Royalty Boy looks to end losing streak

EDMONTON, Alberta - Several starters from recent stakes, including the July 8 Spangled Jimmy, are dropping into a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer here at Northlands Park on Friday.

Royalty Boy drew the outside post in the field of 10. Trained by Bruce Phelan, Royalty Boy closed from the back of the field to edge Bonspiel for third in the Spangled Jimmy. Royalty Boy, winless since his 3-year-old campaign in 2004, was coming off a fourth-place finish in the Herald Gold Plate at Calgary a month earlier.

Owned by Derrick Antingham, Donald Propp, and Brian Gromoff, Royalty Boy will continue to have Ron Blinston as his pilot.

Churchbridge, who will carry a $40,000 claiming tag, was fifth in both the Spangled Jimmy and Herald Gold Plate. Trainer Danny Jones has named Daniel Boudreau to ride Churchbridge.

Melodic will make his debut with trainer Bill Matier after being claimed out of a win for $30,000. Melodic also won for $22,000 and will be looking for his fourth win of the year here. Rickey Walcott will be aboard.

Dakota Duke, owned by Stan Ryan, was runner-up to True Metropolitan in the Herald Gold Plate. He was also second in the Stampede Sprint, won by Smudgeledo. Stephan Heiler retains the mount on Dakota Duke.

Thievery, in for $40,000, and Blue Coming Thru were sixth in the Spangled Jimmy and the Herald, respectively.

Pure and Forever Rascal are coming off second-place finishes.