Lowe fillies figure live in sprint

PORTLAND, Ore. - Little Cascadian will head a field of nine 3-year-old fillies in Sunday's best race at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong allowance for nonwinners of two races.

Little Cascadian, a daughter of Cascadian from the barn of trainer Nick Lowe, has been knocking at the door in similar spots. After posting a 5 1/4-length score over maiden special weight rivals in her seasonal bow on Oct. 7, she came back to run second under Sunday's conditions at 5 1/2 furlongs Oct. 21 and then finished second again at six furlongs on Nov. 4. She was beaten just a head in her most recent outing and should prove hard to deny with a similar effort Sunday, when she will be ridden by David Lopez at 121 pounds.

Joe Crispin, who was aboard Little Cascadian in her last three starts, will ride another Nick Lowe trainee in the feature. Crispin was named to ride Incredible, who finished second for a $6,250 tag in her 5 1/2-furlong Portland Meadows debut on Nov. 13. Incredible, a daughter of Crafty Prospector, previously raced in Southern California and graduated for a $25,000 tag at Del Mar in August.

Also dangerous is Mary's Angel Annie, who finished third to Little Cascadian's second in the six-furlong allowance race on Nov. 4. Mary's Angel Annie was beaten only two lengths by Little Cascadian in her best effort from eight tries, and she appears to be on an improving pattern.