Eighty Eighty looks for repeat effort

PORTLAND, Ore. - Eighty Eighty will shoot for a second straight stakes win Saturday, when he heads a field of nine Oregon-bred 2-year-olds in the $19,280 Bill Wineberg Stakes at six furlongs.

A son of Baquero from the Northern Jove matron Northern Defender, Eighty Eighty is coming off a 9 3/4-length win over Cascadiansasquatch in the six furlong OTBA Sales Stakes two weeks ago, when he got the distance in 1:12.80. Before that outing, Eighty Eighty ran sixth in a $20,000 maiden claiming test at Emerald Downs and third in a maiden special weight outing over this track.

Eighty Eighty might get his sternest opposition from his stablemate, Wall St Kid, who is also coming off a sharp win. Wall St Kid, another son of Baquero, led throughout to defeat maiden special weight company by three lengths after 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.60 here Oct. 30. That was the fourth start for Wall St Kid, whose best prior finish was a third against $8,000 maidens at Emerald Downs in September.

Root will also saddle A Colt Named Sue, yet another son of Baquero, who will be making his career debut in the Bill Wineberg. The three Root trainees will not be coupled in the wagering owing to separate ownership.

There will be a three-horse coupling in the Bill Wineberg, however, as trainer and part-owner Jonathan Nance will saddle Gold Relaunch, Cascadiansasquatch, and Abstract Motion.