Neal Diamonique used his gate speed to establish an early lead in Thursday’s $50,000 Rocky Mountain Final at Northlands Park, and once in command he never looked back en route to taking the checkered flag in a time of 1:56.

Keith Clark engineered the winning trip with the Lance Ward pupil, who had to stave off a strong stretch surge from runner-up G Ts Triple J to pick up the win for the partnership of Edward Dhoedt and Ernest Greenwood of St. Albert, AB.

Neal Diamonique stepped to the quarter pole in :28 seconds for Clark, who was able to sneak in a nice breather in the second quarter.

The three-year-old son of Real Desire had them at the mid-way point in :58.4 before cranking out a :27.3 third quarter, which put them at the three quarter station in 1:26.2. A :29.3 final frame was enough for Neal Diamonique to hold off G Ts Triple J by a half-length margin. Avalon Promise, who came first-over, finished third.

It was the eighth win of the season for Neal Diamonique, who has posted a 10-for-31 record in his career. He has stashed away more than $194,000 in earnings this year, and that brings his lifetime total to $230,444.

To view Thursday’s results, click here.