Rocky Tough and jockey Javier Matias

ROCKY TOUGH SCORES IN SATURDAY FEATURE RACE

AUBURN, Wash. (July 23, 2022) – Rocky Tough overcame a rough trip to score a neck victory Saturday in the $16,500 Muckleshoot Casino Purse for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

Forced to alter course after bumping the rail in mid-stretch, Rocky Tough swept past Big Bane in the final yards for his second straight mile victory. Ridden by Javier Matias, the winner ran the mile in 1:36.25 and paid $8.60, $4.60, and $3.20.

Owned and trained by Jim Gilmour, 8-year-old Rocky Tough is 9-8-12 in 58 career starts with earnings of $393,169, including $9,075 for Saturday’s score.

Big City Bane, ridden by Vladimir Jensen, took the lead on the last turn but came in under right hand pressure in the stretch and finished second. Off at odds of 10 to 1, Big City Bane paid $8.20 and $4.60.

Pistol Power, ridden by Leslie Mawing, finished third and paid $3.40, while Bernalinho, the 7 to 5 favorite, finished fourth. Franks Fix It and R B Eye completed the order of finish, Jedi Knight was a late scratch.

NOTES: Total mutuel handle was $884,532 on an eight-race card. . .Alex Cruz rode three winners and leads Kevin Radke 55-43 in the jockeys’ race. . .Trainers Kay Cooper and Jorge Rosales had two winners each Saturday. . .Rosales leads trainers with 20 wins while Frank Lucarelli and Blaine Wright are tied for second with 16 wins apiece. . .First-time starter Driveway ($6.80) won the Saturday opener for 2-year-old fillies and was claimed for $25,000 by owner Joe Burke and trainer Jose Navarro. . .Warfront Fighter ($7.20) made it three for three at the meet with a half-length victory in race four. . .Live racing continues Sunday with the $50,000 Governor’s Stakes for 3-year-olds and up, $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes for older fillies and mares, and the annual Corgi Races. First post 2:15 p.m.

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