Evening star., 1951-06-03
Two Races al Belmont
This Week 10 Furnish
Line on 3-Year-0Ids
By,ths Associated Press

! NEW YORK, June 2.-What
with the Kentucky Derby and
Ppeakness mixup, racing at Bel
mont Park during the next two
weeks probably will determine the
3-year-old champion Of 1851.
The big climax comes June 16
with the 100000 Belmont Stakes,
final jewel in the Triple Crown.
However. a couple of important
tuneups are on the program before
then and they should help clear
Iup the Belmont picture to some
extent.
One is the mile-and-one- six
teenth Polynesian Purse Tuesday,
in which Count Turf, the Ken
Itucky Derby winner, and Bold, the
Preakness victor, are expected to
meet for the first time.
The other is the $40, ,O00-added
Peter Pan Handicap Saturday at
a mile and one-eighth.
Worst Scramble In Years.
No such scramble has existed in
the 3-year-old ranks for quite a
few years. Count Turf. owned by
Jack Amiel. easily won TIE Derby
May S, but the son of Count Fleet
wasn't nominated for the Freak
ness. The Brookmeade Stables
Bold skipped the Derby, then
scored an equally impressive VIC
tory in the Preakness May 10.
Neither has raced since. Count
Turf suffered a coughing attack
after the Derby. and Bold has no
stake engagements until the Bel
mont.
Meanwhile, another colt has
entered the picture with oang-
George D. Widener's Battlefield,
winner of the Withers Mile last
Saturday. Battlefield was the 1850
two-year-old champion, but he's
temperamental sort and they
couldn't get him ready for the
first two numbers in the Triple
Crown.
Sol Rutchick, trainer of Count
Turf, is expected to send mis- colt
back into the Peter Pan Saturday
as a final tightener for the tough
Imile-and-one-half Belmont.
Ready To Meet Count Turf.
Bold isn't eligible for the Peter
Pan, SO Trainer Preston Burcn
would like to use the Polynesian as
a prep for the Brookmeade flyer
even if he has to hook up with
Count Turf.
Battlefield never has raced more
than mile, and the extra furlong
of the Peter Pan will give Trainer
Burt Mulholland additional in
| formation on the Widener star.
These are the big three of the
moment. However, another colt
/ got back into prominence Thurs
day at Belmont. This is the Cain
Hoy Stables Battle Morn, the
| favorite in the Kentucky Derby,
who wound up sixth.
Battle Morn stepped a snappy
mile in winning Thursday, his first
start since the Derby. The time of
1855 was the same as Battle
fields Withers clocking.
Royal Mustang, Texas Sam Will
sons runnerup in the Derby and
second to Pur Sang in the Pea
body Memorial Wednesday in
Chicago. is due to arrive here soon
for the Belmont. Nothing has been
heard about Pur Sang, owned by
Rubin Kowall, but he's expected
for the Belmont.
Size OF Field Uncertain.
The size of the Belmont field
is uncertain. but one thing is sure.
The winner will lay a heavy claim
on the 3-year-old title.
I Five of the last six Belmont win
ners wound up as the 3-year-old
champion, starting with Pavot in
1945, then Assault. Phalanx, Cita-
ton and Capot.
Last year, underground won the
Derby, lost the Preakness to Hill
Prince, then came back to take
the Belmont. Hill Prince rallied
late in the year. however, and
earned the 3-year-old title.