The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-24
(Reg. U. s. Patent Office
BY JACK GUENTHER
iIrnLted Press stafg COrrespOndentl

NUnAJeN kEeSb SttsM SSAASSk~|
Lexington, KY, April "a. (UP)--
Kentucky today Is as blue as It's
grass and Its blood lines.
From Frankfort to Paris and from
winchester to Louisville, the hard
boots in this dark and bloody
ground are bewitched, bothered ana
bewildered. They are grasping az
straws, pulling petals OF daisies ano
fiippine coins. In some cases, they
even are cutting cards. To date they
haven't come up with o favorlte
for the 68th Kentucky Derby.
The Derby Is only eight days away
and for the first time since Stage
hand caught q cold on the eve OF
the big show In 1898 there Is no Dig
horse, Two Of the three major tune
IN props are q matter OF history
and there Is only one left on the
calendar, yet the men who are sup.
posed to know all the answers oon
even know one answer.
They say Alsab Is burned out.
They claim Apache Is a sprinter.
They hint Devil Diver Is doubt
full. -
class.
Sounds Silly
From the first to the last OF the
$50 babies who were nominated tor
Matt WINS Equine Epic, the ma.
tives of Americas thoroughbred
citadel are picking flaws. This year
they aren't arguing as TO wnlcn
morse will win the Derby. They are
arguing that none Of the $50 can
win the Derby. 1t sounds awfully
silly, but there 1t rs. 49,.
For the last two days have
talked to owners, trainers, jockeys
snort writers, experts and just plain
touts, Not one offered TO select q
horse capable OF showing his black
nogtrils under the finish wire N tirst
Mace. To q man, they centered their
Conversation on the fact that there
Is no thoroughbred fast enough 70
head the class.
These men were disappointed by
Maryland,s Chesapeake, the first OF
the three big props. AS you re.
member, Colchis whipped both Alsan
and Requested In that one ana COL
CHS Isn't eligible for the Derby
rom Piatt, the man who bred Alsab,
claims the horse didn't like the
Sootin0. other Alsab hackers are
lust stubborn and will stay with MN
10 the end. ....
The second Of the glamor tune
upg. the Blue Grass Stakes, was run
mere yesterday and 1t proved notn-
ing either. Devil Diver, the not 40.
vance fayorite, was scratched an
ho,ir before the race. He cut Ms
leo in the barn and the seriousness
~ ala condition can't be determined
as yet. -, .,,.
mate ran to an easy triumph. Hls
name Is shut out and TO me ne APP
reared TO be O pretty fair horse. He
Fan Col. z. r. Bradley's. Bless NE
right out Of the Derby by leaving
aim some four lengths In the rear,
b,it his time was shockingly SLOW.
90 the experts all turned up their
red noses and said no, not this one.
NO E0VVshOSS
90. as this rs written, on ordinary
citizen who sets out 70 pick him.
seif the winner Of Kentucky's most
famous sporting event can only look
ahead TO the Wood Memorial -
New York on Saturday. Since 1t u
entirely possible that both Apache
and Requested will be beaten there,
It may DO that there will be no
Derby favOTite Z y. M, May 2.
AS IL appears now--a1d this cpiHi-
ion represents the combined BRAIN
work Of almost every resident IN
iris tOwn-the Derby Is as wide
open as Reno, New, Aqua Caliente,
Mex, or Joe r. Browns mouth.
There are more than 20 horses stan
"a the running and every one looks
iiaSt as good OF Is bad 90 the others.
The Sgireet starters now ere AL
Aab, vajdina Orphan, Hollywood,
With Regards and Shut Out. The