Alsab Comes Back

They called him a Morning Glory, a bag o' bones, a worn-out nag. But Ol' Sarge Swenke, his trainer, refused to give up his faith in Alsab, last year's wonderhorse--even after he finished third in Florida's Flamingo and fifth in its Widener; even after he was licked twice within a week at Havre de Grace by commonplace Colchis; even after he was humbled by Valdina Orphan in the Derby Trial and by Shut Out in the great Derby itself, the race for which Swenke had pointed since the beginning of the year.

Last week scrawny little Alsab lined up with Shut Out, Valdina Orphan, Colchis and six other rivals for the $75,000 Preakness, second of the season's rich classics for three-year-olds. The Ol' Sarge was still convinced that his game little colt, even after eight straight defeats, was the best of the lot. Others among the 42,000 who crammed the ancient Pimlico race track thought so too, for Alsab went to the post the favorite.*

When the crowd got its first glimpse of Alsab, pounding past the stands, he was in next-to-last place. In the backstretch, he was still next-to-last. Coming into the home turn, Jockey Basil James gave the Sab the whip. Like the Alsab of old, he began to sweep around the field--past the Orphan, past Apache, past Shut Out, gaining with every stride of his short legs. At the wire, Alsab was a full length in front of Requested and Sun Again. His time: 1 min. 57 sec., a new record for the 52-year-old Preakness and only one-fifth of a second slower than the record for a mile and three-sixteenths on the Pimlico course.

Chirped Owner Albert Sabath, who watched his namesake race for the first time in many months: "He cured me of my heart disease."

Chirped Trainer Swenke, who grew up within a gallop of the track: "He did it in my own back yard."

Chirped the railbirds: "He's another Seabiscuit."

The Preakness was Alsab's 31st race in 15 months, brought his total winnings to $182,105.

* Some Alsab backers may have been influenced by mysterious handbills that were distributed at the many Pimlico gates the day of the race. The handbills read; Alsah Can't Lose. The tout: a New York gambler who had made a wager of $1,000 against $3,000 that Alsab would go to the post the favorite

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