Evening star., 1960-05-10
7 Top Horses
InDerbyDuedt
PimIico Today
By JOSEPH B. KELLY
Star Racing Editor

| Dy JOSLE H d. nLLL1
Star Racing Editor
BALTIMORE, May 10.-Pim-
lico was closed today for its first
Of two racing holidays during
the current spring meeting but
there was excitement on the
backstretch with Venetian Way,
the Kentucky Derby winner,
and Bally Ache. who chased
him home, scheduled to check
into Barn J for their date in the
84th PreaknesS May 81.
The first two Derby finishers
we're slated to arrive at Friend
ship Airport on the same plane
this afternoon. They were to be
vanned the IL miles to Old
Hilltop for their first look at
the historic grounds, which has
been welcoming big shot thor
oughbreds for nearly 100 years.
With T. v. Lark, a West Coast
3-year-old ace, already bedded
down and the early arrival of
Venetian Way and Bally Ache,
there was speculation that
Saturdays Preakness Prep
might develop into quite a horse
race, overshadowing the $20,-
000-added Black Eyed Susan
Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Prep Drawing Well
In recent years the Preakness
Prep, at a mile and a sixteenth,
has been somewhat of a drab
affair with most of the fancier
3-year-oldS passing up the race.
However, last years PreakneSs
winner, Royal Orbit, also took
the prelim.
Trainer Vic Sovinski, who
conditions Venetian Way for
the Sunny Blue Farm, has in
dicated that he probably will
start the Derby winner in the
Prep. Paul Parker. T. v. Lark S
trainer, is planning to run his
charge in the Prep.
Other possible starters are
the Llangollen Farm entry of
Divine Comedy and Command
Pilot, who arrived yesterday;
Green Dunes Farms Celtic Ash,
and possibly Victoria Park.
Decision Due Tomorrow
The latter, third in the Der
by. is enroute by rail and was
not expected here until late
tonight or carry tomorrow.
Trainer Horatio Luro, who
claimed his colt did not run
his race over the Churchill
Downs track, will make a de-
cision tomorrow on the Prep.
A dozen or so colts still re-
mained in the Preakness pic
ture today even with the un-
fortunate withdrawal yesterday
OF Tompion, fourth flnisher in
the Derby, by his owner, C. ".
Whitney.
In a statement to Pimlico
officials, Whitney said from
Lexington, KY, II regret very
much to tell you that I am not
shipping Tompion to Pimlico
for the Preakness. After careful
analysis of his race in the Ken
lucky Derby. which was a dis
appointment to me, I have de-
cided to bring him here to the
farm for two weeks for a fresh
ener."
Trainer Sunny jim Fitzsim-
mons, who has nothing to run
in this years Preakness, a race
he has won four times, will be
represented in Saturdays Black
Eyed Susan Stakes by the
Wheatley Stables Warlike, who
has won her last two starts at
Aqueduct. Jockey Hank Mo-
reno has been signed to pilot
the filly.
Another certain starter for
the weekend stakes is Air
mans Guide, who arrived at
Pimlico yesterday from Louis
vile after finishing third in
the ravorite's role in the Ken
lucky Oaks.
Racing resumes at Pimlico
tomorrow and the track is ex-
pected to return to a fast con-
dition after Sundays storm
which dumped 31a inches of
rain in the area and left the
racing strip sloppy.
Yesterdays crowd of 1886
wagered $811,6 SIT, a disappoint-
ing handle in view of no COM
petition for the day with Gar
den State.