RONDA ROCKS ALL THE WAY IN FRIDAY FEATURE RACE
AUBURN, Wash. (August 12, 2016) – Ronda Rocks held off Winninginfashion in a driving finish and posted a head victory Friday in the $13,600 BetAmerica Purse for older fillies and mares at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Leslie Mawing, Ronda Rocks ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.66 and paid $7.60, $3.80 and $3. Tim McCanna is the winning trainer for owners Luigi DiPietro and Diana DiPietro.
Winninginfashion, ridden by Eswan Flores, challenged the winner in a stretch-long battle and just missed. Winninginfashion paid $3.60 and $3.20.
Cup of Soup, ridden by Rocco Bowen, rallied for third paid $3, and was followed by S U M Racer, Web of Demons and Diamonds Dena.
Ronda Rocks, coming off a runner-up finish to Diamonds Dena, would not be denied this time around. She led through fractions of :23.22, :47.01, 1:11.08 and 1:36.84 en route to her 10th win from 31 career starts.
A 7-year-old Kentucky-bred by Rockport Harbor, Ronda Rocks earned $7,480 to raise her career total to $138,184.
NOTES: Eswan Flores was the only jockey to ride two winners Friday—More Champagne ($30.80) in race two and Impeccably ($10.60) in race four. . . Rocco Bowen extended his consecutive winning days streak to 21 with a triumph on Brilliant Thought ($4.60) in race three. . .Trainer Ken Person notched a first and third finish in race seven as Political Debate notched a $15.80 upset and Christmas Caballo rallied for third place. . .Live racing continues Saturday with a nine-race card on Longacres Mile eve at 2 p.m. Hall of Fame trainer Jack Van Berg will be at Emerald Downs Saturday to promote his book “Jack, From Grit to Glory,” a biography by Chris Kotulak. Starting at 2:30 p.m., Van Berg will sign books for $20 above the Winner’s Circle.
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