Dear John, 'Scaffolds' meet again

PORTLAND, Ore. - Dear John and Scaffolds Legacy, who finished second and third to An Naabi when racing under similar conditions on Nov. 29, will be rematched in Friday's top offering at Portland Meadows.

The feature is a six-furlong race for horses eligible to be claimed for $5,000 to $6,250. The race has drawn a field of eight.

Dear John and Scaffolds Legacy figure to be well-backed off their last race, which was another six-furlong affair for $5,000 claimers. Dear John closed with a rush along the rail to miss catching the front-running An Naabi by a neck, while Scaffolds Legacy finished just over two lengths farther back in third.

Scaffolds Legacy was claimed out of that race by trainer Jonathan Nance, who trained the 6-year-old earlier in his career. Nance has named leading jockey Juan Gutierrez to ride at 119 pounds. Twyla Beckner has the call from trainer Don Munger on Dear John, also at 119.

Brass Halo, Donnys Dimund Slew, and Drive Your Stake are all coming off wins and should receive wagering support. Brass Halo beat $3,200 company at six furlongs on Nov. 22; Donnys Dimund Slew defeated $5,000 rivals at 4 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 29; and Drive Your Stake edged restricted $6,250 claimers at 5 1/2 furlongs on Nov. 17.

Rounding out the field are Don Double D, who will be making his seasonal debut; Hayden Storm, a winner at the $5,000 claiming level at Emerald; and Mr. Fix, who beat $5,000 rivals here going a mile.

Friday's nine-race program includes two trials for the Far West Quarter Horse Futurity and will get under way at 7 p.m.