Crimson Design in for tag

PORTLAND, Ore. - Crimson Design will head a field of seven older sprinters in Sunday's top offering at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong dash for $12,500 to $16,000 claimers.

Crimson Design, a stakes winner over this track and at Emerald Downs, will be racing for a claiming price for the first time in his career. Crimson Design, a 5-year-old son of Cisco Road from the barn of trainer Jim Fergason, is coming off a runner-up finish in a six-furlong allowance race here on Oct. 29. He led almost all the way in that race, which was his first since June, but tired slightly near the wire and was edged by Knightsbridge Road in 1:13.20. He should move forward off that effort on Sunday, when he will again be ridden by leading rider Joe Crispin.

Crimson Design might get his sternest challenge from Billygan, an improving 3-year-old trained by Jonathan Nance. Billygan, who has raced only five times, comes off a game victory over War Poppy in a $10,000 claiming race on Oct.o24, when he got six furlongs in 1:12.20. Juan Gutierrez retains the mount.

Also a threat is Zona de Impacto, a Chilean-bred who won seven races in his own country before relocating to the Northwest two years ago. He is winless in 21 starts in the United States, but he has been consistently close to good company in most of his outings. Zona de Impacto is trained by Ann Peery, who has named Debbie Hoonan-Trujillo to ride.