Flyin Lion once again drifted out during her race as she did in her trial, but once again she was far enough in front that it didn’t matter as she took home the $16,000 Portland Meadows Fall Derby Finals. Sent off as the even money favorite, Flyin Lion broke outward and bumped with Jess Be Hawkin right at the start.

“She broke outward again,” said winning jockey Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa.  “But after a couple of steps she really took off.”

Flyin Lion continued to gently drift out down the stretch in the 400 yard race and eventual second place finisher Rogue County and jockey Jose Zunino tapped on the brakes and shifted inside because of it.  Flyin Lion went on to win by s length and three quarters, but Zunino lodged an objection.  The Stewards ruled there would be no change as there was “insufficient evidence to warrant a disqualification.”

Flyin Lion has now won four of nine starts for owners Mike and Sherry Reardon and trainer Scott Raley.  The final time for the 400 yards was 20.04 seconds.  Rogue County finished up in second while Raley stablemate Sneakin Bye ran third.