Royal Privacy

ROYAL PRIVACY PREVAILS IN FRIDAY FEATURE

AUBURN, Wash. (August 17, 2018) – Royal Privacy took the early heat and held off all challengers for a 2 ¾-length victory Friday in the $15,600 feature race for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

With leading rider Rocco Bowen aboard, Royal Privacy covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.40 and paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.10. Manny Ortiz is the winning trainer for owner Tim Bankers of Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Hustled to the lead from the No. 1 post, Royal Privacy set fractions of :21.89 and :44.15, dueled with Cross Creek past mid-stretch, and drew off late for the victory.

A 5-year-old by Rocky Bar, Royal Privacy is 11 for 31 lifetime with earnings of $121,220. In 2018, the 5-year-old gelding is 6 for 10 with $54,017 in purses.

Cross Creek, with Eswan Flores riding, held second and paid $5.40 and $2.80. The 5-year-old gelding now has four seconds and one third in seven starts at the meet.

Westley, ridden by Julien Couton, finished third and paid $2.20, while So Lucky, Huya and Gravel completed the order of finish.

Ortiz is 16 for 44 at the meet (36.3 percent) and 62 for 220 lifetime (28.1) at Emerald Downs.

Archie Graham (inside) nips Crushin Candy

NOTES: North American Stables and trainer Sandi Gann claimed Royal Privacy for $20,000. . .Curious Rumor ($3) became the meet’s first four-time winner with an easy gate-to-wire victory under Kevin Orozco in Friday’s fifth race. Frank Lucarelli trains and co-owns the 3-year-old Jimmy Creed filly with Chris Randall and Nick Rossi. . . .Trainer Patty Lydon scored her first career victory when Atta Boy Bear ($13.40) nailed Parker’s Prince at the wire in Friday’s seventh race. . .6-year-old gelding Archie Graham ($18.80) made it two straight, scoring first off the claim for trainer Larry Ross and first-time owner Archie’s Gang. . .Alaskan Cruise ($5.80) romped by 11 ¼ lengths in the Friday opener to give trainer Debbie Peery her first win of the season. . .Trainer Dale Koler also notched his first win of the meet as Bernette ($10.80) prevailed in a three-horse drive to the wire in race four. . .The youngest owner at Emerald Downs, 2-year-old Emilie Kubinova Rosales, scored her third win of the season as True Ranger ($8) rallied to victory in the second race. . .Emerald Downs’ Director of Parking Tom Porter tossed a ringer as the celebrity thrower in the weekly Horseshoe Toss. Employees, however, are ineligible for the $1,000 prize. . .Live racing continues Saturday with first post 5 p.m.

–##–