Kikisoblu much the best in Hastings Handicap

Kikisoblu kicked off Emerald Downs’s 2015 stakes schedule Sunday with an eye-catching victory in the $50,000 Hastings Handicap for fillies and mares. A 4-year-old by Kodiak Kowboy, Kikisoblu clobbered 7-5 favorite City by the Bay by 4 1/4 lengths while running six furlongs in a swift 1:08.69. The longshot Lady of the Nile finished a distant third in the field of 10.

Kikisoblu was making just her fourth start, and first appearance in a stakes race. Owned by George Todaro of Seattle, Kikisoblu graduated from the maiden ranks at Turf Paradise in January, and took a first-level allowance Feb. 3 in her first try against winners. She was transferred in March to trainer Tom Wenzel at Emerald Downs, where she remained a well-kept secret until Sunday. She paid $19.

City by the Bay, a three-time stakes winner who shipped in from Golden Gate for the Hastings, helped contest the early pace with outsiders Bee Dees Bid and Tinkerbelle Tops. Kikisoblu moved to join the leaders from the inside around the turn, slipped through an opening along the rail approaching the quarter pole and powered away. City by the Bay kept up the chase to be a clear second, 3 1/2 lengths in front of Lady of the Nile. They were followed by Society Girl, Madame Pele, Guinevere’s Finale, Bee Dees Bid, Tabled With Gold, Mylast Sweetpea, and Tinkerbelle Tops.

The victory was worth $27,500, boosting Kikosoblu’s earnings to $44,524.

Many of those vanquished Sunday are likely to see Kikosoblu again in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs, the second leg of Emerald’s stakes series for fillies and mares, on June 7.