Maiden Optional Claiming

Chart notes

JAMES BAY had a quick lead and set a comfortable pace, had two pace pals along for the ride through the turn, opened up in upper stretch and held stubbornly despite staying on the left lead down the lane. MISTER M V P guzzled back to midpack chase along the rail, angled out to the four path in upper stretch and had dead aim on the leader by the eighth pole but lugged in and stayed on his left lead, hanging but still inching up to the wire. INFAMOUS COVERT was along the inside getting a perfect trip behind the stacked up leaders, had a seam open up in midstretch but failed to take advantage of it, the hole closing in the final seventy yards, clear for the show spot. SUIGU STAR settled in midpack, came two to three wide on the turn and was closing between rivals in midstretch, exchanged bumps with a foe to his inside, gathered up and found his best stride in the final seventy yards. SYNCHROMESH slow to start, moved up the inside into mid pack on the turn, closed inside the eventual fourth place finisher and exchanged bumps with that one in midstretch, closing well late. MAAKWA stalked the early leader, bid three wide on the turn but drifted out to the seven path top of the stretch, ran on willingly to the sixteenth pole but was out of gas by then. JMR PURE SENSATION slow to begin and well off the pace, rallied inside on the turn and came out in upper stretch, outfinishing the balance with run very evident, especially in the final seventy yards. BLUE SNOW stalked and pressed the leader throughout, finally throwing in the towel while on his wrong lead in the final furlong. CORRELATE in the two path early and off the pace, stayed inside into the stretch and closed mildly to pass some tired foes. VERRAZANO BRIDGE three wide and off the pace, rallied mildly to midstretch but was on his wrong lead and tired late. FANTASTIC BREEZE was taken back by his rider soon after the start, inside on the turn but could only rally mildly in the stretch and pass a few stragglers. SALT MINE TEDDY was four wide and in midpack around the turn, came out into the six or seven path turning for home and could not enter contention. SAVUKA broke out at the start, was four wide early and outside rivals on the turn, nothing left for the stretch drive. LIMITLESS SKY was slow to begin and dropped far back, never in contention.