(from Portland Meadows report)
Tall Pines made it back-to-back stakes victory with her fourth win of the meet at Portland Meadows Sunday afternoon, another decidedly convincing triumph versus four foes in the $21,200 City of Roses Stakes.
Under the guide of leading rider Joe Crispin, Tall Pines broke well and raced to the front in typical fashion. Hitting the first quarter mile in a rapid :22 3/5 then the slowed half down in :47 1/5, she sat a half a length in front of Bullishdemands and Chancy Chancy, who raced in a familiar position behind the leader.
At the top of the lane, Crispin got into the 3-year-old filly by Pine Bluff out of Spite and Malice.
“We got caught last time against Strawberriesinjune,” Crispin said. “I didn’t want any chance of that happening again. If you keep her mind on her business, she’ll run all day for you.”
Crossing under the wire 2 ¾ lengths better than the closing My Emy My Amy, she returned $3 and $2.10 as the race’s heavy favorite in 1:40 3/5 for the mile.
My Emy My Amy paid $3.20 for second for her efforts. There was no show wagering.
Bullishdemands ran third, with Confidential Lady and Chancy Chancy completing the field.
Tall Pines, owned by David T. Green and Just Horsen Around Stable and trained by Jim Fergason, made her seventeenth start of the year Sunday and increased her career win total to eight with four seconds and seven thirds from 30 lifetime starts.
For the year 2006, she posted a 6-2-4 record. She has earnings of $87,890.
Since claimed by Green and Just Horsen Around for $10,000, she is now 4-1-0 from five tries at the Delta park oval with earnings of $34,411.