Icicle Angel faces a hot youngster

PORTLAND, Ore. - Icicle Angel and Chancy Chancy, both runaway winners in their most recent outing, will face off for the first time in Saturday's $10,000 City of Roses Handicap, a one-mile race for fillies and mares at Portland Meadows.

Icicle Angel, a 6-year-old from the barn of trainer Dick Occhiuto, will carry high weight of 123 pounds and concede from three to 10 pounds to her seven rivals after winning three of her last four starts. Icicle Angel won for a $20,000 tag on closing day at Emerald, then shipped here and won the six-furlong Diane Kem Handicap on Oct. 25. After finishing third to Stately's Choice in a six-furlong allowance, she came back to post a 10 1/2-length win over allowance rivals at a mile on Dec. 6. Leading rider Juan Gutierrez picks up the mount.

Chancy Chancy, a 3-year-old trained by Dave Runyon, will be taking on older horses after demolishing her peers in the one-mile Oregon Hers Stakes on Oregon Championship Day, Dec. 13. Chancy Chancy led throughout a mile in 1:40.40 to score by 13 lengths, earning the highest last-race Beyer in the field, a 73. Chancy Chancy gets in under only 116 pounds, which according to the scale of weights is the equivalent to 119 pounds for an older filly or mare. Teri Beckner rides.

Stately's Choice, one of three horses to be saddled by trainer Ben Root for the City of Roses, may have the best chance to upset the probable favorites. Stately's Choice, a 4-year-old, won the Sweetheart Stakes and the Donna Jensen, both at 1 1/16 miles, here last spring. She is 1 for 4 at the current meet, having scored in a six-furlong allowance on Nov. 14.