Miss Bliss already a professional

PORTLAND, Ore. - A full field of 12 Oregon-bred 2-year-old fillies will vie in Saturday's $19,280 Janet Wineberg Stakes at six furlongs.

Contention runs deep in the Janet Wineberg, but Miss Bliss could be favored off her sharp score over maiden special weight company here on Oct. 23. Miss Bliss, a daughter of Baquero who races for Dave Martin, defeated another Wineberg entrant, Wice O Kat, by three-quarters of a length in 1:05.60 for 5 1/2 furlongs to earn the highest Beyer in the field, a 57.

That outing was the fourth for Miss Bliss, who ran three times at Emerald Downs last summer.

"The Emerald starts did her a lot of good," said trainer Ben Root. "She learned to rate behind horses, and she became a very professional performer. That's probably the best thing about her. She doesn't make mistakes."

Wice O Kat also figures strongly on Saturday off her good second to Miss Bliss, which came in her career debut. Wice O Kat, a daughter of Katowice from the barn of trainer Jim Fergason, showed real grit while battling for the lead throughout and should prove hard to deny with normal second-out improvement.

Fergason will also saddle Mi Pet Rock, a 3 1/4-length winner over $10,000 maidens in her debut here on Oct. 16. Mi Pet Rock is by Cisco Road out of Mi Moment and is therefore a full sister to Back Street Gal, who won the Janet Wineberg in 2002.

Another threat is Amelia True Heart, a 9 3/4-length winner over $16,000 maidens in her debut.