Of the three Nasrullahs mentioned, Nashua comes to this race with the best credentials: 10 wins in 12 starts and earnings of $477,440. Leger-proof enough that his sons can go a distance of ground and go it at a winning clip. Among Nasrullah's notable progeny are Noor, a four-time winner over Citation in 1950, and Never Say Die, winner of the 1954 Epsom Derby and St. 1) will-if Nashua, Jean's Joe and Flying Fury all start Saturday-be represented by three sons in this select field. This year the great imported sire Nasrullah (SI, Nov. You see, Count Turf's grandsire, Reigh Count, won the 1928 Derby-and his sire, Count Fleet, won the Derby (and triple crown) in 1943. Count Turf's backers dismissed his unimpressive pre-Derby record but gave him their support largely because of his noble breeding. One example of this sort of thinking paid off in 1951 when a 15 to 1 field entry, Count Turf, romped home by four lengths. The more experienced Derby bettor has often profited by basing his selections not only according to the merit of past performance but also on a logical study of inherited bloodline characteristics. Most of his admirers would rather forget that in Arcaro's first 15 they made his mount the favorite in 10-and exactly half of them did not even get in the money. Arcaro wound up a suspension this week just in time to make Nashua his 16th Derby ride. This applies particularly if the jockey's name happens to be Eddie Arcaro, who has ridden to triumph five times in this premier classic. There is another school of thought adhering to the theory that the jockey alone is responsible for a Derby victory. In the 80 previous Derbies 37 favorites have won (this 46% average is far better than the national average of 34% winning favorites), and 15 of the 27 odds-on favorites have won. Many, too preoccupied to unscramble the hieroglyphics of the past performance charts, will settle for a bet on the favorite (most likely: Nashua). All the old "systems"-from the blind thrust of a hatpin into an outspread program to selection according to color and name-will be brought into play.
#UNSCRAMBLE GALLANT WINDOWS#
Many things will stir in the minds of the 100,000 bettors Saturday before the mutuel windows slam shut. Others, with less fortunate backgrounds and peanut-size bank rolls to show for their achievements, will be lucky if even their owners, grooms and exercise boys go out on a financial limb on their behalf. Some-like Nashua and Summer Tan, who have staged a rivalry reminiscent of the feuds between Cavalcade and Discovery-will draw a tremendous following. Every horse in the parade will get a play. Winter Book bets are all but forgotten in the light of new-found knowledge as tips, hunches and rumors race across the rambling old horse park faster than any Stevens caterer with his $1.25 mint juleps in the take-it-home-with-you souvenir glasses. Before the day's nine races are over they will have bet over $4 million.Ī million and a half of it will go into the machines on the seventh race of the afternoon-the Derby-alone. In these hectic hours the mixed mob has started spending on a big scale. But this moment also represents the last chance for the bettor lurching and pushing his way to the front of the pari-mutuel lines which opened seven and a half hours previously.
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