BackTrack: Dr. Fager Parades in Withers

For six furlongs the 92nd running of the Withers miles was a horse race at Aqueduct. For the last two furlongs it was a procession, with Dr. Fager at the head of the parade, just as many in the East think he is at the head of the entire 3-year-old parade.

Running within himself, Dr. Fager recorded the fastest mile—1:33 4/5—ever run in New York by a horse of his age. 

Nevertheless, this colt—which has won the Gotham and Withers in his only starts this year, which never has been worse than second, and that only once, and which gives every sign of being able to go on—was not going on to the Preakness.

In the first flush of enthusiasm after the Withers, trainer John Nerud left the door slightly open. He would decide later in the week, he said. It was 70-30 against his going. A man spoke up and said he represented Pimlico.

"Where's that? Near Dade Park?" Nerud said.

"How late is later in the week—Monday, Tuesday?" the man persisted.

"Friday," Nerud said quickly. "If I decided to run him, I'd put him in Friday, van him down that day, run, and come right back."

Races Too Close Together

"The Preakness entries close Thursday," he was told.

"Then he can't go," Nerud said with a grin. "I'm going to be in Ocala all week, won't be back until Thursday night. I wouldn't enter and scratch. I wouldn't scratch a horse.

"Two hard races a week apart are too tough," Nerud went on. He seemed to be searching for an explanation to satisfy those who can not understand why Dr. Fager does not go after all the big purses.

"It will be a hard race. Damascus is a good horse. Yow saw here today just how good Damascus is."

Nerud has considerable respect for Damascus, which was a half-length back of Dr. Fager in the Gotham. The real explanation, however, may be that Nerud himself does not want to go to the Preakness any more than he wanted to subject himself to Derby Week in Louisville.

One day after the Withers, Nerud, who is the sole boss of where his horses run, definitely ruled out the Preakness. Dr. Fager's next start, he indicated, would be in either the Jersey Derby or the Metropolitan mile, and in the latter he very likely would meet Buckpasser.

Immediately after the Withers, Nerud had ruled out the Metropolitan, too, saying: "I don't want any part of Buckpasser; he's too tough."

Buckpasser had gone five furlongs in :57 4/5 just that morning in a startling comeback work.

Was it the Withers fractions which had made Nerud waver? They were :22 2/5, :21 3/5, :23 4/5, and :25 4/5, the first two with a brisk abetting wind, the last quarter against the wind. Even Buckpasser does not run over horses in 1:33 4/5, and Dr. Fager would be getting weight off.

Becoming Favorite At Aqueduct

The Withers was run on a bright day, and the prospect of the speed duel between Dr. Fager and unbeaten Tumiga helped bring out a crowd of 50,233 which bet $5,036,038 during the afternoon. The long-legged Rough'n Tumble—Aspidistra colt is becoming a favorite in New York.

"Sure, Dr. Charles Fager is interested in the horse," Nerud said, answering a question and referring to the Boston brain surgeon for whom the colt was named. "No, he's never seen him run, but he's a very busy man. We have become friends, I'm still under his care, and he talks about the colt and is excited about him. His brothers and his nephews and his nieces come to see him run—there are about 50 of them here."

They saw a better-looking horse than they saw in the Gotham. Several horsemen commented to Nerud on the colt's improved appearance over the four weeks. In the Gotham he had appeared "dead fit," like a colt in the midst of a hard campaign rather than making his first start of the year.

"No, I didn't drain him," Nerud said when asked about that. "He's alright. Sure, his color's better now. It was cold back then. Now it's warmer and his coat is better."

Baeza Ranks Him At Top

One specialist who was impressed by Dr. Fager was Braulio Baeza, who rode him for the first time. Regular rider Manuel Ycaza was sitting out a 15-day suspension.

"Tell 'em what Baeza said after the race," someone urged Nerud.

The trainer grinned and responded: "He said: 'You better let me ride this horse. He is a machine.'"

Baeza, when asked how he ranked Dr. Fager compared with the other 3-year-olds he has ridden this year, gazed into space for a good five seconds, then answered: "He is the best—up to now."

It had been an easy race for him, the jockey said, but he conceded the colt was getting a little tired near the finish. 

Eight went to the post, with Dr. Fager a 4-5 favorite over Tumiga, the latter held at 2-1. The third choice at 9-1 was the persistent Reason to Hail, and that was just the way they finished.

Ben Feliciano broke Tumiga on top, as expected, rated him along nicely with Racing Room and Sun Gala close behind and Dr. Fager fourth on the outside. Baeza moved after three furlongs, and at the half-mile pole the crowd had the virtual match race it expected.

Dr. Fager hooked Tumiga on the outside, running easily. They raced head and head for almost a furlong, then the long-striding Dr. Fager began to draw away steadily from his blockier rival. He was six lengths in the clear at the finish. Tumiga, suffering his first loss, was five lengths ahead of Reason to Hail, which had another five on Favorable Turn.

Colts Have Identical Records

Lucien Lauren, Tumiga's trainer, congratulated Nerud after the race.

"I've got news for you," said Laurin, using a favorite expression of his. "Your horse could have taken mine any time he wanted to—and with those fractions! I just ran the second-best horse."

Dr. Fager and Tumiga now have identical records—six wins and a second in seven starts. Tumiga's next objective is the Jersey Derby.

Dr. Fager, which races for William L. McKnight's Tartan Stable, won $37,895 for a total of $187,803 in his brief career, which now included four stakes victories. It seems safe to say that he will be skillfully and carefully campaigned.

Nerud, the president of Tartan Farms Corp., talks of "will to win" and "speed," and his anticipation of Dr. Fager's stud possibilities is obvious. The trainer, too, appears to be increasingly absorbed in the breeding and raising of Thoroughbreds.