'Aaron' tries to remain unbeaten

PORTLAND, Ore. - Typhoon Aaron will put his undefeated record on the line Saturday

at Portland Meadows when he takes on 10 other 3-year-olds in the $15,000 Oregon Derby at 1 1/8 miles.

Typhoon Aaron, a front-running son of Danjur who races for Standish Stables, is a perfect 4 for 4, with all of his starts coming at Portland Meadows. After winning his debut against $10,000 maidens in October, Typhoon Aaron ran off stakes wins in the six-furlong Columbia River, the Juvenile Mile, and the six-furlong Flying Lark on Jan. 29. He has not raced in over two months, which may constitute his chief vulnerability on Saturday. Trainer Jim Fergason has named regular rider Brian Theriot to ride.

Typhoon Aaron could receive his sternest challenge from stablemate J. D.'s Date. J. D.'s Date comes off a late-running win in the 1 1/16-mile Preview Stakes on March 12, when he ran down a loose-on-the-lead American Poet to prevail by a length in 1:49.40.

The other stakes winner in the field is Raggidy Rowe, who came from well back to win the 1 1/16-mile McFadden Memorial over Oregon-breds in 1:50 on Feb. 19. Raggidy Rowe came back to run fourth in the Preview.

Expected to challenge Typhoon Aaron for the early advantage are American Poet, who showed the way in the Preview, and Indian Colony, an impressive maiden winner here on March 12, when he won off by more than nine lengths in 1:07.40 for 5 1/2 furlongs.