Brass Halo tries two turns

PORTLAND, Ore. - Brass Halo will try two turns for the first time in Friday's featured sixth race at Portland Meadows. The one-mile race for $10,000 claimers has drawn an accomplished field of seven.

Brass Halo, a 4-year-old son of Dixieland Brass and Always an Angel, by Halo, has won 3 of 14 sprint tries, including a six-furlong victory over nonwinners-of-three allowance company in his next-to-last race Dec. 21. In his most recent start, Feb. 15, he ran third behind Special Sign and Proud Louie in a $12,500 claiming race. He was beaten by a little more than three lengths in a very fast 1:10.47 for six furlongs.

There is reason to suspect Brass Halo can do even better at one mile. Brass Halo, trained by Eulia Bischof for owners Dave and Pam Wood, is a full brother to the classy mare Always a Dixie, who won three stakes races at Emerald Downs last summer. Two of those stakes - the King County Handicap and the $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff - were contested at one mile.

Brass Halo figures to be thoroughly tested since all of his rivals are proven at route distances.

Most formidable is Lovers Son, who finished a strong second behind Yesss in the 1 1/8-mile William Kyne Stakes Jan. 26, then returned to finish third behind the same rival in a one-mile allowance race Feb. 17.

Thunder Zoot, A Midnight Sheik, and Anotherbagman have all won at one mile this meet, and Royal Brew graduated at one mile last year at Golden Gate. Can't Be Golden ran second to allowance foes at one mile here last fall.

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