Touched an Angel logical pick

PORTLAND, Ore. - Touched an Angel heads a contentious field of six older fillies and mares in Saturday's six-furlong allowance feature at Portland Meadows.

Touched an Angel is coming off a win in a similar spot on Jan. 4, when she bested the talented Maria Kay by a half-length after running 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.40.

Touched an Angel, a 4-year-old daughter of Cisco Road trained by Bruno Maelfeyt, dueled throughout her recent score and again figures to battle for the lead on Saturday. She did draw the advantageous outside post in the small field and figures to have every chance to give her best under apprentice Jose Rivera at 113 pounds.

Tea Basket is also coming off an allowance win, as she came from well off the pace to defeat Zoot Scootin Hurli by 2 1/2 lengths on Jan. 12. Tea Basket completed six furlongs in 1:11.83 under rider Melissa Peery, who again has the mount at 122 pounds.

Zoot Scootin Hurli, who will also contest Saturday's headliner, flattered Tea Basket's win last Friday when she came back to defeat allowance foes in 1:06.84 for 5 1/2 furlongs. The front-running Zoot Scootin Hurli is expected to challenge Touched an Angel for the lead under jockey Anrella Villeseche, who has had the filly on the lead in each of her last two outings.

Foxy Jenny is the fourth member of Saturday's field who is coming off a win, having scored late-running victories over $4,000 claiming company in her last two appearances. Though she is stepping up in class, Foxy Jenny could scarcely be sharper and figures to benefit if Touched an Angel and Zoot Scootin Hurli set a fast and contested pace.

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