Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-07
PimIicoAwaits
Needles Arrival
On Wednesday
Countermond Hurt,
Preukness Sturt
Hinges on Recovery

LOUISVILLE. May z (Speclal)
Needles. the Kentucky Derby
winner, is scheduled to leave
here by train tomorrow for Bal
timore, where the Preakness is
the next goal in his quest Of
the Triple Crown. The big colt
is due at Pimlico Wednesday,
the first Derby winner since 1853
to run in the big Baltimore race
1t was seven years ago that
Needles daddy. Ponder, Topped
in the Preakness after winning
the Derby, and some few skep-
tics wonder if Needles will suffer
the same fate. There were just
enough surprises in the mile and
one-quarter classic at Churchill
Downs to create some doubt that
the stretch-running winner can
catch the speed horses at the
Preakness' mile and three-Six-
teenths. However, others point
out that Needles proved his late
speed in two shorter races, the
Flamingo and Florida Derby at
a mile and an eighth.
Capot and Palestinian ran
one-two in the 1949 Preakness
when Ponder finished out of the
money. And when they hooked
up in the mile and one-halt
Belmont, it was Capot again as
Ponder's finishing kick came toe
late and fell short.
Trainer Confident
Needless to say, Hugh Fontaine
Needles 60-year-old trainer, has
all the confidence in the world
that his Florida bred charge can
and will go on to turf greatness.
The opposition, however, intends
to make him prove his right to
the 3-year-old crown.
Calumet's Fabius, who led in
the late stages of the Derby only
to be caught in the final six
tenth. and finish second, is re-
garded as probably the colt with
the best chance Of nipping
Needles in the Preakness. This
Is especially true if Jockey Willie
Hartack rides again, for Willie
is at his best in Maryland
Fabius will be shipped directly
to Baltimore.
Helen w. Kellogg's Cone Or
Red, a surprise third in the
Derby, wasn't nominated origi-
nally for the Preakness and it's
unlikely that his owner will put
up the necessary $500 supple.
mental fee by midnight tonight
There could be some interesting
late nominees. however.
Golf Ace May Enter
Golf Ace. conquerer of Heac
Man-but loser on a foul to the
Whitney colt-might be a sup.
Elemental nominee. He is enter
ed in an allowance test at New
York today and his Preakness
hopes undoubtedly will be riding
on the outcome,
Then, too. there is Tobey B.
who won the Blue Grass Stakes
and Social Climber, victor in the
San Felipe Stakes at Santa
Anita. Both would be welcome
additions to the Preakness.
The two-week layof between
the Derby and Preakness will
give all the stables a chance to
reappraise their colts and plan
accordingly. High King, owned
by Joe Gavegnano, will be
shipped to Garden State, for
and probably entered
in the Preakness only if there is
a small field. He was tenth in
the Derby.
COuntermand Hurt.
Whitney's Career Boy, sixth in
the Derby, and Head Man a
soundly beaten eighth. will be
sent to New York and Trainer
Syl Veitch will decide later
whether he thinks it worth while
to send them to Baltimore.
There were a couple of Derby
who probably won't
get to the post at Baltimore.
Pintor Lea. Fabius' stablemate
who was fifth, aggravated his old
knee injury and will be sent to
the farm for rest. Trainer Ben
See DERBY, Page A-2O