Portland Meadows: L G Jet cruises to victory in Oregon Thoroughbred Breeders Derby

L G Jet improved his career record to 4 for 4 at Portland Meadows with a 3 1/2-length victory in the $20,000 Oregon Thoroughbred Breeders Derby at Portland Meadows on Monday.

A speedy Harbor the Gold gelding, L G Jet scored his second straight stakes win in the one-mile race, which was his first start around two turns. He ran the distance in 1:41.88, defeating Slew the Cat, the same horse that he beat in winning the Bill Wineberg in his previous start on Dec. 11. L G Jet paid $3.40.

L G Jet was content to sit behind dueling pacesetters Lil Red Rockstar and Suesawme through a 23.28 opening quarter and moved outside them to make it a three-way battle for the lead after the opening 46.55 half-mile. He opened up on the second turf and was six ahead in the lane before coasting to the wire.

Trained by John Harris and owned by Georgianne Hammrich, L G Jet earned $11,000 for the victory, boosting his career earnings to $26,665 with four wins in five starts.

Favored Bahati Gold won the $10,000 Oregon Ms. Stakes at one mile in the co-feature when Slewzy’s Gold, who wired the field, was disqualified for bumping Kenzie Carolina at the break. Kenzie Carolina was moved up to second with Slewzy’s Gold disqualified to third in the race, which was run in 1:42.65. Bahati Gold returned $4.40.

Bahati Gold, owned by Abella Racing and trained by Jim Fergason, missed by a nose in the Dec. 11 Janet Wineberg. She earned $5,500 on Monday to increase her earnings to $12,630.