Recency gives edge to 'Tommy'

PORTLAND, Ore. - Six Oregon-breds vie in Sunday's feature at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong race for 4-year-olds and upward who have never won three races.

Three of Sunday's entrants

ran in the Oregon Sprint Cham-pionship here on Dec. 14: Tee Tommy Slew, Stetson R.L., and Ransome Road. Tee Tommy Slew finished three lengths behind the victorious Rose City Special in fourth, Stetson R.L. finished a neck back in fifth, and Ransome Road finished another 2 1/2 lengths away in seventh after contesting the early fractions.

Tee Tommy Slew, a lightly raced 6-year-old from the barn of Margie Cantrell, has the advantage of a subsequent race, as he finished second in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance race here last Friday, and he could be favored on that basis. Regular rider Flip Nollar has the mount at 119 pounds.

Sunday's feature will see the return of Sweet Road and Imus, both of whom raced with success here last season. Sweet Road, a

4-year-old, followed a maiden win here last February with a smart allowance victory at Turf Paradise in April, but has not raced since. Imus won at the $8,000 claiming level here last winter, then posted two seconds in stakes sprints at Grants Pass last summer.

Dynamite Whirlwind, a stakes-placed allowance winner at last year's meet, rounds out the field. Dynamite Whirlwind finished eighth against allowance company in his first race off a layoff on

Dec. 21, but may have needed that outing. He appears to be the strongest finisher in a field with a bunch of speed and could surprise from well back.

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