The Wilmington morning star., 1944-05-07
STIR UP
FINISHES THIRD
IN LARGE FIELD
BY ORLO ROBERTSON

BY ORLO ROBERTSON
CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville,
May g. R - Pensive, the horse
that almost didn't get to come to
the Kentucky Derby, struck from
behind in the final eighth Of mile
today to win the 10th and richest
of all derbies in the silks of Wat
rem Wright's Calumet Farm.
A none too impressive winner
during the winter and early spring
racing and beaten in the Chesa-
peake Stakes at Pimlico, last Sat-
urday, the son of the 1888 English
derby winner, Hyperion, bounded
home four and one half lengths in
front OF Mrs. George Poulson's
Broadc1oth from Los Angeles.
Mrs. Payne Whitney's Stir Up,
80 favorite of a crowd variously
estimated from $4,000 to 10000,
trailed by another length and just
managed to save third money from
Shut Up of Sailor Joe Goldband's
Erlanger Stable.
In chalking up the second derby
victory for Wright and the third
for trainer Ben Jones of Parnell,
Mo-, Conn McCreary guided Pen
sive over the mile and one quarter
in 2:04 is for his initial triumph
in the trhee year old classic.
The time was considered excel
lent since the track was only one
fifth of second slower than Count
Fleet hung up in winning Last yea1
over fast racing strip.
Jones also saddled Whirlaway
when he won in Wright's deviled
red and blue silks in 1941 and pre-
viously had scored with Herbert M.
Woolf's Lawrin in 1888.
With 16 of the 10 overnight entries
starting, the race had a gross val
ue of $86, 700 with Pensive putting
S65,200 of it in Wright's pocket.
The previous high was in 1912
when Shut Out won $64,75O of the
$86, $50 purse for Mrs. Whitney.
The turnout for the second
straight Street Car derby was con-
siderably under h t Of pre-war
days, but the fans poured 1851, 444
the mutuel machines on
the derby, with the greater part
of the support going to Stir Up
on the basis of his victories in
the Flaningo Stakes and Wood
Memorial and the fact that he was
being handled by Eddie Arcaro,
the nations premier jockey.
The betting on the race was the
highest since $675, 106 was bet in
1929 when Clyde Van Dusen won.
The field also was the largest
since War Admiral shipped 10 RI
vasl in the 1887 derby.
Second choice in the betting that
had eight Of the starters coupled
in the field, Pensive paid $500
for a 81 win ticket and returned
s7.20 to place and $3.50 to show.
Broadcloth, winner Of the derby
trial last Tuesday, paid $3.50 to
place and $3.50 to show, while the
show price on Stir Up was $500.
McCreary did a great job of rat
ing Pensive, who didn't arrive at
the Downs until Wednesday be-
cause Jones didn't consider him of
derby caliber after dropping a close
decision to Mrs. A. J. AbeTs
Cramps Image in the Chesapeake.
From good start, M. B. Goff's
Skytracer jumped to the front, but
the lanky colt quickly dropped off
the pace. as Joe Molbert shot W.
c. Hobson's Diavolaw to the lead.
When they pounded past the judges
the first time the Nashville-owned
horse still was in command with
Philip Godfrey's Comenow and Stir
Up at his flanks.
At the half Pensive had only six
horses beaten and Diavolaw still
was on top by half length over
Comenow ina SO as clocking. The
positions of Broadcloth and Stir Up
were unchanged. Then Arcaro and
George (The Iceman) Woof, UP on
Broadcloth, m d e their moves.
moves. They quickly collared Dia-
volaw and battled on even terms
past the tire quarter mark with
Broadcloth holding a halt length
advantage.
Meanwhile, McCreary had taken
Pensive to the outside and started
to pour it on. From 10th at the
half mile post he moved up to
fifth after Broadcloth had covered
the first eix furlongs in 1872 rs.
Rounding the bend out Of the
back stretch, Broadcloth and Stir
Up battled it out, head and head,
but Pensive was coming and his
supporters let out a mighty roar.
He still, however, was several
lengths back when the two leaders
pointed their nose for home - a
quarter Of mile away.
Heading into the final straight
away, McCreary 70 u n d himself
pinched off and lost no time seing-
ingto the inside. From there he
went for the leaders. The finish
line was only an eighth Of a mile
away and Broadcloth still had a
head margin over Stir Up, but Pen
sive was just another head back
and running like a Kansas jack
rabbit. BY the time he reached the
sixteenth pole he was in complete
command.
Broadcloth h a d enough left to
save second money, but Stir Up,
seeking Mrs. Whitney's third der
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