Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-29
WIN, LOSE OR
DkAW By FRANCIS s7AAA

TAMPA, FLA, MAR. 28-As the final skit in the Florida
racing show, Jimmy Dom, venerable old Scotsman who
resurrected Gufstream Park from the mould decay
the jungle Is years ago. presents the 100000 Florida
Derby week from today. Until this week it had been
shaping up as Trous rich routine prep for the
Kentucky Derby, May 2.
But Trolus, like First Landing and so many other
Derby-age colts, fell fiat his press clippings the
$4,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfsream the other
day. Jim Norris Easy Spur who among those chasing
Trous in the Flamingo at Haleah waloped Troilus by
eight lengths and the Florida Derby apparently up
for grabs.
AL OF which brings broad smile to the of Horace
Wade, director of racing at Gulfstream Frankly,
thinking it was Troilus at any price," Wade saying
today via telephone. Now we're going to have nine
horse field and Trous going to have to be sharper than
he was in the Fountain of Youth to do well at all
But Trolus is sure to be filter Wade added musingly
He tired colt this week. Another handcap-Chris
Rogers wasn't riding They had to settle for Walter Blum
because Rogers was suspended"
$500
SUCH is THE NATURE of the 3-year-old crop of 1859
that each week unfoldS the Kentucky Derby picture
becomes more confusing, instead of clearing up Even
after Trous good win in the Famngo licking First Land
ing among others, many knowledgeable racing person
was skeptcal about Of Priam II going mile and
quarter, the Kentucky distance
There was another shock, somewhat mider when
Master Panch finished seventh in the Fountain of Youth
With certain pride Gufstream Parks Dom and Wade
greeted the return of Master Paynch from New Orleans
not long ago. after he won the Louisiana Derby The
colt had set track record he was returning
to Gulfsteam track he had favored Them like so many
he Topped.
Until now, Easy Spur hasn't been the most publicized
member OF Mr.. Norris Spring Hill Farms stable. The
now injured Octopus But after what Easy Spur did
to Troilus this is the colt making talk Easy Spur must
love Gulfstream Park Wade suggests Hes never been
beaten here in four starts-two 2yearod, two more
3-year-old."
Meanwhile, back in California the Sonny Whitney
fly Silver Spoon daily in Kentucky Derby stature
even in her barn. She won't be running in the Gufsream
tune-up next Saturday but only most impressive per-
Torrance by the Florida Derby winner is apt to cost the
flly any support.
LOT OF FOLKS who must, of necessity read Of
racng-and, worse, write about -are getting mite
fed up with the stock lines Regret 1915 only
lly to win the Kentucky Derby" They are roofing for
Silver Spoon to deliver Regrets feat from of
the unique.
All of the ingredients for memorable story are on
hand if the unbeaten Silver Spoon pull of what Regret
did for Sonnys dad Harry Payne Whitney, A years ago.
Although sired by the great Citation made her first
start in an $4,000 claiming at Belmont Park and
managed to escape being claimed At the time, Whitney
believed gimpy hind leg would eopardize her racing
career She has whipped most of the best colts of her
age in California. And she is the first fly in nearly Is
years whose publicly has pointed for the Kentucky
Derby.
You just don't do such thing very often because
regardless of distance age the colts prove consistently
owner of fy to. take dead aim at Louisville was the
late Warren Wright who announced early in 1885 that
Nellie Flag would be trained especially for the Derby
she was good lady horse, Nellie Flag and Mr.. Wright
hired Eddie Arcaro to ride With fine disregard for
nature, bettors made Nellie slight avorite over Omaha
But OF course Omaha because he one of the rare
Triple Crown champions. Nellie Flag was fourth
IN CONNECTION WITH REGRET it must be remem-
bered that in her day FLIES carried only 112 pounds as
against l21 for the dSta side today the other hand
regret got no more than pounds from any the other
horses for 1T top weight and one DortcbI nacked
little no.
When the present weight of 121 adopted for flles
the burden on all colts and geldngs raised to 1876
But 1t is doubtful If Sonny Whitney regarding
weight as major factor when he drew his bead the
Kentucky Derby Prophetcally perhaps he was thinking
1t is very ordinary crop OF 3-year-old colts.