Canadians try to knock off Bank

AUBURN, Wash. - The $35,000 U. S. Bank Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, an opening weekend fixture at Emerald Downs since the track opened in 1996, will head a nine-race program at Emerald on Sunday.

The six-furlong U. S. Bank Stakes has drawn a field of eight, including Canadian star Lasting Code, who races for Lola McCarthy and Ole Nielsen. The British Columbia-based owners participated in the inaugural U. S. Bank Stakes, the first race ever run at Emerald, sending out Ever Lasting, who finished second to another Canadian, Strawberry Morn. The race had a Canadian flavor once again in 2000, when Win a Feu shipped down from Vancouver and won.

Lasting Code stands a good chance to carry on the tradition of strong showings by Canadian runners in the U. S. Bank Stakes. She won two stakes last year at Hastings Park and just missed capturing this track's Barbara Shinpoch Stakes. Lasting Code, a daughter of Lost Code, is trained by Jim Penney and will be ridden by regular rider Chris Loseth.

Heading the local forces are Strong Credentials and Ippodamia, both stakes winners at Emerald last season. Strong Credentials won a maiden special weight race and the Angie C. Stakes here in 2001, while Ippodamia captured the filly division of the Northwest Stallion Stakes and defeated male competition in an optional claiming race.

First post for Sunday's card is 1 p.m.

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