Mt. Vista gets extra sixteenth

PORTLAND, Ore. - My Friend Dave and Mt. Vista, who finished first and second in a similar event on Jan. 2, will be rematched in Sunday's featured race at Portland Meadows. The invitational handicap for older routers has drawn a field of eight to vie at 1 1/16 miles.

My Friend Dave prevailed by a half-length over Mt. Vista when they hooked up at a mile under invitational handicap conditions, taking the lead with a quarter- mile to go and stubbornly refusing to yield to his rival through the stretch. It was the fourth career win from 13 starts for My Friend Dave, a 5-year-old son of Can't Be Slew who races for trainer Corky Caron and Dave Benson.

He has never attempted 1 1/16 miles, but he won a mile allowance test here last spring and he finished strongly in his most recent score. Javier Ortega will ride at 120 miles.

Mt. Vista closed nearly two lengths down the stretch on My Friend Dave in their last race and should appreciate the added yardage on Sunday. Mt. Vista, trained by Sil Juarez, enjoyed a stellar meeting here last season when he won four races and finished fourth in the Portland Meadows Mile.

Treasure Booty poses a threat to the top two off his improving form. Treasure Booty, a 4-year-old trained by Ann Lauzon, is coming off a win over maiden special weight company at six furlongs. In his previous start, Treasure Booty finished a surprising second to Might E Man in the 1 1/16-mile Oregon His Stakes.