Eastern Daydream raced three wide around both turns, but had sufficient kick to hold off post-time favorite Algar and win the $50,000 Hail Emperor Stakes by a length yesterday at Laurel Park.

The 3-year-old chestnut son of Eastern Echo, owned by Harry and Tom Meyerhoff, finished the 1 3/16-mile distance in 1: 56 4/5. Testing took third.

Eastern Daydream paid $7.60, $4 and $2.60.

Algar paid $3.20 and $2.40, and Testing paid $3.20.

Eastern Daydream's jockey Mark Johnston was impressed.

"It's hard to say where his talent will end," said Johnson.

"He reminds me more and more of Western Echo [trainer Buddy Delp's older stakes campaigner]. We had a perfect trip. We saw Algar coming on the outside, but my horse dug in and finished with something left. This was a big step in his career."

Also yesterday, Hal C.B. Claggett's Valay Bullet scored an upset in the Stallion Auction Stakes, rallying to beat favorite Halo's Security in the $35,000 race.

She paid $25.60.

Pub Date: 12/20/98