For the Reporter
Kikisoblu and City by the Bay, first- and second-place finishers in the Hastings Handicap, head the list of 10 nominees to the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes on Sunday.
At 6½ furlongs, the Washington State Legislators is the second of four open stakes for older fillies and mares, and the last one-turn race en route to the 1 1/8-mile Emerald Distaff on Aug. 16.
Kikisoblu exploded onto the local scene with a powerful 4¼-length victory in the Hastings, running six furlongs in a meet-fastest 1:08.69 and paying $19 to win. Owned by renowned medical doctor and research scientist George Todaro, Kikisoblu has won three straight and is 3-0-1 in four starts overall with earnings of $44,524. The 4-year-old Kodiak Kowboy filly won a pair of sprints this winter at Turf Paradise.
City by the Bay, the 7-to-5 favorite in the Hastings, settled for second place but finished 3 ½ lengths clear of the show horse. A 4-year-old City Zip filly based at Golden Gate Fields, City by the Bay is 1-1-0 in two starts at Emerald Downs including a sharp victory in last year’s Seattle Handicap.
Madame Pele, a two-time stakes winner at Emerald Downs, looks to rebound after a fifth-place finish in the Hastings, while Lady of the Nile flew late to finish third in the Hastings. Hall-of-Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer nominated Cast in Silver, a 4-year-old City Zip miss that has a 3-3-0 record in six starts but has never raced in a stakes.
I Think So, a triple stakes winner at Hastings Racecourse, comes off a 4¼-length win vs. optional claimers and was claimed for $40,000 by owner Jeff Stoddard and trainer Dan Markle.
$50,000 Wash. State Legislators Stakes, Sunday, June 7
3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies & Mares, 6½ Furlongs
Horse, owner, trainer
Bee Dees Bid (4-KY), D. Gibbs Farm LLC, Tom Wenzel
Camille (5-AZ), Ramiro Meraz-Martinez, Manny Ortiz
Cast in Silver (4-KY), J. Carver & J. Hollendorfer, Jerry Hollendorfer
Charismata (4-KY), Jeffrey D. Stoddard, Dan Markle
City by the Bay (4-KY), Martin Bach & Jack Owens, William Morey
English Lace (6-KY), Savario Farm, Diane Garrison
I Think So (5-KY), Jeffrey D. Stoddard, Dan Markle
Kikisoblu (4-KY), George Todaro, Tom Wenzel
Lady of the Nile (4-KY), Valerie Johnson & Jonn Zervos, Robbie Baze
Madame Pele (4-WA), Kama’aina Thoroughbreds, im Penney
