Tall Pines set to start a new streak

PORTLAND, Ore. - Tall Pines will attempt to regain her winning ways when racing resumes at Portland Meadows on Sunday after the Christmas break. Tall Pines heads a field of five in the $20,000 City of Roses Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile.

Tall Pines, a 4-year-old daughter of Pine Bluff trained by Jim Fergason, had a four-race win streak snapped when she was upset at 1-2 in a one-mile invitational handicap here on Dec. 17. Tall Pines was beaten only a head by Strawberriesinjune that day, when she carried high weight of 126 pounds and conceded nine pounds to the winner. She will drop a pound for the City of Roses, and Strawberriesinjune was not entered, so Tall Pines seems likely to be strongly favored again on Sunday. Regular rider Joe Crispin has the mount.

Tall Pines figures to receive her sternest opposition from the rapidly improving 3-year-old filly Confidential Lady. Confidential Lady, a daughter of True Confidence trained by Darrell Caron for his wife, Leitha, came to hand with a sharp victory over allowance sprinters on Nov. 26, when she sped six furlongs in 1:12.80. Stretched out to a mile in the Oregon Hers Stakes on Dec. 10, Confidential Lady demolished eight 3-year-old opponents with an 8 3/4-length score in 1:40.40. Jessica Gilbert retains the mount at 113 pounds.

Rounding out the field are My Emy My Amy, Chancy Chancy, and Bullishdemands.