Emerald City runs down favorite at Hastings

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Emerald City upset heavily favored Vying Ty Grr to win the inaugural running of the $54,716 Boulevard Casino Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Hastings on Saturday.

Emerald City broke sharply and then chased Vying Ty Grr until she gained the lead in the late stretch to win by three-quarters of a length. Vying Ty Grr set fractions of 22.15 and 45.97 seconds before tiring late. Bella Aviva finished third, five lengths behind Vying Ty Grr. Final time for the six-furlongs was 1:12.58. Emerals City paid $27.80.

Emerald City was ridden by Robert Skelly.

"She showed a bit of class," said Skelly. "She switched when she was supposed to and she saved everything for the finish."

Emerald City was claimed by owner Foster Carefoot for $12,500 on June 28 and was rewarded with a $32,917 payday. Trainer Terry Clyde chose Emerald City for Carefoot, and she was a bit surprised Emerald City was good enough to win a stakes in her first race for her new connections.

"I was just hoping she would hit the board," said Clyde. "Turning for home I was pretty happy that she might finish second."