Evening star., 1946-05-01
Rippey's Stock Rises
Following F|ashy
Victory in Trial
By Sid FEEDER
Assoeiated Press Sports Writer

possibility that the field for Satur-
days Kentucky Derby might lose its
second name" horse in "a hours
arose today when Trainer Ben
Jones announced that he~ did not
think" he would start Warren
Wright's In Earnest.
Yesterday, Mrs. Vera Bragg's Mist
O. Gold off1cially was declared out
after coming down with fever.
Jones said Owner Wright had not
finally made up his mind concern
ing In Earnest, which finished
seventh in yesterdays Derby trial.
But, Jones added, the chances are"
ne would not send the horse to the
post
Jones said he believed In Earnest
is over his peak.
In Earnest was an 8-to-1 shot in
the winter books and one of the
leading horses challenging the IA
vored Maine Chance Farms entry
of Lord Boswell and Knockdown.
If he is withdrawn, as Jones indi-
Gated appears likely after he and
Wright make their final decision, it
would leave Is more or less definite
starters still in the field for Satur-
days 100000 Derby.
May Scratch Wee Admiral.
However, one of these 16 is Wee
Admiral. owned by the Canadian
automobile executive, Robert S. Nc
Laughlin of Toronto, and his trainer
announced fatty this morning that
II the track is muddy or sloppy for
Saturdays scramble, the son of War
Admiral would not 60 to the post.
Loss OF In Earnest would not only
eliminate the horse that has been
the best-liked of the Derby dark
horses for the last several weeks, but
also would take from the field the
only trainer with chance OF equal
ing the record of having sent out
four Derby winners. Jones won with
LaWrin in 1888, Whirlaway in Al
and Pensive in "A, and victory
this year would have tied him with
Derby Dick" Thompson who con-
ditioned all four of Col. E. r. Brad
ley's winners.
In Earnest Plainly Disappointing.
Jones obviously was disappointed
IN the poor race In Earnest ran
yesterday in which the colt never
untracked in the mud. Should he
definitely scratch the pint-sized colt.
1t would be the second Derby can
didate he has been forced to with
draw in as many weeks. Several
days ago, he announced that High
Shine had suffered an injury to his
wind and would not start.
Meantime, others of the top can
didates went out on a track fetlock
deep in mud-many trainers said
it was in the worst condition they'd
ever seen it after several days of
rain-and turned in late workouts.
LORD Boswell, top favorite in the
field, breezed slow mile in 1:46 3/5,.
going the six furlongs in 1:18 3/5,
and his we'll liked stablemate,
knockdown, just galloped around
the track.
William Dupont, jr.'s Hampden.
getting his first workout since ship
ping into Derbytown after his Ches-
apeake Stakes victory in MARYLAND
last Saturday breezed mile and an
eighth in an especially slow 2:06 3L5
and came back to his barn putting
and snorting from the effort of
ploughing through the goo.
Rippy Shows Glass in Mud.
William Helis must be convinced
that horse buying is a funny bust
ness, because he now can boast of
paying s66,000 for one Gee-Gee
which turned out to be the most ex-
pensive pet in history-and only
$4,000 to get the latest glamour bow
IN Saturdays Kentucky Derby.
This is not saying that Rippey
is wearing that necklace of roses
already, because the Derby dandies
still have to run mile and a
quarter around the race track. and
Lord Boswell and Knockdown still
are the young men most likely to
succeed in the 72d get-together.
But OH his smashing score in the
Derby trial mile yesterday. the
Virginia born swiftie might very
we'll be the one they'll he handing
that lavalliere of buds on late Satur-
day afternoon:
OF course. in this widest open
Derby in years any horse might hit
the jackpot. Even Charley Fishers
Spy Song, although the way he
seemed to turn in his ticket when
Rippey issued a challenge in the
stretch yesterday left considerably
more than few doubters among
the 10000 or so at the Downs.
The undermining Rippey gave
definite proof that he's Just about
as sharp as you'll find around
Churchill Downs right now, espe-
cially If it comes up slop, as it did
yesterday.
AL OF which just goes to show YOU
never can tell, when you're buying a
horse, whether you'll get Man O. War
or something suited for hauling
milk wagon. Back few years ago.
Helis went for that fancy s66 900 to
pick up Pericles-and Perciles turned
out to be more interested in nibbline
sugar from his owners hand than in
trying to pay off the oat bill.