Class drop may awaken Aldorado

PORTLAND, Ore. - Aldorado will attempt to regain his winning stride on Saturday, when he takes on four other $8,000 sprinters over five furlongs in the featured eighth race at Portland Meadows.

Aldorado, a 4-year-old son of Altazarr who races for Seawind Stable and trainer Martin Kenney, won a 6 1/2-furlong race for $10,000 claimers at Emerald Downs in June and anything like that effort would likely be good enough on Saturday.

He subsequently contested Emerald's marathon series, and though he proved very competitive at distances ranging from nine to 12 furlongs, the grueling series may have knocked him out. When returned to sprint distances in September, he finished a well-beaten sixth and a distant fifth in two tries against $10,000 company. Kenney has since freshened Aldorado and he is dropping him slightly in class, so the gelding could be ready to bounce back with a strong effort.

Bad Toda Bone may prove to be Aldorado's strongest challenger, as the 9-year-old ships in sharp from Lethbridge in Alberta, where he won two of his last three outings. Bad Toda Bone, winner of 16 lifetime races, posted a front-running win over $3,000 claimers at about six furlongs, then finished a close third in a 5 1/2-furlong stakes before defeating $2,500 starter allowance company at 5 1/2-furlongs in his most recent outing on Oct. 20.

Lovers Son and An Naabi, who made their last starts in northern California, and Matsuri, who raced most recently at Hastings Park, round out a diverse group.

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