Tom Two thrives on activity

PORTLAND, Ore. - Tom Two will shoot for his seventh win from 14 starts when he takes on six other Oregon-bred 3-year-olds in Saturday's $11,000, 1 1/16-mile McFadden Memorial at Portland Meadows.

Tom Two is something of a throwback to an earlier era. Owner and trainer Delmer Webb started him 11 times at 2 and he posted five wins, four of them in stakes. He has already started twice at 3, running second to Ballou Slew in the six-furlong Flying Lark Stakes before winning the one-mile Greek Native Invitational Handicap in his last start on Feb. 26.

"People keep asking me when I'm going to give him some time off, but I believe in running them when they are going good," said Webb. "He'll tell me when it is time to back off, but he hasn't done that yet. He is thriving on this schedule. If anything, he is getting better."

Tom Two posted his first six wins on the lead, but he revealed a new dimension in the Greek Native, where he came from fifth to run down the good filly Lawanda.

Tom Two figures to get his stiffest competition from Silver River, who won the OTBA Stallion Stakes and ran third in the Flying Lark before finishing a distant fourth to Tom Two in the Greek Native.

"He came out of that race with an abscess in his foot," said trainer Jonathan Nance. "I think he is capable of running a lot better."