Tiffa still out to end loss streak

PORTLAND, Ore. - Stately's Choice and Tiffa, the top two finishers in last month's Sweetheart Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, will hook up again, at a mile, when they top a field of seven fillies and mares in Saturday's allowance feature at Portland Meadows.

Stately's Choice, a 4-year-old daughter of Stately Wager from the barn of owner-trainer Cookie Root, appeared headed to an easy win when she swept to a daylight advantage at midstretch in the Sweetheart, but she had to dig in late to preserve a neck victory over the fast-finishing Tiffa in 1:48.15. It was the third win from six starts at the meet for Stately's Choice, who figures to be favored off her overall record.

The near-miss in the Sweetheart continued a stretch of hard luck for Tiffa, a 5-year-old daughter of Alybendbo. Though she has been second or third in six of her last eight outings, she has not won since winning the Oregon Hers here at age 3.

Both Stately's Choice and Tiffa would benefit from a lively pace on Saturday, and that should be supplied by Abstract Image, a wire-to-wire winner of her last two starts, both at a mile, and Little Pursuit, who will be shooting for her fourth straight win while stretching out to a mile for the first time.

Callie Mae is another who must be considered, as she is returning to her best distance after a ninth-place finish in last Sunday's City of Roses Stakes at six furlongs. Callie Mae won 3 of 6 mile tries, with a pair of seconds, before finishing a close fourth to Stately's Choice in the Sweetheart in her next-to-last start.

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