JOCKEY NEVER MARIN, A ROYAL DERVISH, WINNER: “He’s a strong horse. I was very confident that he’d run well. He got bumped pretty hard at the start, but he just pinned his ears back and kept going. I knew it would be a close finish, but I was sure we had it won. I can’t wait for the final in Iowa.”

TRAINER KURT DALTON, A ROYAL DERVISH, WINNER: “I don’t know how this horse does it, but he puts it together every time. It’s pretty special for a 7-year-old to keep competing at this level. I just want to thank Emerald Downs and everybody else for helping to put this race together.”

NOTES: A Royal Dervish (34-12-5-8-$129,553)*The top three finishers*A Royal Dervish, defending champion Devon Dat Cash and Vodka With Ice*are all 7-year-old geldings, and they also finished first, second and third in this race last year (1st-Devon Dat Cash, 2nd-Vodka With Ice, 3rd-A Royal Dervish) *A Royal Dervish earned a berth in the $350,000 (G1) Bank of America Racing Challenge Championship on October 27 at Prairie Meadows, Altoona, IA*This is the first Emerald Downs victory for jockey Never Marin, whose 48 career Quarter Horse wins have come mainly in Idaho*Darrell R. Hare, Director of Racing Challenge for the AQHA, served as honorary steward*J Mancuso ($3.40) won the $15,000 Pfizer Emerald Starter Allowance Challenge in a track record :17.76 for 350 yards. The 3-year-old gelding earned a berth in the $75,000 Pfizer Starter Allowance Saturday, October 27 at Prairie Meadows.