Harris has sharp one in Memorial

PORTLAND, Ore. - Half a dozen 3-year-old Quarter Horses will vie over 350 yards in Friday night's $6,000-added Memorial Stakes at Portland Meadows.

Judges Effort seems likely to be favored off his sharp current form. Judges Effort, a son of Judge Cash who is trained by John Harris for breeder and owner Carl Alleman, collected his maiden win impressively at 350 yards here in November, then came back to run a strong second in a trial for the 400-yard Far West Futurity on Dec. 12. In the final for the $39,000 Far West Futurity on Dec. 26, Judges Effort finished third of nine, beaten just a half-length by the victorious Traffic a Tac and a head by the runner-up, Dash of Irish Cream.

Judges Effort figures to receive a strong challenge from Heza Dapper Dandy, who has placed in two Oregon-bred stakes at the current meeting. Heza Dapper Dandy, a son of Race for Cash from the barn of trainer Baxter Andruss, finished third in both the $28,000 Evergreen Futurity and the $10,000 Oregon-bred Juvenile in November, and he is coming off a sharp maiden win at 350 yards here on Dec. 30.

Also dangerous if he can recapture his best form is Dats Dusty, the lone stakes winner in Friday's field. Dats Dusty, a homebred son of Dash Ta Fame who races for trainer Ron Raley, won the $19,000 Portland Meadows Futurity here last April, but he is unplaced in three starts at the current meeting. In his last try, Dats Dusty finished nearly three lengths behind Judges Effort, checking in fifth in the Far West Futurity.

Rounding out the Memorial field are Cpr First Watch, Zoomon, and A Tuff Deals.