Picking a Winner

The wise guys in Santa Anita's paddock winked at one another when they heard that Calumet Jockey Steve Brooks had had his choice and had "elected" to ride Ponder. It meant that Eddie Arcaro would be up on Citation, the other half of the Calumet Farm entry in last week's $50,000-added San Antonio Handicap. More likely, the wisenheimers thought, Brooks had been yanked off Citation after the wonder horse's defeat two weeks ago (TIME, Feb. 6).

When the bell sent nine starters thundering out of the gate, Arcaro had his hands full keeping Citation from charging into the lead. The big bay was full of run and fighting for his head. As usual, Ponder got off as though he thought he had forgotten something and was debating whether to go back after it. With Brooks sitting chilly on his back, Ponder trailed the field around the first bend. It was not until Citation made his move at the gilt-topped five-furlong pole that Brooks and Ponder decided to make it a horse race.

Arcaro went to the whip but he could not stand off Brooks, who was bringing Ponder down the middle of the stretch like a runaway freight train. At the finish of the mile and a furlong, Ponder was a length ahead of Citation. Third place went to Noor, an Irish-bred colt that may be Calumet's chief threat in the upcoming $100,000-added Santa Anita Handicap.

Citation's defeat, his second in a row, put something of a crimp in his reputation as a wonder horse. It had been a day of mixed news for Calumet Farm; Calumet's other glamour horse, Coaltown, had been trounced in the $25,000-added McLennan

Handicap at Florida's Hialeah Park a few hours earlier. The only member of the stable who seemed perfectly cheerful was rosy-cheeked Steve Brooks, who had picked himself a winner. Said Brooks smugly: "Ponder is at the top of his form and is going to be tough to beat in the big handicap."

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