The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-06-06
POT O LUCK
 AT 5 TO 1 IS
 SECOND CHOICE
BY LEO H. PETERSEN United Press Sports Editor


 Louisville, Ky, June 6-(UP)-A wide open race which may draw as many as 22 entries matching the largest field ever to run for the roses-promised today to attract the largest crowd in the history of American racing to the Kentucky Derby Saturday.
 Col. Matt Vim predicted that the gate would exceed the estimat- ed o5,OO0 who saw Whirlaway win the 1941 classic. All seats were sold out yesterday, Vim said. whereas on the record attendance day re- served space still was available a day before the race.
 Despite wartime travel condi- tions and restrictions which limited the sale of tickets to those living in the Louisville Metropolitan area, indications were that this fourth wartime derby not only would draw a record crowd but also one of the largest fields ever to face starting gun in the race which has become, if not the richest, at least the most coveted in the nation.
 Time trials today and tomorrow will determine the number of three -year-olds which will go to the bar rier with Col. c. " Whitney Jeep's rated a 3 to l faworite. It appeared certain that for the first time since 1886 lilly will go to the post.
 Arthur Rose announced that Mis- weet definitely would start barring training mishaps between now and derby time. An outsider in the betting, Misweet breezed mile and an eighth in 1:54 4-5 yesterday and was scheduled for another trial spin today.
 Because of the wartime ban on racing which set the derby back three weeks from its usual running time, the major prep races on which owners usually base their fi- nal judgment as to whether to en- ter their thoroughbredS in the race were run on different time basis this season. But going against the odds, Jeep was installed the favor ite despite the fact that only four Wood Memorial winners have gone on to take the derby in it's 70 run nings. They were Gallant Fox Ill 1880 Twenty Grand in 1881, Johns town in 1887 snd Count Fleet in 1943
 Jeep will be only one of the Wood Memorial winners in the race for another sure starter is Hoop Jr., which won the second section of the divided New York classic last Wed- nesday. Hoop Jr, was quoted at 10 to l.
 Remember Regret:
 History would go back long time if MisWeet comes home in front for it was in 1915 that Regret won the Derby to bring the Fillies their only Blue grass ribbon. Maybe the F1llles like large fields for 16 ran the year Regret won. If all the 9 still in the running should be entered it would match the number that ran in 1928 when Reign Count led 21 other horses to the wire.
 Pot O Luck, Calumet Farms lead- ing hopeful, was rated next to Jeep at odds of five to one Rated third probably because of sentiment-was Burning Dream, the horse with which Col. E. R. Bradley hopes to win his fifth Kentucky Derby be- fore he retires from the sport he has served so well.
 Alexis, which ran second to Hoop Jr.. in the second section of the Wood Memorial, appeared to be gaining support although he was listed in the early odds at 15 to l. Darby Dieppe, winner of the Blue Grass stakes last Saturday and Fighting Step were rated at 12 to l. The only other quotations were on Air Sailor, 20 to 1; Foreign Agent 50 to 1 and Buymeabond. 100 to ].
 The entries will go into the box starting at a. m. EWT Friday. with all horses over nine grouped in the field.
 Of the other horses listed in the category of probable starters and on which the odds makers made no quotations are Fair Jester, Bert G, Sea Swallow, Tiger Rebel, Joe's Choice, K Doe-Doe, Jacobe. Bergu- lator, Kennilworth Lad, Bob Mann and Darien.