Royal Kleven keeps on rolling

PLEASANTON, Calif. - Trainer Donna Elordi wasn't sure how lucky she was last year when she won a 16-way shake to acquire Royal Kleven for $20,000.

"I never win a two-way shake," she said at the time.

Royal Kleven's success since that April 17, 2005, race has proven that Elordi was quite fortunate that day. She has run 13 times since with 3 wins and 4 seconds. She has earned $169,693 and has become stakes-placed.

She'll try to add to that bankroll in Friday's Alameda County Fair feature, a $32,000 starter allowance for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

"It's claim-proof, which is why we're entering," said Elordi, who has run Royal Kleven in stakes in her past six starts, picking up a check each time.

Except in stakes, Royal Kleven has never been worse than second for Elordi.

"She's been amazing," Elordi said. "She's an amazing horse, but she would probably run for anybody."

The one thing working against the 6-year-old Royal Kleven is her lack of speed in recent starts, but she has won at the distance and was second going five furlongs behind Vaca City Flyer two back.

"I think every place she's won for me is at a distance where she's never won before," Elordi said. "She really lays it down. It's just in her."

Jewels of Bagdad, just claimed from a win in a $25,000 claimer, could be the lone speed in the race and drew the rail. She could prove very tough to catch. Love Fest chased her two back and then won and was claimed for a $25,000 tag last time, and she may be the only one to keep Jewels of Bagdad within hailing distance early.

* Friday's card consists of five Thoroughbred races and five for other breeds. One of the two mule races on the card is a 350-yard race that features Idaho Gem, one of the cloned mules, who runs against the undefeated Bar JF Hot Ticket.