- toned today by c. s. Howard for the newest and the youngest of his fa- nous bargain-counter horse buys.
 This ones name is Porter's Cap Already he has returned dividends of $81 ,530 on an investment of only $1 300.
 He minced to the post yesterday evening, his crimson and white silks shining brightly against the gloom of bleak afternoon. Less than two minutes later, he romped home to ridiculously easy triumph in the seventh running of the $5O,000 Santa Anita Derby. He was all alone at the end and he wasn't even extended when he wheeled back to the winners circle to take down his $43,500 purse.
 T knew I had the race in the bag on the back stretch" grinned Bud- dy Haas-the little man on his back-as the floral wreath was draped around Porter,S Caps neck. From here on we point for another derby. And, I needn't bother to re- mind you it's that ore which runs on May in Louisville, Ky" And, so Howard and the west will be- sending another good one along the route covered by Seabiscuit, Kaxyolr TT Midland .,, the years gone by. Sure, it's lit tie early to tell for certain, but the gangling youngster picked out of the Saratoga auction ring by silent Tom Smith may be best of all.
 Easy Winner.
 Some 32,000 people will say so. They saw the sleek chestnuC colt hang his field of Is rivals oa the eighth pole for one of the handiest triumphs Howard and Smith have ever won.
 They saw him lope easily along until Haas told him to move-and then saw him shake of the opposi- tion within a dozen yards and breeze under the wire in 1:54 2-5 for mile and furlong on track that was as heavy as a Spurned lovers heart
 That was the horse-race those 32,000 railbirds had turned out to see and it didn't much matter that Mrs. Anthony Pelleteri's Bull Reign was four lengths behind for second CT that H. s. Nesbitts Copperman shaded w. E. Boeing's Welcome Pass for the show money in a photograph finish.
 Fayorite.
 PcrterS Cap was the choice of the people and there was round after round of applause when the news was flashed on the be ard that he paid $5.20, $4.00 and $2.2O.
 More than half of the crowd had bet the son of the Porter down to 5-2 and a few of those who didn't collected $6.40 and $5.2O on Bull Reign and $l2.20 on Long Shot Cop perman, who had been coupled wiGh stablemate, Staretor. Valdina Groom was fifth, Cleveland Put nams Swain sixth and Foxcatcher Farms Farymant seventh. The or der behind was Pirate, Staretor, Transfigure, ArmiStice, Buckhorn Creek, Nasca, Good Turn, Madi- gama and Havana Lad.
 The race went like this. Madi- gama broke first, three lengths atop Bull Reign with Good Turn third and TranSfigure fourth. Porter's Cap was fifth. He moved up to third at the half and in the back stretch he started making his bid. Around the far turn he broke loose in front, while the others fought in the flying mud behind. Once he shook clear he was in-and the cheers started rolling long before he ever hit the wire Valdina Groom and Welcome Pass ran creditable ef- forts and the others never figured.