Kikisoblu does it again, romps in Washington State Legislators Stakes | Emerald Downs

Published 9:39 pm Sunday, June 7, 2015

For the Reporter

In a virtual repeat of her stakes victory last month, heavily favored Kikisoblu drew clear for a 6¼-length victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Rocco Bowen at 119 lbs, Kikisoblu ran 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.80 and paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.10. Tom Wenzel is the trainer for owners Dr. George Todaro of Seattle and Steve Shimizu of Bellevue.

Kikisoblu has four straight wins – including the Hastings Handicap by 4¼ lengths and Washington State Legislators Stakes – and is 4-0-1 in five starts overall with earnings of $72,024. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Kodiak Kowboy-Horse B With You, Kikisoblu earned $27,500 for Sunday’s victory.

Lady of the Nile, ridden by Leslie Mawing at 118 pounds, rallied from last to finish second and paid $3.20 and $2.60. Trained by Robbie Baze, the 4-year-old Pioneerof the Nile filly has a third and a second in the first two stakes events for older fillies and mares.

I Think So, ridden by Julien Couton at 119 pounds, finished third and paid $2.80. Claimed for $40,000 on May 10, the 5-year-old mare earned $7,500 Sunday.

Madame Pele finished fourth, followed by Camille, Bee Dees Bid and Charismata.

Kikisoblu became the sixth horse in 20 years to sweep the Hastings Handicap and Washington State Legislators Stakes, and also gave Wenzel his third straight win in the race.

Wenzel’s 33 Emerald Downs stakes wins rank No. 4 all-time, and he and jockey Rocco Bowen are 12-for-20 combined in stakes wins at Emerald Downs. Eight of those victories were with Stopshoppingdebbie, a daughter of Curlin who also swept the Hastings and Washington State Legislators Stakes en route to honors as 2014 Emerald Downs’ Top Older Filly or Mare.

“She has a lot of talent,” Bowen said of Kikisoblu. “Last year when I won on Stopshoppingdebbie in the Hastings Handicap compared to this horse a month ago, (Kikisoblu) ran the speed and BRIS numbers a few ticks faster than (Stopshoppingdebbie). For her to do that, she has to be something special.”

Camille and Bee Dees Bid dueled through a half-mile in a moderate :45.58, with Kikisoblu in third place, only two lengths off the pace. Kikisoblu powered to the lead midway on the turn, opened two lengths into the lane, and extended her lead to the wire.

Afterward, Todaro said the winner would be pointed to the $50,000 Boeing Handicap, a one-mile test, on Sunday, July 5.

Notes

Crazy Al ($5.60) led gate-to-wire in the $18,800 Robert Geller Purse for 3-year-olds, giving all-time leading Emerald Downs’ trainer Tim McCanna his 900th win at Emerald Downs. … McCanna was the only trainer with two wins Sunday. … Francisco Duran and leading rider Julien Couton each rode two winners Sunday. . .After 22 days of racing, Couton leads Juan Gutierrez 31-27 in the jockeys’ standings.  … Buddy Dave ($6.60) rallied from last for a 1¼-length victory in race five and moved into sole possession of first place for most wins by an active Emerald Downs horse with 15, one ahead of Polish Dollar. An 8-year-old Kentucky-bred owned by Kingsport Syndicate #9, Buddy Dave has won at least one win every year since 2010, and is five wins away from the track record of 21 wins held by West Seattle Boy. Vince Gibson, trainer of Buddy Dave, snapped a 0-for-41 skid to start the season, a streak that includes nine seconds and eight thirds. … At Hastings Racecourse, Swift Thoroughbreds’ Modern ($8) prevailed in the $50,000 Winston Churchill Handicap for 3-year-olds and up. A 5-year-old Tiznow gelding, Modern has two wins and a second in the first three stakes for older horses at the Vancouver, B.C. track. … Live racing continues Friday with first post 6:45 p.m. The program also features three non-wagering Indian Relay Races – two before live racing and one immediately afterward.