Win streak on line in starter race

PORTLAND, Ore. - Delinquenator will shoot for his fourth straight win when he takes on six challengers in Sunday's Portland Meadows feature, a $4,000 starter allowance at 1 3/16 miles.

Delinquenator, a 5-year-old son of Delineator from the barn of trainer Jim Fergason, posted a pair of wins over $2,500 rivals at 1 1/16 miles before scoring a hard-earned head victory over McAllister Creek in a $4,000 starter handicap race at 1 1/8 miles on March 5. Delinquenator carried 122 pounds in that race and his weight will remain the same on Sunday, when he will again be ridden by Jose Zunino.

McAllister Creek, a 7-year-old trained by Ben Root, again poses the most serious threat to Delinquenator. McAllister Creek has won 5 of 9 starts at this meeting, and he just missed catching Delinquenator in his last outing. He carried 124 pounds that day but will drop two pounds on Sunday. Juan Gutierrez is slated to ride.

Sharing the spotlight with the Thoroughbred feature is the $10,000-added Portland Meadows Quarter Horse Derby, which has drawn a full field of 10 3-year-olds to race 350 yards.

Also on Saturday's card is a 5 1/2-furlong allowance race that will mark the returns of Typhoon Aaron, who won three stakes here last season, and Knightsbridge Road, a winner of $154,333 in a sterling career that has seen him finish in the exacta in 15 of 35 starts.