Root sends tough pair in allowance

PORTLAND, Ore. - Trainer Ben Root sends out a formidable entry in Sunday's Portland Meadows feature, a six-furlong allowance test that has drawn a field of seven fillies and mares.

Root will saddle the 4-year-old One Fast Cowgirl and the 3-year-old Delecana, both of whom are owned by the trainer's mother, Cookie Root. One Fast Cowgirl, a double winner at Emerald Downs last summer, may be the stronger half of the entry. One Fast Cowgirl is coming off a sharp second against allowance rivals on March 27, and she will again be ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 123 pounds.

Delecana gets in under 118 pounds by virtue of her age, and Root also named Gutierrez to ride her. Delecana has won 2 of 3 starts against her peers, including a five-furlong allowance test in her last start on March 20.

Whos Knight Isthis is also a 3-year-old and will share Delecana's 118-pound weight assignment with Aaron Shaw riding. Whos Knight Isthis, a daughter of Tough Knight from the barn of trainer Jim Keen, is coming off back-to-back wins over $12,500 3-year-old fillies at five and 5 1/2 furlongs.

Also dangerous is Yougottabe the One, who has traded decisions with One Fast Cowgirl at the meeting. Yougottabe the One, a 5-year-old trained by Bernice Vandervort, defeated One Fast Cowgirl in a six-furlong allowance test on Feb. 25. She finished third to One Fast Cowgirl's second when they last met on March 27.