Gray Ghost feature on Halloween

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Gray Ghost Starter Handicap, which is restricted to gray- or roan-coated runners, will be run at Portland Meadows on Friday's Halloween night card.

The Gray Ghost lured six older runners to vie under $3,200 starter allowance conditions at six furlongs.

Scaffolds Legacy appears to have an edge. The last two times he ran for $3,200, last spring here, he won and was claimed. Trainer Kim Newport gave Scaffolds Legacy most of the summer off, but he returned to the races at Portland Meadows on Saturday and gave a solid runner-up effort, racing six furlongs against $6,250 rivals. Karen Knapp rode him in that race, and Knapp again has the call on Friday at 123 pounds, the highest impost in the field.

On El Bon carries the second-highest weight at 121 pounds with Twyla Beckner riding, and appears to be the main threat to Scaffolds Legacy. On El Bon has not won since 2001, but he finished fast for third in a field of 12 against $4,000 company in his last start, on Oct. 18. He would not need much improvement on Friday to end the drought.

Also Friday, an allowance race matches nine fillies and mares at five furlongs.

Favorites figure to be Six Strings Down, who ran second in a similar race here on opening day, or Misyodl. Misyodl, a 3-year-old daughter of Swiss Yodeler from the barn of Eric Jensen, was an impressive winner of her only start, which came here in March, when she was bet down to 1-2 against maiden special weight company.