Friendly Banter Wins for Lamarque, Roussel

Louie Roussel III and Ronnie Lamarque’s Friendly Banter, reserved off the pace until the stretch run, took command at the furlong grounds and then drew off for a three-length tally in Sunday’s $49,000 feature, an allowance and $17,500 optional claiming event contested at one mile and 70 yards.

Trained by Louie Roussel and ridden by Rosie Napravnik, the recently altered son of Distorted Humor returned mutuels of $5.60, $4.80 and $4.20, toured the distance in 1:43.98 and increased his career earnings to $82,136 with his second win in eight lifetime starts.

Love Partnership Interests’ Texas Citizen made the pace with early fractions of 25.35 and 49.52, could not stay with the winner in the final furlong but gamely held the place, paying $13.20 and $15.20 while finishing a length to the good of Our Blue Streaks Stable’s Only Boy, who returned $12.20 in the show position..