Lethal Grande Continues Winning Ways

Lethal Grande improves his career record to 22-15-10 from 67 tries with $356,769 in career earnings.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

PORTLAND - Two-time Oregon Horse of the Year and Older Male Champion Lethal Grande won his ninth race at Portland Meadows, and the 22nd of his career Sunday afternoon in the $8,050 Invitational Handicap for older horses.

Breaking on top of the five horse field in the 5-furlong sprint, Lethal Grande busted out fractions of 22 2/5 and 46 seconds while leading at every pole, crossing under the wire 2 ¼-lengths the best, satisfying the chalk players at 80 cents on the dollar.

They completed the five furlongs in 58 3/5.

Challenged once in the test, Lethal Grande rebuffed the attempts of Crimson Design who offered the only threat through the lane.

Under the guidance of Javier Ortega, Lethal Grande raced as most expected, with the championship class he’s exhibited in each of his seven years as a competitor.

He improves his career record to 22-15-10 from 67 tries with $356,769 in career earnings.

At Portland Meadows, he has never been off the board, posting a 9-4-2 record from 15 attempts.

He’s earned $83,582 at the Delta park oval.

Owned by Eleutherios Georgeopoulos and trained by Tom Longstaff, the Oregon favorite is 3-0-1 from five starts since they claimed him for $32,000 at Hastings in Vancouver, B.C.

This season, Lethal Grande has added the 2006 Oregon Sprint Championship to an already impressive resume that includes the OTOBA Sales Stakes and Bill Wineberg (2001), the Governor’s Speed and Inaugural Handicaps (2003) and the signature event, the Portland Meadows Mile (2004).

The most successful tracks of his career have been at Portland Meadows and Hastings Park where has won nine races at each.

He got his picture taken three times at Bay Meadows and once at Golden Gate.

He returned $3.60 and $2.10 for his victory Sunday afternoon.

Crimson Design was second, paying $3.20. There was no show wagering.

Knightsbridge Road, Raggidy Rowe and Tom Two completed the field

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