The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-05-10
Platter, Best At Two, Is Picked ITO Win PreakneSS, Belmont
By HARRY CRIMSON NEA Sports Editor

Baltimore, May 10-Colts, whicl at two took turns beating one an- other when the Allies weren't trirn- ming them, ran true to form in the Kentucky Derby.
 It was Pensives turn when Stll Up ran out of gas going as far a he is supposed to travel in his due. with Broadcloth.
 Bert Mulholland made no attemp to get Platter ready for the Rur for the Roses, but has him fit as hands can make him for the rich and historic The Preakness around old Pimlico's hairpin turns and down its long stretches.
 New Workers declared the now bleeding Pukka Gin juvenile chana- pion of 1943 when the strapping son of Firethorn bagged the Cham pagne Stakes at Belmont, but when the distance was sixteenth in the fall, Platter stuck out like Texas cactus.
 Platter getting his staying quail ities from Pilate and his speed from Let's Dine, a Jack High mare, came from behind to cop the Pimlico Futurity and Walden Stakes on the same strip where he is now picked by many, including this observer, to be crowned with the black-eyed susans come Saturday afternoon.
 Victory here would make him the popular choice to capture the Bel- mont Stakes at a mile and half, June 3.
 Platter, a big chestnut, filled out nicely over the winter at the George D. Widener's Erdenheim Farm, Philadelphia. He worked mile in TAO handily on a Belmont track that was no better than good prior to his only start this year-a sec- ond to Rodney Stone in The zev at six furlongs at Jamaica last Satur- day.
 A RACE UNDER HIS BELT
 Jonnhy Longden didn't do much of a job on Platter in The Zev, where he obviously was under in- structions not to abuse him in his preparation for The Preakness Platter broke in a traffic jam, was in four or five pockets, but was gaining with every jump as Rodney Stone prevailed by a length in HI 2-5. Platter conceded Rodney Stone 10 pounds, others 12 in carrying l26. which is what all lug in the Preakness.
 Trainer Mulholland says Platter is more formidable than the gelded Lucky Draw, which runs so well in the spring, and may be coupled with him If he recovers sufficiently from an attack of collie. Lucky Draw, in his first outing this year, had to It, tie more than gallop to make show of the remainder of Jamaica's Wood Memorial at mile and a sixteenth, April p.
 Platter Is a superior mudder.
 A half dozen Derby horses are eligible for The Preakness-pensive, Stir Up, Gay Bit, Cramps Image, Skytracer and Alorter. and all are expected to go.
 Inconsistent Pensive wears bar plates on his front hoofs to keep them from mushing out, but his rather impressive Derby victory es- tabiishes the chocolate son of Hy- perion -Penicuik II as the one to beat. Stir Up and Skytracer simply tired in the big number at Churchill Downs, but the others had excuses. McCREARY KNOWS PLATTER
 Ten or l2 are expected to enter stall gates for The Preakness. in- cluding Stymie and early-footed Di- rector J. E.
 The Preakness matches the Derby in value-close to $S0,000. A crowd of 50,0o0 will jam-pack the totally inadequate and antiquated Pimlico stand and clubhouse and overflow into the infield as the spring meet ings of the four Maryland associa- tions come to a highly successful conclusion.
 Conn McCreary had implicit con- fidence in Pensive in the Derby, but with Platter around, The Preakness is something else again.
 It is a safe guess that fl Pensive is there or whereabouts when the real racing begins in The Preakness, which he most likely will be. the colt Jockey McCreary will be looking for is Platter.
 Conn McCreary. you see, rode Platter in the Pimlico Futurity and Walden.