Yesss goes after local stakes No. 7

PORTLAND, Ore. - Yesss will carries highweight of 123 pounds, including regular rider Twyla Beckner, when he takes on six intrepid challengers in the $10,000 William Kyne Handicap at nine furlongs on Saturday.

Yesss, a 6-year-old son of Abstract who races for Shirley Webb, has won six stakes at Portland Meadows, including the last two runnings of the Kyne. He is coming off a sharp win over Lethal Grande in the six-furlong Oregon Sprint Championship on Oregon-bred Day, Dec. 13.

Yesss figures to get his sternest challenge from the lone filly in the Kyne field, Chancy Chancy. A 4-year-old daughter of Stately Wager, Chancy Chancy has been razor-sharp since being claimed by trainer Dave Runyon out of a win over $6,250 company on Nov. 15. After running third in a six furlong allowance on Nov. 22, Chancy Chancy ran off scores in the Oregon Hers Stakes on Oregon-bred Day and in the City of Roses Handicap on Dec. 27. Both of those victories came at a mile, the longest distance she has tried, and she may show additional improvement with the added furlong on Saturday. Shawna Barber, who rode three winners here on Monday, will take over the mount at 115 pounds.

The second-highweights are Mt. Vista and Thunder Zoot, who were each assigned 116 pounds. Mt. Vista outfinished Thunder Zoot in a mile test for $5,000 claimers here on Dec. 15, and Thunder Zoot returned on Dec. 27 to defeat $6,250 company at a mile.

Bon to Run, Jesse Gee and Jekyll and Hyde round out the field for the Kyne, which is the ninth of 10 live races.