Female riders take spotlight

A four-day holiday weekend at Portland Meadows in Portland, Ore., kicks off Friday night with the Powder Puff Derby.

The six-furlong race for $4,000 claimers who have never won two races drew a field of six. Each entrant in the race for older fillies and mares will have a woman jockey.

Portland Meadows officials hoped to find eight entrants for the race so that all eight of the local women riders could compete.

Getmefree, to be ridden by Portland Meadows's leading woman rider Marijo Terleski, is the one to beat. Terleski has ridden 35 winners and is third in the standings behind Juan Gutierrez and Ron Keckler.

A 4-year-old filly, Getmefree returned from a four-month layoff and ran second, losing by a nose in the slop. Her 51 Beyer Figure is 20 points higher than the next-best last-race Beyer of any of her rivals.

The speedy Getmefree also seems to hold a possible pace edge, although Lesley Joy, drawn just inside her, did flash some speed three races back.

The field for the Powder Puff Derby, from the rail out, is Jennifer's Crown with Karen Knapp; Valid Lass, Twyla Beckner; Lesley Joy, Darlene Braden; Getmefree; Supper Gummi Girl, Melissa Peery; and I'm a Frijole Baby, apprentice Renee Torbit.

- Nichole's Delight, a six-length winner in the Oregon Hers in her last start, heads a list of 17 nominees for Sunday's 1 1/16-mile Sweetheart Stakes.

- A holiday race card will be offered Monday with a 1 p.m. first post.

for Portland Meadows entries.

:: Subscribers: to purchase past performances for Portland Meadows.

:: Non-subscribers: to purchase past performances for Portland Meadows.