Four for Barbadian apprentice

PORTLAND, Oregon (CMC):

Rocco Bowen had a red-letter day in the saddle, reeling off four successive victories on Wednesday's nine-race, midweek card at Portland Meadows.

The young Barbadian apprentice carried his aggregate for the winter season to 22, tying him with J. Luis Torres in eighth place in the jockeys' standings, currently headed by Javier Matias with 47 wins.

Bowen started his streak with a commanding 12-length victory aboard the 4-1 third-choice Hvr West Cascadian in the US$5,900 third race, going 1,600 metres on the dirt.

Hvr West Cascadian sprinted clear soon after the start and Bowen raced him off the rail while setting the pace before increasing the margin through the backstretch and drawing the three-year-old bay gelding off through the lane to clock one minute, 39.82 seconds.

It was the second victory for the pair, following their success in the Oregon His Stakes on December 11 at the same track.

Bowen quickly followed up, steering the 3-1 chance Gameshy to a three and three-quarter-length victory in the US$3,700 fourth race over 1,670m.

He allowed Gameshy to settle in stride early, moving the six-year-old dark bay mare far outside through the second turn before reaching the leader with 200 metres to run and quickly drifting past to land a time of 1 min, 46.62 secs.

Bowen took his third on the trot, driving the 8-5 favourite Blazingsea to a four and three-quarter-length victory in the US$4,200 fifth race over 1,200m.

Bowen then finished things off with a three-length victory astride the 7-2 second choice Off to Operate in the US$3,500 sixth race over a kilometre.