Key factors pointing to Modoc

PORTLAND, Ore. - Eight allowance runners, all but one of them 3-year-olds, will each seek a second career victory in Friday's 5 1/2-furlong feature at Portland Meadows.

Modoc figures to be favored, and he fits the winning profile that was established here on opening weekend in that he has a recent outing at Emerald Downs and will be ridden by red-hot jockey Debbie Hoonan.

Modoc, from the barn of trainer George Colello Jr., is coming off an Emerald campaign that saw him post a win and four seconds from eight starts. In his most recent outing, on Sept. 20, which was the final day of the Emerald meeting, Modoc ran a good second to Distinctly Perfect in a 6 1/2-furlong race for $7,000 claimers.

Another who started at Emerald in September is Papas Pistol, who finished fourth to $7,500 runners in a 5 1/2-furlong event Sept. 10. Papas Pistol posted a record almost identical to Modoc at the Emerald meet, with a win and three seconds from eight outings. Papas Pistol will be saddled by leading trainer Robbie Baze, and he will be ridden by the defending riding champ, Juan Gutierrez.

Also dangerous is Freedom Fair, who is returning in five days after contesting a 5 1/2-furlong allowance race here Sunday. Freedom Fair broke slowly and raced wide before finishing sixth of seven in that race. He should be much tougher if he breaks alertly.