Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-20
Swaps Shoots For Record
In American Derby Today
California Colt
Has Sensational
Turf Workouts

Sf11CA(O, aug. SUs NJs
Swaps. the unbeaten 3-year-old
owned by Rex C. Ellsworth.
shoots for a turf record and
victory today as 3-to-5 favorite
over five plucky rivals in the
American Derby.
The chestnut from California,
whose seven triumphs this year
includes one over Nashua in the
Kentucky Derby, makes his first
start on the grass In the Wash
ington Park feature at a mile
and three sixteenths.
He has been sensational in
workouts. taking to the turf as
II he owned it. But how he
will react in direct competition
on the footing, packing top
weight of 126 pounds, is an i'm
ponderable that goes to sharpen
interest in the nationally tele-
vised and broadcast event. Post
time is 6 pm. washington
time.)
(The Columbia Broadcast
ing System is televising the
race nationally and it will be
seen here on WTOP-TV, Chan
mel 81
Swaps will concede pounds
to Clifford Mooers' Traffic Judge
and Harvey C. Fruehauf's Para
dor, and Is to Mrs. Harry
Nathenson's Ambiguous, Hasty
House Farms Summer Solstice
and w. L. Ranch's Honeys Alibi.'
Gross of S146,425
If all six go. the 45th running
Iof the American Derby, the first
time it has been held on the
turf. will gross $146,425 with a
Jackpot of $4,000 for the winner.
Swaps brilliant workouts on
the 500. and word from Trainer
Meshach Tenney that the
Khaled-Iro Reward colt sis in
the best shape of his sophomore
career" have left most observers
expecting a new American turf
record.
If the weather forecast of clear
skies and 95 degree heat holds
up. the 1-3/16-mile mark of
l:5425 appears doomed. Platan
recently established the grass
course record in the Arlington
Handicap.
Assuming there are no I'M
expected developments, Swaps
next public appearance will be
the 100000 match race against
Nashua August 81. over Wash
ington Parks main course at
mile and a quarter. He enters
the American Derby without a
race since winning the Western
er at Hollywood Park July Z.
Summer Solstice Dangerous
In big race it is difficult to
Overlook Hasty House and
Trainer Harry Trotsek, who has
a knack of pointing for ,ipsets.
Their Summer Solstice will have
veteran Johnny Adams aboard
and will get a break in weights.
The Irish-bred gray gelding has
twon three grass events this sum-
mer and. packing 1874 pounds,
finished third to Paradox and
Ambiguous in the American
Derby preview at mile and
one sixteenth.
Parador's workouts have been
nearly as sensational as Swaps
and two weeks ago he won the
Sheridan Handicap. Paradox
will be ridden by Willie Hartack,
who is impressed with his
mounts improvement.
Hartack currently is leading
Willie Shoemaker, who will be
up on Swaps, in competition for
national Jockey honors. Har-
tack has booted home Isl win
ners and Shoemaker DAT. Har-
tack won two races here yester-
day while Shoemaker had only
one.
I Traffic Judge, making his de-
but on the grass, has captured
two stakes this summer and
placed in several others.
| Ambiguous best bid of the
year was a two-length second to
Paradox in the American Derby
Prep. Honey's Alibi. an also-ran
in the Kentucky Derby, scored in
the Chicagoan at the Balmoral
meet at Washington Park this
spring.