September 1, 2010 – Bob and Scott Giltner’s A Royal Dervish puts his three-race winning streak on the line when he starts as the fastest qualifier to the $57,500 Bank of America Elko County Championship Challenge Monday afternoon at the Elko County Fairgrounds.
The winner earns a start in the $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) at Fair Grounds on November 19.
A Royal Dervish (Royal Miracle Dip-Three Royal Roses by First Down Dash) impressed when he raced to his third-straight win in the Bank of America Elko County Championship Challenge trials. The 5-year-old gelding pulled out to a 1-length win in :21.320 for the 440 yards in the second of two trials.
The Kurt Calton-trained gelding started his winning streak with a half-length win in an optional-claiming race and then raced to a 1 1/4-length allowance win.
Alvin Jonas’ Sheza Bad Habit (Looking For Chicks-Sheza Habit by Apollo (TB)) won the other trial to keep her consistent record intact, but the sophomore filly will be facing another tough task against older males in the Bank of America Elko County Championship Challenge. The Bret Vickery-trained miss won her trial by a length in :21.365 for her fifth win from seven outs this year.
Sheza Bad Habit won the Merial Sun Downs Distaff Challenge and was third in the Adequan Sandy Downs Derby Challenge.
Oscar Diaz’s Vodka With Ice (Stoli-Hips So Fine by Extra Easy) was second behind A Royal Dervish in their trial with the third-fastest time of :21.500. The 5-year-old gelding won a stakes at Elko two years ago and has competed at the stakes level at Delta Downs, Lone Star Park, Louisiana Downs and Sam Houston Race Park.