Desert Sea has drawn post position seven and has been installed as the 3 to 1 morning line favorite for the 2008 running of the $30,000 added Portland Meadows Mile. The Mile has drawn nine starters with Desert Sea and Brave Hearted both assigned the high-weight of 123 pounds.
Brave Hearted and Desert Sea ran one-two in the Governor’s Speed Handicap here at Portland Meadows last month. That race was at the six-furlong distance. Brave Hearted is projected to be the early leader from a pace standpoint, with no other apparent challengers for the early lead. Flaming Bullet who drew the outside post in gate nine, might be the one who could press Brave Hearted in the early going.
Desert Sea looks as though he’ll sit a good trip just in behind the front-runners, and he’s certainly showed a liking to the distance with three wins from eleven starts at a mile. Gary Baze will once again be aboard Desert Sea.
Those punters looking for a value play might look to go the way of either Happy One or Stealth Attack. Happy One put in just a mild bid in the Governor’s Speed, but is stretching out to his preferred game going around two-turns. It’s also worth noting that leading jockey Joe Crispin will once again ride for trainer Jonathon Nance.
Stealth Attack is another who might be worth a shot at 10 to 1 on the morning line. In his first local start after campaigning in Northern California, He finished a strong closing second behind one of the top sprinters on the grounds, Mystic Wood. Troy Stillwell will once again climb on-board of Stealth Attack, tacking 118 pounds.
The complete field for the Portland Meadows Mile is: 1) Alabama Rain, 119, A.. Gutierrez. 2) Happy One, 119, Joe Crispin. 3) Valid Star, 112, Flip Nollar. 4) Brave Hearted, 123, Javier Matias. 5) Gold Lad, 119, Luis Torres. 6) I am Thor, 120, Gallyn Mitchell. 7) Desert Sea, 123, Gary Baze. 8) Stealth Attack, 118, Troy Stillwell. 9) Flaming Bullet, 118, David Lopez.
First Post for the March 10th program is 12:35pm. The Mile goes as race 9, and is part of the $20,000 guaranteed Pick-5 which covers races 6-10.