Allowance Optional Claiming

Chart notes

SUMMER ASSAULT, reserved outside a rival in the last flight racing to the first turn, shifted out four wide nearing the second bend while gradually gaining position, advanced four wide through the far turn to gain terms with the leaders in upper stretch, wrested the advantage leaving the furlong marker and held BLUE SKY KOWBOY on a narrow margin to the end under firm handling. The latter was held up out of close quarters at the start, then angled to the rail racing through the chute, saved ground in last racing to the far turn, swung out five wide while being roused to advance racing into upper stretch, loomed outside the winner nearing the sixteenth marker but couldn't match that rival's kick while prevailing for the place honors. GROUNDED broke readily, dictated the pace on a narrow advantage along the inside, dueled for command through the far turn into upper stretch, was headed nearing the furlong marker but kept on contesting the issue grudgingly while just failing to contain the top pair. BRAMBLE QUEEN angled to the rail racing to the first turn tracking just off the leaders, saved ground through the far turn to upper stretch but lacked the needed final kick. DRAMA CHORUS was firmly rated stalking just outside the pacesetter in the opening five furlongs, advanced to press the issue nearing upper stretch, struck the front racing past the furlong marker but gave out abruptly in the closing stages. CAROM was rated off the second flight racing to the backstretch, came under pressure to advance between foes racing through the far turn but had no closing bid. A THREAD OF BLUE tracked off the first flight outside a rival in the opening half, shifted three deep while being urged to lodge a brief bid between foes on the far turn but soon emptied out.