Son of a Gun Who Can Run

At 9 o'clock on the cold, blustery morning of last week's Kentucky Derby, Trainer Jimmy Jones of Calumet Farm made an agonizing decision: he scratched Gen. Duke, the heavy favorite, because of a bruised hoof. Immediately, bettors switched affection to the Wheatley Stable's Bold Ruler. Almost forgotten was Gen. Duke's stablemate, the muscular bay colt Iron Liege.

At any other stable, Iron Liege would have been top banana. But at Mrs. Gene Markey's fabulously successful Calumet Farm he was only a talented understudy,* the pacesetter for the compact Gen. Duke, ranked by the experts as the finest three-year-old in the land. At post time Iron Liege was held at better than 8 to 1 in the finest field to run in years. Even his jockey, brash Willie Hartack, doubted his chances. Bold Ruler, ridden by canny Eddie Arcaro, was a solid 6-to-5 favorite.

But when the pack hit the homestretch, there was Iron Liege coming on to take the lead. Bold Ruler was out of it, despite a desperate whiplashing by Arcaro. Closing fast from almost last at the start was English-bred Gallant Man, ridden by California's great Willie Shoemaker. Driving for the wire, Gallant Man inched past Iron Liege. And then Jockey Shoemaker made a horrendous mistake. Thinking he had crossed the finish line, he eased off Gallant Man and stood up in the stirrups. It checked Gallant Man for an eye flick--and in that instant the issue was settled. The photo showed that Iron Liege had crossed the line a nose in front, for $109,550 first money and Calumet's sixth Derby. "He made a monkey out of me," Jockey Hartack delightedly admitted as he bounced off rose-garnished Iron Liege. "This son of a gun can really run."

*But not to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, which picked Iron Liege as a possible champion the day he was foaled (March 11, 1954), hopefully followed his progress with photo and pen to the winner's circle at the Derby.

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