'Snowflight' gets some class relief

AUBURN, Wash. - Royal Snowflight drops out of the stakes ranks to take on four other 3-year-olds in Sunday's feature at Portland Meadows, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint for $8,000 to $6,250 claimers.

Royal Snowflight upset Cascades Express to win the six-furlong Lassie Stakes here Dec. 4. She came back in the Jan. 7 Mt. St. Helens Stakes, but the one-mile distance proved beyond her range as she faded to finish a distant fourth behind Lawanda, Cascades Express, and Ole's Honor. The return to sprinting figures to suit the front-running Royal Snowflight much better, and she should go off as a strong favorite.

Owner and trainer Dave Runyon entered Royal Snowflight for the $6,250 tag. The move gives Royal Snowflight a two-pound break in the weights, and she will get in under 115 pounds with Kay Martz riding.

Royal Snowflight will face two other fillies, Ole's Honor and Rosie Quatorze, and a pair of males, Born Confident and My Pal Pete.

Sunday's card will also feature a wide-open 350-yard allowance race for older Quarter Horses that has drawn Eyes Okey, I Can See You Now, and Zoomon, all of whom have been chasing divisional leader My Crowning Glory in stakes. Eyes Okey ran second to My Crowning Glory in the Dec. 11 Columbia River Handicap. I Can See You Now and Zoomon finished third and fourth to My Crowning Glory in the Director's Handicap.

Lil Diamond Dasher, Cff Quick Dash, and Sneak Bac round out a competitive field of six.