Evening star., 1955-05-29

the board was 6 to /, paid $3.50
and $2.20. while Traffic Judge
also returned the minimum $2.20.
Just as was the case two years
ago, when Native Dancer was
the cinch, the big bettors staged
a bargain-counter rush on the
$50 and 500 windows. They
poured in $185,654 on the fa-
vorite to show in a pool Of $213,-
$40. Since State law calls for a
minimum payoff of 10 cents on
the dollar, Pimlico got a jolt
when 1t had to contribute ST.
576 to the minus pool.
Two years ago the minus pool
caused by Native Dancer. an
even shorter favorite in a smaller
field, was $46,012. But the total
mutuel handle that day was
$2,279,916, far more than today's
$1,737.119.
Backing for Sticks Surprising
One of the surprises of the
Preakness betting was the back
ing accorded the races ugly
ducking, the Chicago owned
Sticks from the B & G Stable Of
Frank A. Benner and Norman c.
Galbraith. Virtually unheard Of
two days ago, Sticks caused some
wonderment when his name was
dropped in the entry box Thurs
day, for few Eastern racegoers
had ever heard of him.
Well, Sticks didn't do so well
today, winding up next to last
about a toll call from the victori-
GUS Nashua. But he did beat Go
Lightly, another surprise starter.
by a matter of four lengths and
at 80 to l he was fifth choice
with the croWd-ahead Of such
better-known colts as Nance's
Lad. Fleet Path and Go Lightly.
A total of $4,018 was wagered
on Sticks in the win pool and
it must have bothered the un-
fashionable colt from Chicago.
At any rate. he started seventh
and finished that way. although
he and Jockey Bobby Martin did
move up to sixth at one point in
the long grind.
Saratoga Runs Amazing Race
Saratoga. who sulked so much
in a recent workout that his
trainer. Frank Bonsal, and own
er, Mrs. Marion dupont Scott,
feared the worst, ran an amaz-
ing race today despite the fact
the highly nervous colt was
dripping sweat in the paddock
and during the post parade.
But once the field left the
gate. the brown son of Blenheim
II was truly a running horse.
Excellently rated by the canny
Shuk, Saratoga opened up a
two-length margin going up the
back stretch and didn't give up
a bit when Arcaro went to the
whip rounding the bend and got
Nashua up on even terms with
the early leader.
Traffic Judge also made q
sharp move nearing the stretch
and Eric Guerin said later that
momentarily he thought his
had a chance. But Traffic
Judge, whose half brother, Hasty
Road, won the 1854 Preakness,
had no answer for the kind Of
Nashua and Saratoga
did in the stretch and faded fast.
In the absence of Gov. Nickel
din, who is in Europe, Mayor
Thomas D'Alessandro of Balti-
more presented a replica of the
cherished Woodlawn Vase to Mrs.
Woodward, wife of the winning
owner. It was young Woodward's
first Preakness victory, although
it was the third for the Belair
stud, founded by his father.
woodward, ST., late chairman of
the Jockey Club, had won in 1880
with Gallant Fox and in 1885
with Omaha, both trained by
Fitzsimmons and both Triple
Crown victors.
Nashua, rugged colt of more
than 16 hands, locks as if he can
run all day, so the son of the
Irish sire Nasrullah appears to
be a mortal cinch in the mile
and a half Belmont Stakes, Just
two weeks away. Nashua also
is named for the Dwyer and the
Arlington Classic among other
stakes, but what Mr.. Fitz, Wood
ward and Arcaro are really look
ing forward to is another meet
ing with Swaps.
This could come in the Amer
can Derby at Washington Park,
for Rex Ellsworth, owner of the
California colt, has indicated
nr,r.-~-