Evening star., 1943-04-25
Hertz Colt Is Only One
Hardboots Can See
For May | Race
Classic Stirs Louisville,
But Demands of War
Have Cut Its FriIIs
BY SID FEEDER,
Associated Press Sports Writer.

LOUISVILLE, KY, April "a
There's no bourbon to speak OF
or to drink. transportation is a
Joke unless you're looking for some,
and even the country ham is ra-
tioned-but they're running the
69th Kentucky Derby here next
Saturday right on schedule.
And from it will come either the
greatest horse since Man O. War
OF the biggest "bust" since the
two-buck bill was invented for "in-
vestment" purposes on the oat-
burners.
For if Count Fleet doesn't win
this big barn dance at the Downs
come May Day the Blue Grass will
be broke, the hardboots will check
up on those "do you need money!
radio programs, and. in general, the
folks will discover the back end OF
the old race track gag about Chick
en- one day and feathers the next y
That's how much they're count
ing on Mrs. John D. Hertz's whiz-
bang to do what his daddy, Reign
Count, did in the mud here back
in ,'28. And up to now the Hertz
hurricane hasn't done thing to
make you believe he can't. Even
this morning, with a cut hind foot
that's Just. healing up. he splashed
over q sloppy track to a tipping
1:16 6-furlong workout.
Count Must Prove Glass.
He's rated so much the standout
of this taffy-pull that the boys
are spending their time thinking
up new names for the race-names
like the Catch Count Fleet Derby"
or the "Runnerup Derby" or the
ant "Buy-Me-a-Place-Ticket Der
by"
But funnier things have hap
pened in the nacklace-of-roses
merry-go-round in its long run that
has lasted through two wars and
part of a third. And this def
nitely is a funny Derby. To begin
with, only some $4,000 OF the cash
contributors are expected this time.
compared to the $4,000 or 10000 OF
recent years.
Derbyville is town up to its ears
In the war effort. It's not exactly
giving Col. Matt Winn's party the
Quick brush-off. but it certainly
isn't decked out in its usual war
paint.
However. it's still a $4,000 horse
race, and this year 10 or II are ex-
pected to shoot at the jackpot OF
the 100000 OR so which will be walt
ing for the gee-gee that can run
mile and a quarter fastest.
Naturally, one and all assure you
"the Fleets in," but he's going to
have to prove it. Even Seven Hearts,
the local boy that made good but
was supposed to have foot injury,
is going to have something to say.
He indicated that today with a
l:422s mile dash in the slop, the
fastest any Derby candidate has
ratified off furlongs in a workout.
Hottest Future Book Choice.
Anyway. here they are-the likely
starters. with owners in parentheses,
who will do the work:
Count Fleet CMrs. John D. Hertz,
Chicago)-at l to 2 he's shortest
priced future book favorite in Derby
history. Son of Derby winner Reign
Count and Quickly, cheap selling
mare that was bought by Hertz for
$4,000. Tall, gangling. was named
Juvenile champ of 1912 after setting
world record for a 2-year-old OF
1:3445 for a mile. Won 10 OF ID
races and S76,245 last year Took
two straight so far this spring, in
cluding Wood Memorial last Sat-
urday. when he suffered cut left
hind hoof. Looks anything but a
good race horse until he starts to
run. Then he's hotter than raw
corn liquor.
Ocean Wave (Warren Wright, Lex
ington, KY. and Chicago)-Stable-
mate of Whirlaway, and by same
daddy, Blenheim, II; mother is
Columbiana, which won Widener
Handicap in '37, is Trainer Ben
Jones bid for a third Derby winner.
Like most Wright horses, the Wave
is husky and a chestnut, won five
of nine starts last year and $8,815.
So far this season he's taken six of
nine and about S24,000. including
Blue Grass Stakes last Wednesday.
Right now he's trained as sharp as
a tack on teachers chair.
Blue Swords Uncertain.
Blue Swords (Allen T. Simmons.
Akron, Ohio)-A $1,000 yearling
bargain that won five races and
S35 5065 last year. So far this season
was unimpressive in two starts,
although finished second to Count
Fleet in Wood. Big, strengthening
son of Blue LarkSpur and grandson
of man O. War. on mothers side
She's Flaming Swords. May have
been "short" in training up to now,
but worked mud-mile in 1:482s
today
Amber Light (Charles T. Fisher,
Detroit)-Best son of PLATE since
Eight Thirty. Although won $5,328
last year, was given little Derby
consideration until he grabbed four
straight during last winter and
early spring, including nose victory
over Ocean Wave in Louisiana
Derby. First defeat came when he
finished second to the Wave in the
Blue Grass Wednesday, Tall, bright,
shiny chestnut with lots of speed,
but may not be able to carry it a
mile and quarter.
Seven Hearts g. Graham Brown,
Louisville)-A $400 yearling buy