'Fire Ant' bids to stay unbeaten

PORTLAND, Ore. - Jimbos Fire Ant will attempt to stretch her undefeated string to three when she takes on six other 2-year-old fillies, including an entrymate, in Sunday's $20,000 Lassie Stakes at six furlongs.

Jimbos Fire Ant, an Oregon-bred daughter of Baquero from the barn of trainer Cookie Root, burst onto the scene with an impressive 5 1/2-length victory over maiden special weight company in her Oct. 14 debut. She returned to defeat statebreds by 2 1/2 lengths in the six-furlong Janet Wineberg Stakes on Nov. 4, and she appears ready to take on open company.

Jimbos Fire Ant will be coupled in the wagering with Maxie's Night Cap, a winner of three straight at Emerald Downs before finishing far behind her stablemate in the Janet Wineberg.

Jimbos Fire Ant again figures to get her sternest challenge from Lady's Purse, a stakes winner here last spring. She has won an allowance race and finished second in the Janet Wineberg at this meeting.

Adding intrigue to the Lassie is the Robbie Baze-trained Wowowee, who will race as an entry with Avanza Paloma. Wowowee was purchased privately by K J Star Stable after making four starts for trainer Doug O'Neill in Southern California. While she was well-beaten in three starts over synthetic surfaces, she won her only outing on a dirt track when she graduated against $32,000 maidens at Fairplex in September.