Tanya's Toad won, but how fast did he run?

PORTLAND, Ore. - Tanya's Toad will shoot for a second straight win when he takes on eight rivals in Sunday's top Thoroughbred offering at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong race for $6,250 claimers who have never won two races.

Tanya's Toad, a lightly raced son of Ihtimam from the barn of trainer Debbie Van Horne, comes off a wire-to-wire score over $6,250 maidens on Nov. 20, winning by 1 1/2 lengths. What makes that performance difficult to evaluate is that the timing system failed, leaving the final time a mystery. Tanya's Toad was given credit for five furlongs in a decent 59.40 seconds, however, and has lured leading rider Joe Crispin to take over the reins.

Tanya's Toad may get his stiffest competition from Im the Cop, who missed by a neck when racing under the same conditions on Nov. 7. Im the Cop, a son of Ex Marks the Cop who is trained by owner Mary Kagee, came back to run a creditable fourth against $16,000 rivals on Nov. 12 and appears to be very well-intended with the return to the $6,250 level. Aaron Shaw retains the mount.

* Sunday's card will begin with three trials for the 400-yard Far West Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses, which will be contested on Dec. 17. The first of the trials will rematch EZ Speedy Leader and Be First Rose, who finished a nose apart in first and second, respectively, in the Oregon-bred Juvenile Stakes here Nov. 5.