'Mythical,' Tom Won rematched

PORTLAND, Ore. - Tom Won and Mythical Road, who finished a nose apart in second and third behind divisional leader Houston Shuffle in the six-furlong Bill Wineberg Stakes on Nov. 15, rank as logical contenders in field of 10 2-year-olds in Saturday's $10,000 Columbia River Stakes at Portland Meadows.

Tom Won, a well-bred son of Cahill Road from the barn of trainer Delmer Webb, has improved rapidly through three career starts, while Mythical Road, who won two races at Emerald Downs for trainer Dick Occhiuto, should take a step forward in his second start after a freshening of nearly two months.

The Bill Wineberg was restricted to Oregon-breds, and Tom Won and Mythical Road will have to take on open company in the six-furlong Columbia River.

Runaway Briartic looks like a formidable newcomer to the stakes ranks. Runaway Briartic posted a nine-length win over maiden $12,500 company in his career debut here on Oct. 25. Runaway Briartic, a Washington-bred gelding by Son of Briartic, is a stablemate of Tom Won, and the two Webb trainees will race coupled in the wagering.

The field's other coupling consists of Whassup World and Tahizztheman, who are both trained by Vince Gibson. Whassup World, a Washington-bred, has not raced since defeating $8,000 maidens at Emerald Downs in July, while the California-bred Tahizztheman scored against $8,000 maidens in his local debut on Oct. 20.