Evening star., 1953-04-29
Result Of Trial
Fails 10 Change
Derby Picture
Dark Star Unlikely
To Beat Top Choices;
13 May Run Saturday
BY the Assoeiated Press


Dark Star cast a small shadow
over the Kentucky Derby hori-
zon today but failed to dim the
public's regard for Native Dancer
and Correspondent as the two
horses most likely to succeed in
Saturdays 10th running of the
500, ,000-added 3-year-old turf
classic.
When Dark Star, from Harry
F. Guggenheim's Cain Hoy
Stable, came pounding down the
stretch to win yesterdays mile
Derby Trial in the fine time of
1885, there was quite a bit of
talk among trainers and owners.
But it was mostly talk, for it
was difficult to find anybody who
would predict the Cain Hoy colt
18th in last months Florida
Derby-might be able to give
Native Dancer or Correspondent
a serious argument when the
distance lengthens to a mile and
one-quarter Saturday at 4::30
pm. Eastern standard time.
Field Of 13 Likely.
Dark Star, a son of the i'm
ported Australian stallion Royal
Gem II, finished AZ lengths in
front of Money Broker. owned
by the Detroit combination of
Allie Grissom and Ed Grosf1eld.
Spy Defense from Charles T.
Fishers Dixiana Stable was
nearly three lengths farther
back, just a nose in front of the
fast-closing Royal Bay Gem, also
sired by Royal Gem II.
When all of the shouting was
over and the trainers had looked
over their charges, the prospec-
tive Derby field added up to 13.
Two or three of these still are
on the doubtful list, depending
on word from their owners and
how they react tomorrow.
Native Dancer. who'll have his
final workout tomorrow, heads
the field as the probable odds-on
selection. Trainer Bill Winfrey
may decide to send Social Out
cast along with the unbeaten
Dancer. Correspondent is the
solid second choice, with Royal
Bay Gem, Money Broker and
Dark Star next In favor. possibly
In that order.
It's Up to Owners.
Other prospective starters are
Straight Face. Invigorator, Spy
Defense. Ace Destroyer, Mr.. Par
adise, Curragh King and Ram
o. War.
Trainer Jack Hodgins said It
will be up to the owner of Spy
Defense to decide whether Dixi-
ana's colors will be at the start
ing line. Buddy Sarner, condi-
toner Of Ram o. War, said he
also wouldn't know definitely for
q couple Of days.
Jim Coleman said he would
wait until he talks with Mrs.
John Payson Adams before de-
Gliding on the English bred Blue
Repeater. but as things stand
now he is a very doubtful starter.
The colt came out of the Trial
with a banged-up knee.
The probable field lost an
entry when Ben Whitaker de-
cided yesterday not to ship Ia
hitian King from New York,
where he finished second to
Native Dancer in the Wood Me-
mortal last Saturday.
Jones Sums Up Things.
Perhaps Ben Jones, who has
saddled six Derby winners but
will not have a representative
this time, best expressed the
opinion Of the experts when he
said:
How can you go beyond
Native Dancer? He's a mighty
good looking horse and will be
tough to beat"
Wally Dunn, trainer of Cor
respondent, disclosed his horse
need not necessarily run with
the pace, as he did in winning
three races at Keeneland. That
may mean Eddie Arcaro will be
instructed to take the son of
Khaled of the early pace and
have something left when horses
like Native Dancer and Royal
Bay Gem make their stretch bids.
If he does that successfully,
there Is a chance Of q real horse
race when the leaders straighten
out for the last quarter-mile
before the expected crowd Of
over 100000.
Here is the probable lineup for the
Derby: