Star Amethyst makes Portland debut

PORTLAND, Ore. - Star Amethyst will make her Portland Meadows debut in Sunday's $20,000 Diane Kem Handicap, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares that has drawn a field of 10.

Star Amethyst, a 5-year-old daughter of Slewdledo, is coming off a successful Emerald Downs campaign that saw her win 2 of 10 starts. She defeated $32,000 optional claiming company at six furlongs in May, then scored an 8 1/4-length victory over $25,000 rivals in August. Star Amethyst is coming off three straight route races, netting a second and two fifths, but she is returning to her best distance on Sunday. She has won 5 of 11 tries at six furlongs, and will attempt to improve on that record when she breaks from post 3 under Juan Gutierrez at 123 pounds. Trainer Robbie Baze will saddle the highweight.

Bold Tizzy might pose the most serious threat to the probable favorite. Bold Tizzy, a 6-year-old trained by Dan Kenney, will also be making her local debut after a successful Emerald Downs campaign. Bold Tizzy has never finished worse than fourth in eight tries at Emerald. Bold Tizzy has excellent early foot, and could be the one to catch at 121 pounds.

A possible upsetter is Our Girl Pearl, who won last season's Donna Jensen Handicap here. Our Girl Pearl, a 4-year-old from the barn of trainer Laurie Ansell, was winless in three tries at the Emerald Downs meeting, but she has a proven affinity for the local surface with three wins from seven tries here. Twyla Beckner has the call at 118 pounds.