Tom Two tops feature after delay

PORTLAND, Ore. - Delayed but undiminished, the 13th annual Oregon Championship Day will be staged at Portland Meadows on Saturday.

The card was originally scheduled to be run Dec. 17, but a frozen track forced the cancellation of racing for that Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Racing will resume on Saturday for the first time since the cancellations.

The program includes five Thoroughbred stakes worth $80,000, plus the $45,000 Far West Futurity Finals for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at 400 yards.

The top Thoroughbred offering is the $40,000 Os West Oregon Futurity for juveniles at a mile. Tom Two figures to be favored in the field of nine, as he is coming off back-to-back scores in the Bill Wineberg Stakes and the Columbia River Handicap at six furlongs. Tom Two, a half-brother to former Oregon Futurity winners Cyamaria and Tom Won, also won the Strong Ruler Handicap last summer at Emerald Downs. Owner and trainer Delmer Webb has named Javier Ortega to ride.

Tom Two figures to get his sternest challenge from Cascadians Cuttie, the runner-up in both of Tom Two's recent stakes victories. Cascadians Cuttie is one of five futurity hopefuls from the barn of trainer Ben Root, who will also saddle Riley Beaver, Newberg Gold, Anns Last Chance, and Lovers Cascadian. Riley Beaver, who won the OTBA Sales Stakes, will be awarded a $30,000 bonus if he completes the double.