Kikisoblu goes for fifth straight in Boeing Handicap

AUBURN, Wash. – Kikisoblu will try to extend her winning streak to five when she starts as the likely favorite Sunday in the $50,000 Boeing Handicap at Emerald Downs.

Emerald’s 2015 stakes schedule includes four open races for older fillies and mares, and Kikisoblu has captured the first two. She was a $19 surprise when she romped in the six-furlong Hastings Handicap in May, and then a $3.60 layup when she coasted by more than six lengths in the 6 1/2-furlong Washington State Legislators Handicap on June 7. She will carry high weight of 121 pounds in the one-mile Boeing.

Trainer Tom Wenzel will have two strong chances in the race. In addition to Kikisoblu, whom he trains for George Todaro of Seattle, Wenzel will send out Lady Rosberg, a three-time stakes winner in Arizona for owner Karl Krieg of Oak Harbor, Wash. Lady Rosberg has been idle since March 28, when she captured the 6 1/2-furlong Mesa Handicap at Turf Paradise.

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In her first try around two turns, Kikisoblu might be inclined to go straight to the front, with Our Little Hen in closest pursuit. Our Little Hen led gate to wire in consecutive one-mile allowance victories at Golden Gate Fields this spring before going unplaced in the May 22 Mizdirection Stakes on grass at Santa Anita.

Boeing Handicap, Race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Kikisoblu (Last 3 Beyers: 70-82- 72)

Wenzel has dominated the filly and mare stakes division at Emerald, capturing seven of the 10 open stakes races since the start of the 2013 meeting.

Lady Rosberg (Last 3 Beyers: 78-80- 83)

Wenzel had Lady Rosberg in 2013, while Valorie Lund was her trainer in Arizona.

"It’s right there in the Form,” Wenzel said this week of Lady Rosberg chances. “She's been able to route, sprint, dirt, turf, and do all of them reasonably well. She's worked decent coming into this race. [Jockey] Gallyn Mitchell knows her very well. I'm expecting her to run decent off the bench."

Sarahline (Last 3 Beyers: 72-71-71)

Sarahline, a 4-year-old by Northern Afleet, will be making her first start on dirt. Her lone victory came at a mile in a maiden race on Tapeta at Golden Gate.

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has saddled seven Emerald Downs stakes winners.