Portland Meadows

'First Mate' after fourth straight

Dennis Dodge|Feb 13, 2003

PORTLAND, Ore. - Owner Kathleen Moody's CPR First Mate will shoot for a fourth consecutive win at Portland Meadows on Saturday, when he takes on six other 3-year-old Quarter Horses in the $6,000-added Memorial Stakes at 350 yards.

CPR First Mate, a sorrel gelding trained by Margie Cantrell, did not finish in the top three in his first four starts as a 2-year-old, but won his maiden in December and followed it with wins in a trial and the finals of the Far West Futurity. In the Far West, CPR First Mate outgamed Dash of Fame by a neck after 400 yards in 20.48 seconds to claim a winner's prize of $16,623.

Dash of Fame again looms a strong contender. He followed his narrow miss in the Far West Futurity with a sharp score against allowance rivals on Feb. 1, when he sped 400 yards in 20.47 seconds. The win gave the consistent Dash of Fame, who is trained by Leroy Twiggs, a record of 2-2-2 from seven career starts.

Also dangerous is CPR First Straw, who finished a close fifth in the Far West Futurity despite hopping at the start. CPR First Straw was a strong second choice to Dash of Fame in the Far West off a sterling record of six wins from 12 starts. Trained by Baxter Andruss, CPR First Straw he may be capable of resuming his winning ways with a sharper break on Saturday.

The Memorial will go as the fifth race on a 10-race card. Post time is 1 p.m.

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