Ebony N Ice benefits from speed duel

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Ebony N Ice benefited from a hotly contested pace to win the $103,583 Fantasy Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hastings Saturday.

With Quincy Welch aboard, Ebony N Ice came from well off the pace to score a 1 1/4-length victory over Victorious Vye in the 1 1/16-mile feature. Odds-on favorite Vying Ty Grr got hooked up with Clandestiny early and they carved out quick fractions of 23.04 and 47.16 seconds before they both stopped suddenly just past the three-eighths pole. Victorious Vye, who was in a stalking position early, took over the lead at the six-furlong mark but couldn't hold off the late move by Ebony N Ice, who was ridden by Fernando Perez.

"I was happy to see a speed duel developing," Welch said. "I was a bit surprised they came back that quickly and when I saw Perez going to his whip on the turn I was pretty confident I was going to catch him."

Ebony N Ice paid $15.30. She is trained by Barbara Heads, who also conditions Vying Ty Grr.

"Vying Ty Grr only has one way of going and it cost her," said Heads.

Final time over a track rated good was 1:48.05.

Ebony N Ice earned 60,000 for her owner Leif Nordahl.