PORTLAND, OR---The 3-year-olds will take center stage on Tuesday March 11th as the Oregon Derby and Oregon Oaks highlight the closing day program. Nominations for both races were released March 4, and filly Blue Sky Holiday could very well go favored in either race. The daughter of Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop, Blue Sky Holiday like her sire, seems to be relishing the routing game. Her only two starts at one mile or greater, have resulted in two wins in Invitational Handicaps, the most recent being a 12 length romp on February 18th. Blue Sky Holiday is nominated for both the Derby at one mile and an eighth as well as the Oaks at one mile and a sixteenth. Entries for both races will be drawn on Saturday March 8th.
Sam Angelo will most likely go favored in the Derby should Blue Sky Holiday decide to run in the Oaks. A winner of three out of six career starts, Sam Angelo has won two starts in a row, including an Invitational Handicap at one mile in his most recent start. Clark Jones has been aboard Sam Angelo for all three career victories.
Rounding out the nominees for the Oregon Derby are Brite Dictator, Cool Kyle, G R Free, Got No Socks, Hurricane’s Eye, One Quick Brew, Pulzational, Soft Unit, and Uncle Fred.
The Oregon Oaks has drawn nine nominees, including likely favorite Blue Sky Holiday. Should she decide to take on the boys in the Derby, the race could be a wide open affair. Baby Sunshine has been chasing Blue Sky Holiday in her last two starts, finishing third and second behind that rival.
Why Tomorrow has also seemed to enjoy the switch to the routing game. Since breaking her maiden by fourteen and one-half length at the one mile distance, she has since come back to beat the boys at a mile by four and one-quarter length in her last start.
The Oaks field of nominees also includes Fiftieth Crown, Gameshy, Jazz Me Blue, Sultana’s Secret, Wealthy Mistress, and X Pensive Impulse.
Musical Wine looking for four in a row in the Donna Jenson
Musical Wine has been perfect around two turns this season at Portland Meadows, rattling off three straight wins at a mile or greater distance. The 5-year-old daughter of Desert Wine has most recently won the City of Roses Handicap as well as an Invitational Handicap, both as the high-weight. Musical Wine will once again be high-weighted at 124 pounds.
Me O Me O My will tote 123 pounds and looms a dangerous presence shipping in from Turf Paradise. Me O Me O My has won four of twenty-six career starts, however two of those wins have been on the turf.
The Donna Jenson will be run at One mile and one sixteenth. The rest of the nominees include Bellamente, Blanding, California Laura, Chancy Chancy, Destined for Drama, Funny Prospect, La Patriotte, Lady Yodeler, and Strip in Wager.