Redline closes out the meet

PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland Meadows concludes its 2005-06 season on Sunday with an 11-race card topped by the $7,500 Redline Invitational Handicap. The Redline, a six-furlong test for older sprinters, has drawn a field of five headed by Emerald Downs invader Call Columbo.

Call Columbo, a 6-year-old, just missed in his seasonal debut at Emerald on April 22. Coming out in a 5 1/2-furlong race for $20,000 claimers, Call Columbo dueled throughout the final furlong with Tamper, but could not get by that rival and finished a nose back in second. He was claimed by trainer Carlos Moreno out of that race for owner Maria Isabel Moreno. The trainer has named Twyla Beckner to ride at 124 pounds.

Second in the weights at 123 pounds is Typhoon Aaron, a 4-year-old from the barn of leading trainer Jim Fergason. Typhoon Aaron won three stakes here at the 2004-05 meeting, but he is winless from three starts at the current stand. He comes off a sharp second to Forty Durango in an April 22 allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs, however, and appears to be coming back to his best form. Edwin Fuentes will ride.

La Grizz finished far behind Typhoon Aaron in fifth on April 22, but he was carried out extremely wide turning for home that day. The loss snapped a three-race win streak that included two wins over allowance rivals, and a repeat of any of those performances would make him a threat on Sunday.