'Glory' bids to rebound in claimer

PORTLAND, Ore. - Hunt for Glory figures as the one to beat in Monday's top Thoroughbred race at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong test for $12,500 to $10,500 claimers that has drawn a field of seven.

Hunt for Glory, a 7-year-old who is trained by Jonathan Nance for owner Bill Bomar, is coming off a fourth-place finish in a wide-open allowance race at a mile on Jan. 15. Before that, he won two in a row at six furlongs, including a 1 1/4-length score over Brave Hearted in the Lethal Grande Oregon Sprint Championship on Oregon-bred Day, Dec. 9. Clark Jones was up for both of Hunt for Glory's recent wins and will return to ride at 123 pounds.

Hunt for Glory might get his sternest challenge from the razor sharp Always Gold, who will be stepping up from the $6,250 level after posting three straight wins, all at six furlongs. Always Gold, a late-running 4-year-old by Stolen Gold, was re-claimed by former trainer Robbie Baze out of his most recent outing on Feb. 9. Javier Matias will ride at 119 pounds.

* Also on Monday's card is the $7,000 Portland Meadows Championship for older Quarter Horses at 440 yards, which will go as the third race with a field of nine.

Pardonmydustdotcom will be shooting for his third straight win in the Portland Meadows Championship and could be favored on his sharp current form.