'Goat' has been great at this oval

PORTLAND, Ore. - Gammagoat Kid will bid for a third straight win when he heads a field of nine older sprinters in Friday's feature at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong sprint for $5,000 claimers.

The 5-year-old Gammagoat Kid, trained by Jim Keen, did not win in five starts last summer at Emerald Downs, but turned things around in a hurry when he returned to his favorite track. Gammagoat Kid defeated $2,500 company by more than four lengths on Oct. 25, then came back to score going five furlongs against $3,200 rivals on Nov. 22, pairing up Beyer Speed Figures of 61. He has now posted six of his seven career wins at Portland Meadows.

Though he will be taking a double step up in class, Gammagoat Kid will retain the services of defending riding champ Juan Gutierrez and seems likely to be favored off his sharp current form.

Game Cadillac comes off a gate-to-wire score over $5,000 rivals on Nov. 27, when he earned a 59 Beyer on a drying-out surface. It was Game Cadillac's first start for owner and trainer Jackie Smith, who claimed him for $5,000 on Nov. 13.

Timetoknowyou just missed catching Game Cadillac in his Nov. 27 score and will not need much improvement to reverse the outcome. Timetoknowyou came from 11 lengths back to be beaten just a neck by Game Cadillac, and was gaining strongly at the end.