Razor-sharp Hickory Road swept past the leaders in mid-stretch and held off a resilient Run Royal Reign for a neck victory Friday in the $9,900 feature race at Emerald Downs.

With Jose Contreras substituting for Ricky Frazier in the saddle, Hickory Road ran 6-½ furlongs in 1 minute, 16 seconds on a fast track and paid $11.80, $5.60 and $3.40. Vince Gibson is the trainer for owner Aynn Batchler-Appleton.

Claimed for $4,000 on June 20, Hickory Road has two firsts, a second and a fourth in four races for his new connections, including consecutive wins at odds of 6-1 and 9-2.

In last place early, Hickory Road advanced into contention while three-deep on the turn, rallied to the lead past the eighth pole and was all-out to hold off Run Royal Reign in the final yards.

Run Royal Reign, Troy Stillwell riding, pressed the pace throughout, finally got past Bobby Rar Rar in the stretch, but was outfinished by Hickory Road. Run Royal Reign paid $3.80 and $3.

It was 3 ½ lengths back to Edgerin J, Juan Gutierrez riding, and a $2.60 show payoff.

Bobby Rar Rar, the 8-5 betting favorite, led through fractions of :22 and :44 4/5, and then gave way in the stretch and finished fourth. Last Time Around and Deputys Pride completed the order of finish.

A 4-year-old Washington-bred by Liberty Gold, Hickory Road has compiled a 3-4-2 record in 10 starts overall with earnings of $19,540.

NOTES: Ricky Frazier took off his mounts with a sore knee after being thrown off Shell B Sassy in the first race. The meet’s leading with 120 wins, Frazier is listed as day-to-day by the stewards…Juan Gutierrez rode three winners—his 10th triple of the season—and is third in the standings with 74 wins…Apprentice Cassie Papineau rode two winners and is fifth with 52 wins…Tim McCanna and Doris Harwood were blanked and remain tied in the trainers’ standings at 47 wins each…Racing continues Saturday with first post at 2 p.m.