Two drop from stakes company

PORTLAND, Ore. - Rbeei and Wine at Dawn will drop out of the stakes ranks to contest Sunday's Portland Meadows feature, a six-furlong allowance for fillies and mares that has drawn a field of five.

Rbeei, a 4-year-old, finished second to Wine at Dawn's fourth in the one-mile City of Roses Handicap here on Dec. 10. The 5-year-old Wine at Dawn then turned the tables on Rbeei in last Sunday's 1 1/16-mile Solda Holme Invitational Handicap, finishing third to her rival's sixth.

Sunday's cutback in distance could favor Rbeei, who posted back-to-back sprint wins over allowance and $8,000 rivals before testing the waters in stakes. She has good early foot and might be able to dictate the fractions if her speed has not been dulled by the recent routes. Trainer Delmer Webb has again named leading jockey Javier Ortega to ride.

Wine at Dawn also won her last sprint try, coming from off the pace to defeat allowance company at six furlongs on Nov. 27. She will probably need help in the form of a contested pace for her best chance on Sunday, but help could be forthcoming.

Gana Hawk has keen speed, and jockey Jose Zunino may have little choice but to use it after drawing the inside post. Gana Hawk, a 4-year-old from the barn of trainer Carlos Moreno, posted a front-running allowance win here Nov. 20. Though she has not raced since, she posted a bullet three-furlong drill in 35.20 seconds here Dec. 30.

Navajo Angel and Barroom Ballet round out the compact field.