The Wilmington morning star., 1947-05-11


Fit and sharp and full Of run
where it counted-coming up the
street.-The lanky son of Bull Lea
went through last weeks Kentucky
Derby winner, Jet Pilot, and
around the California contender,
On Trust. and hit the wire a
length in front to the surprise OF
a large portion of a packed crowd
of 1922 jamming OF Hilltop for
this renewal of the run for the
black-eyed usans
1t marked the third Preakness
triumph for the classy Calumet
Farm of Chicago's Warren
Wright, and was definitely one Of
the larger rabbits the Jones boys
from Missouri have ever pulled
out of a hat.
1t wasn't only that this was the
third choice Of all the Calumet
two-year olds of last season to be
aimed for the jewels Of the triple
crown. But he was up against two
horses who whipped him last week
on a track he didn't like any more
than short rations-in the Derby.
And this. time he showed them
who was boss, with everything
else even up.
Both the Pilot and Phalanx-the
one-two of last Saturdays Run for
the Roses-ran the Preakness just
as they yer expected to, and
couldn't win the pot. Phalanx
came flying up with his usual
closing kick, but the best he could
get was third place. back of both
Faultless and On Trust
And the Pilot tried to get out in
front by himself right from the
starters come on, now" just as
he did last week.
Only this time, in contrast to
his unchallenged Derby charge ne
had competition galore right from
the end starters come on, now"
as first one, then another, of the
speed horses ran at him.
AS a result, the lone question
mark he left in his Derby win
could he take it when he was
locked in the eye-Was answered.
He couldn't. He folded and tired
and came home a w%earying Fourth.
It was a surprise windup to the
widest open Preakness in years,
but not one to cause eyebrows to
pop off around this jaro packed
racing plant. For Faultless was
beaten only two heads last week,
and had won 6 of his his nine three
year old starts.
And above everything else, he
lad sharp edge of condition on
him that the Jones boys always
work On their horses for the big
jackpots.
AS a result, he was made the
second choice in the betting at
5000, $3.50 and $3.50 across the
board, with only stretch : flying
Phalanx more heavily backed.
On Trust was $500 and $3.4O for
place and show and Phalanx the
legal minimum of $500 for third.
Faultless had, too, one of those
tough-riding, hard : hitting little
hooters from the cowboy country
steering him. That was hard-faced
little Doug Dodson, out of Elk
River, Idaho, difficult to talk to
and known as one of the most
honest jockeys on anybody's race
track.
And Dodson rode him as though
he had written the book. He
hustled Faultless along until he
was in third place after three
quarters O. a mile of the mile
and-three sixteenths meander.
Meantime, the Pilot took right
out in front. But this time, the
undertaker's horse, King Bay,
from the barn of Bernie Bax, Lou.
isville funeral director, ran at him
as they went past the stands the
first time. When King Bay had
enough. On Trust. trying to be.
come the first California-bred gal.
loper in 30 years to get the black
eyed susans, asked him the ques.
ton, just as jockey Johnny Long
Gen threatened he would, after the
Derby.
The pilot just didn't have it fol
the double challenge. The Califoc.
MIA flier went right past him and
was out in front, on the head end,
by two lengths.
Dodson, meantime, had workc
Faultless up between horses, and,
as they went past the three-eights
pole-three Fights of a mile from
home - he gave him the green
light. He tipped past the Pilot anc
took dead aim at On Trust.
AS they Strengthened for home.
he poked his way il front, anc
now Dodson was really whoop-de'
doing in high gear.
He put the bat to Faultless, anc
Faultless fairly flew up h
straight road home. At the finish
he had a length On On Trust anc
was still moving away. The son o.
the golden e st coasted il
~a-wearying. but easily holding the
place by 1 IL lengths over Pha'
lsnx, the gentleman from Virginia
who had been rushed from tenth
place in the field of II by Eddie
Arcaro.
) But it was just the usual Pha
lanx fling at the finish, and as
has happened more often then not
it wasn't good enough.
!, That is, it wasn't good enough
for better than third, a length anc
a half in front of the fading Derby
winner of last week-the Cosmet
les Kid from the Maine Chance
barn OF Mrs. Elizabeth Graham
Back of these four, they were
strung out for practically a city
block-Riskolater, 18th in the Der
by, closing to fifth this time; Cos
mic Bomb, fifth in the Derby.
sixt' today; Secnav, who was or
vacation last Saturday, to sew
enth; Bullet Proof, the half pint
Virginian, eighth-one notch lower
than his Derby finish; The Csnadi