Evening star., 1952-02-04

July and the Grand Prx de rArc Tromphe in France in
October Now although admittedly this guessing at dis
lance Of nearly 5000 miles, looks as Countepots cnances
somewhat less than excellent.
WHEN THE BELMONT winner came back to the judges
trailing Intent and four others In the Maturity ms
trainer Sylvester vh detected he sad large knot on the
right leg which gradually disappeared Mr. Vetch sug-
geste had been kicked inadvertently OF course
by rival.
There is little reason to suspect the Whitney trainer Of
planting abi only because Counterpont needs none
when he's right Fleets boy doesn't get beat by anything
He proved in the Belmont Stakes Peter Pan Handicap
Lawrence Realization Empire Gold Cup and few others
When right he doesn't "haten out badly as the ocal
chart said he did when set down for the hnal drive
Nor Counterpoin unless he's changed overnight,
"refuse to himself This Jockey Dave Gomans
undoubtedly made before learning
of the knot the horses leg.
Neither the chart nor Gormans early bes with
Whneys opinion shared by Others OF the grandson of Reign
Count "e is slayer I've seen Whitney has sad
Ive asked if compared him with Equipoise the
answer yes often To mind Equpoise was better
horse mile but mile and quarter neneVe Coun.
terpont would have the edge
IF HE WERE NOT fragile animal there's telling how
great Counterpart might have become Possibly one OF the
ame greats But like Joe Daggio he's always been brittle
:. and unlucky. @
He almost never got to the all after breaking
bone in foot as yearng time they debated whether
to destroy him. 2yearod he only twice. placing once
total earnings of $7oo he was lost in the hooa over
Battle Morn Uncle Mltie Battlefield couple Of Others
Came Kentucky Derby time and Counterpart ran lltn
But two smashing second to Bold in the
which was Bolo one race
news pet went the Wers but set track record in the
Peter Pan and blew picture wide apart by taking
the Belmont. ..<
the Dwyer and for the hrst time In his young
Life Counterpart fayoe But he bruised his foot and
ninth and they had to cut away hunk OF his hoo
This was July and again he written on although any
colt that wins is hard to write of completely
under any circumstances. 81 s-... s..t ~ ..
FUNNY THING, THOUGH, that hoof grew back in hurry
BY September Counterpart back He finished fourth
in the Jerome Handicap but that at mile and it's not his
cup of tea anyway Until last Saturday that the last
time he lost.
Whtneys star the Lawrence Realization at l9s miles
and Jockey Club Gold Cup miles He won the Empire
Gold Cup and sloppy track, the Empire City Handicap
with pounds up. his first start at Santa Anita he took
the in the sop beating Intent among others
If anything Counterpart running better than ever
since carved in July and it little wonder that
his began like the idea of shipping him to England
and, later, to France
But wake of the Maturity doubt has arisen
Probably will depend how he responds when he re-
smes training this week how he fares In the Santa Anita
Handicap March l. he will meet Hill Prince in addition
to Intent Gold Capitol Douglas and To Market all Of
which headed him Saturday
time though, to give up on the son OF Count
Fleet That's in the and he's always come back
As whitney says, Counterpart is a slayer.