Evening star., 1951-04-29
Big Stretch's S Trainer
Says Colt Won't Go
Unless Track Is Dry
BY the Associated Press

or UHS @SSocioiSo TteSS
LOUISVILLE, KY, April 28.-
Three-year-old horses from all
points of the compass were
camped at Churchill Downs today
for the 77th running Of the Ken
lucky Derby next Saturday. One
of the largest fields in many years
is in the making.
No one could say how many will
try for the 100000 race. Most
Kentuckians at the moment are
willing to gaze into a crystal ball
for a horse who can win.
The winter campaigns in the
South and the early Derby tests in
the East and other places have
failed to turn up solid choice.
It's made-to-orde situation for
some Cinderella horse to come
from obscurity and grab it all.
Repertoire and Battle Morn from
the Eastern contingent seem to
hold whatever slight edge can be
given at this time.
Battle Morn Works Out.
Battle Morn, the Cain Hoy Sta
BILE colt, worked five-eightS of al
mile in 1:01 today, covering the
three-eighths in 0:353s and the
half in O:48. Mrs. Nora Mikell'sI
Repertoire is scheduled to work a
mile and three-eighths Monday.
Rubin Kewal's Pur Sang went a
half mile this morning in 0:494s,
while several other eligibles were
on the track for short gallops.
Meanwhile, John Gaver, trainer
of the Greentree Stable, an
nounced that Big Stretch will not
start in the Derby unless the track
is dry.
The Blue Grass Stakes, run in
two divisions Thursday at Keene-
land, turned up some possibilities
~ in Ruhe. Name Luke, Royal Mus
tang, Sonic, Phil D. and others.
But, viewing the whole picture,
the situation is right up the alley
of Bill Corum, who is directing his
second Derby as head of Churchill
Downs. Corum said couple of
months ago it appeared to be a
wide open scramble and nothing
has happened to change this.
22 Started in 1928.
On the theory that the more
the merrier," the field could line
up with about 20 horses. If SO,
it would be the largest since 1887,
when that number went postward
and War Admiral showed them
who was champ. The largest num-
ber of starters was % for Reign
Counts Derby in 1928.
At least two dozen horses still
are being considered. Several OBJ
viously viii be weeded out in the
one-mile Derby trial here Tuesday.
The most consistent horse isl
Repertoire. who has started in four
stakes and won them all this
season. The major ones. were the
Chesapeake at Laurel and the
Wood Memorial at Jamaica.
However, it's hard to convince
the Blue Grass people who haven't
had a chance to see Repertoire.
Most of them suggest the son of
Happy Argo isn't bred for the
tough mile and a quarter Of the
Derby.
Battle Morn is q come-from-
behind sort who could do the trick
If Eddie Arcaro can keep him
from wandering of the track. The
son of Blenheim II has habit
of drifting out in the stretch. But
he roars to the finish somewhat in
the manner of Whirlaway, the
1941 Derby winner. Whirlaway
also was a son of Blenheim II.
MameIuke Won Thruogh Mud.
Mameluke pounded through
the Keeneland mud Thursday to
take the first division of the Blue
Grass. If there is bad weather
Saturday. this c. v. Whitney colt
will get plenty of support.
Sonic. who halls from the King
Ranch, winner of last years
Derby, ran a good race, finishing
first in the second division of the
Blue Grass Stakes. But he was
disqualified for bearing out and
interfering with other horses.
Thus Ruhe, owned by Mrs.
Emil Denemark, was moved into
the winners circle and Sonic was
dropped to fourth Big Stretch
failed in the Blue Grass, but they
say to watch out if the Derby
track is fast.
Ben Jones, the crafty Calumet
Farms trainer, plans to start Fan
fare-half- brother to Coaltown
and Wistful-in the Derby Trial
Tuesday. Fanfare won easily by
six lengths at Keeneland Wednes-
day. Derby followers won't for
get how Calumet's Ponder came
from obscurity in 1949 and hauled
down first money.
With all the uncertainty-plus
the fact trainers of most of the
horses in the Blue Grass Stakes
say the muddy track prevented a
true teSt-everybod wants to get