by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Casino Hotel

Saratoga Springs, NY — Hotel Royale (RC Royalty) handled her step up in class with relative ease on Thursday afternoon (June 15) at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

Hotel Royale was a 1:58 winner on Thursday at Saratoga.

The George Ducharme-trained 3-year-old filly prevailed in the $9,950 co-feature for New York sired trotters as reinsman Frank Coppola Jr. marched the talented distaffer out to the early lead. Hotel Royale, who had a fourth place finish in her May start in the New York Sire Stakes, went coast-to-coast on Thursday before stopping the timer in 1:58, a time that matched her victory from last week in which she set a lifetime mark.

Since the addition of Lasix, the filly has gone three-for-three at Saratoga, recording all of her wins in front-running fashion with Coppola in the sulky.

The other co-feature on Thursday was won by Prince Of Fame (Crazed) who cruised to a front-running score in 1:57 with Wally Hennessey in the bike.

Live racing continues on Friday night with a 6:45 p.m. first post.