The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-05-08
COUNT FLEET IA
FAvORITE TO RUN
IN PREAKNESS
Hertz Horse Goes After
Second Part of Racing'S
Triple Crown
BY OSCAR FRALEY
United Press staff Correspondent

Baltimore, May 8-tUP)-Count
Fleet, n three year-old colt with
freakish lines but mania for
speed, makes his attempt to gain
second leg on racing's famed
triple crown IN the 53rd renewal of
the Preakness today.
Fresh from his Kentucky Derby
win last Saturday, the Count will
make his bid in the mile and three
SiXteenths test which winds up the
Old Line States spring racing pro-
gram Victory today and In the
Forthcoming Belmont Stakes would
guarantee him racing immortality
along with five others who have
won the Derby, Preakness and Be-
mont-Sir Barton in 1919, Gallant
Fox In 1880, Omaha In 1885, War
Admiral in 1887 and Whirlaway in
l94l.
Tho Count had n breeze in the
Derby, with plenty Of open daylight
showing between him and the Sec
ond and third horses, Blue Swords
and Slide Rule. He was expected TO
run similar race today, leading
from barrier to the wire.
Challenging the hammer headed
pride of Mrs. John ID. Hertz's barn
in this $4,000 added test will be
Allen T. Simmons Bue Swords, who
traied the Count home in the run
for the roses; w. l.. Brann's Vim
centive, and Henry l.. Straus New
Moon.
Quarter For A Dollar
The Count rules a prohibitiye l.
to.4 favorite In this battle for the
black eyed SuSanS, one which most
critics consider one-horSe race
Battling for the place prize will be
Vincentiye and the Counts "Sha-
dow, Blue Swords, while scrapping
for fourth place money OF $4,000 are
the week-rlnning New Moon and
The Sorry Radio Morale, both sur
prise starters.
With Johnny Longden up, seek
ing triumph in honor OF his two
dayold son, the Count was expect
cd to 60 to the post possibly as the
shortest priced favorite In Pimlicos
mutuel history. The record low was
established when War Admiral paid
$2.70 for his win In Iceland the
chances we're that Count Fleet
would be backed down to a shorter
price than this by an expected
crowd OF $4,000.
Trainer Don Cameron indicated,
after the brown colt stepped three
Fights of a mile III fast IS 2-5
seconds yesterday, that the Hertz
stable would use the same tactics
that have melted the Count seven
triumphs In row This means
running the opposition into the
ground on the first mile and then
cruising home comfortably through
the stretch.
incentive 20-l
The chief contention was expected
TO be furnished by Blue Swords, with
Johnny Adams aboard. The Sim
mons entry. which In any other
year probably would have been the
three year-old king, was quoted at
7 to 2. incentive, Maryland owned
son Of Challenger II, drew heavy
backing at 20 TO because Of home
state sentiment and the fact that
the cool George Cthe iceman) Wolff
would be in the saddle. Wolff is the
only jockey in the race who ever
has entered the Preakness winners
circle, having romped home first on
Bold Venture in the 1886 test.
Rocco Sisto will pilot New Moon,
at 40 to /.
1t was the smallest field since
Buddhist came in ahead in the 1889
race-which had but two entries.
The smallest since then was in 1899,
when Cha.ledon whipped the
mighty Johnstown and four others.