Callie May looks strong on drop

PORTLAND, Ore. - Callie Mae is dropping to score in Friday's best race at Portland Meadows, a one-mile race for $8,000 fillies and mares that has drawn a field of six.

Friday's headliner will mark the first time in eight starts at the meeting that Callie Mae has been entered for a claiming price.

Callie Mae, a 4-year-old daughter of Abstract from the barn of trainer and part-owner Jonathan Nance, began the meet with back-to-back wins in allowance company at a mile, then ran a strong second in the one-mile Oregon Hers Stakes in December. She has not been as successful in four starts since turning 4 on Jan. 1, but she is coming off a third to Stately's Choice and Foxy Jenny in an open one-mile allowance on March 15, and should prove formidable against softer company on Friday.

Callie Mae might get her sternest opposition from Be Still My Heart, who is coming off a close fourth to the good sprinter Who Does in a 5 1/2-furlong race for $6,250 claimers on March 15. In her lone previous try at a mile, Be Still My Heart ran second to Stately's Choice in an allowance race in January.

Also intriguing is Wind Trail, who at age 6 is the only mare in the lineup. Wind Trail is coming off two straight wins against modest $2,500 company at 1 1/16 miles, but in the most recent of those victories she scored by a dozen lengths in 1:46.44, one of the fastest 1 1/16-mile clockings at the meeting.

Friday's feature is the fifth race on a nine-race card that begins at 7 p.m.

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