Evening star., 1946-05-05
100000. 0.Watch
Assault Capture
Kentucky Derby
Texus-Bred Colt Wins
By8 Lengths; Spy Song
Leeds Hompden
By Froncis {. Stonn
Sior SiofT Correspondent

LOUISVILLE, KY, May A.
Like his famous daddy did 10
years ago, Assault, Stretch-run-
ming son of Bold Venture out Of
an unraced dam named Igual,
roared out of the pack in the
final half-mile to win the 72d
Kentucky Derby over a slow mile
and one-quarter strip today be-
fore a record smashing crowd of
100000 which had backed down
the favored Maine Chance Farm
entry virtually to even money.
1t was a smashing, eight-length
triumph for the Texas-foaled and
bred chestnut colt, masterfully rid
den over a spotty course by a 26-
year-old Brooklyn jockey, Warren
Mehrtens, who took no chances and
whipped his charger down the final
eighth of a mile despite clear lead
over Dixiana Farms Spy Song and
Foxcatcher Farms Hampden, the
other money horses.
Lord B. Never in Race.
In fourth place, but never in con-
tention, was the favorite, Lord Bos-
we'll, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, q
Jockey seeking his fourth Derby
victory. Knockdown. winner of the
100000 Santa Anita Derby this
year and one of the three aces held
by Mrs. Elizabeth (Arden) Graham.
was fifth, with Perfect Bahram,
third Maine Chance entry, back in
ninth place.
Assault, winner of the first Derby
with 100000 added money value.
paid sl840 to win. SO go to place and
$3.50 to show. Spy Song paid 5000
to place and $3.50 to show. Hamp-
den paid $500 to show.
An all-time American betting
record for a single race was estab-
lished when the crowd wagered
81 ,202,7O4 on the Derby and an
other mark was set when Robert
J. Kleberg of Kingsville. Tex.
owner of Assault, collected a net
purse of 96,400. This was assured
when all IT entries paraded to the
post. A third record was the at
tendance, estimated as upward of
100000.
Assaults Time Good in Mud.
Assaults time of 2:06.3 was far
off the Derby record of 2:01.5, set
in 194l by Whirlaway, but it was
considered good in view of the track
conditions. When a few drops Of
rain fell as the wreath Of roses was
placed over Assaults neck it marked
the seventh straight day of rainfall
for Louisville. Earlier in the day
the track was pronounced muddy.
but later was called slow.
Trainer Max Hirsch, the Texan
who trains Assault, declared before
the race that the track did not
exactly suit his colt. 1t was too
sticky, he said, but it wasn't sticky
when Bold Ventures boy was turned
loose by Mehrtens att he third
quarters of a mile mark and asked
for speed
Assault gave Mehrtens everything
he asked for-plus In a couple of
strides he jumped from fifth to
fourth. At the mile pole he was
third and at the head of the stretch
Assault was in the lead by 217
lengths over Spy Song. And he
kept roaring.
Boswell First From Barrier.
Lord Boswell broke first from the
barrier, but 'Arcaro promptly rated
him and allowed Spy Song, followed
by Knockdown and Dark Jungle, to
move to the front At the three
quarters pole it still was Spy Song
and Knockdown, but it was then
that Assault began to move.
Arcaro shook up Boswell after a
mile and the lean, long legged IA
vorlte responded by moving from
ninth to third. But that was all
Lord Boswell had today. AS for
Knockdown, Mrs. Graham's No. q
colt was all done after mile
Assault, winner of the Wood Mem
orial which frequently tests the
calibre of future Derby champions,
was fourth betting choice. Maine
Chance was even money, Hampden
5l2 -to-1, Spy Song was 7-to-1 and
Assault was S-to-l on the board
when the barrier was sprung.
Loss on Graham Entry Heavy.
Tens of thousands of dollars went
down the drain on the Maine Chance
team, first triple-entry since 1881.
when Greentree Stable sent a trio
to the post and one, Twenty Grand.
returned a winner. With Lord
Boswell recognized as a stretch run
ner and Knockdown rated nearly
his equal, Mrs. Graham's hand ap-
peared prohibitively strong. Inc
bettors were guessing that Perlect
Bahram would be sent to set the
Continued on Page B-l, Col. 81