Daley to start RC Royalty

Dan Daley has started four horses in the Hambletonian over his career but has yet to make the final. Daley, 47, is hoping 2005 Valley Victory Trot winner RC Royalty—who many consider the “wild-card horse” because of his high speed--will change all that in this year’s edition of the trotting classic.

Making a final start before the Hambo at Monticello Raceway Monday afternoon, RC Royalty hit a slight bump in the road as he went offstride behind the gate in his Sire Stakes division. Although he bobbled a couple of other times in the mile, he still managed to finish third behind the 2:01.4-winning Red Hot Kash and driver Howard Okusko. There was no place or show wagering on the race, and $4,662 of the total win pool of $6,662 was wagered on RC Royalty, who went off at 1-9 odds. The winning Red Hot Kash paid $34.

“Yes, he’s a high-speed horse,” Daley told harnessracing.com via cell phone Monday morning while traveling to Monticello. “But we’ve been racing him kind of easy and being careful. We’ll have to see what happens.”

RC Royalty has won two of four starts this year, including a career-best 1:56.3 effort at Saratoga Harness July 12, just three-fifths of a second off Mack Lobell’s track record. The time was a national season’s best for sophomore colt trotters on a half-mile track, and was his ninth win in 16 career starts. His freshman earnings of $474,478 ranked him second on the divisional list behind Dan Patch Award winner Chocolatier. The son of Credit Winner is bred and owned by Raymond Campbell Jr.

“I know he’s a good horse, he’s going to have to show up his best (for the Hambletonian), that’s all,” said Daley, who is hoping RC Royalty gives him an early 48th birthday present; he turns 48 on Aug. 22.

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