Maiden Claiming

Chart notes

WONDER WATER, pulling a bit in the opening stages, was rated tracking the leaders from just out of striking distance leading the second flight on a narrow margin racing off the rail to the backstretch, steadily gained on the leaders three wide leaving the far turn, swerved in sharply while being roused to advance entering upper stretch crossing over the path of STRONG EAGLE forcing that rival into the path of PLAYING GOLD, continued with solid momentum to bid inside the leader, quickly wrested the advantage and went clear under pressure. THE DUNGEON, reserved between foes in the last flight to the backstretch, gradually gained momentum splitting rivals entering upper stretch while carrying out FERGUS entering the lane but continued four deep in the closing stages with a steady effort to narrowly prevail for the place honors in time. ANGEL'S MAGIC was prompted to a forward placing racing three deep leaving the chute, shifted inwards nearing the backstretch stalking just off the pacesetter, moved to press that foe after a half, went clear racing through the far turn, was roused to extend the advantage into upper stretch but failed to sustain his momentum. STRONG EAGLE was rated along the inside tracking just off the leaders as part of the second flight to the far turn, tipped off the inside to close the gap on the leader between foes entering the lane, was immediately forced in by WONDER WATER into the path of PLAYING GOLD, was then righted while shifting out and being prompted to advance but had no further response. PLAYING GOLD, urged along the inside dictating the pace on a narrow margin in the opening half, proved no match when confronted by ANGEL'S MAGIC on the backstretch, continued in pursuit of that foe through the far turn, then was carried in entering the stretch while giving way. GREAT JUNIOR was rated off the second flight along the inside racing to the far turn, saved ground on the second bend, steadied, then altered course avoiding traffic entering upper stretch and had no late response. FERGUS tracked the leaders three deep in second flight in the opening half, continued in that path into the far turn, lost some momentum nearing upper stretch, then was carried out entering the lane and proved empty in the drive. JUPITER RAIN was rated near the inside to the backstretch, switched outside foes racing into the far turn, was fanned six wide in upper stretch and had no closing response. FINAL VALID, bumped at the start, switched outside rivals racing to the backstretch and soon dropped out. FOLLOWING THE RACE, THE RIDER OF STRONG EAGLE LODGED A CLAIM OF FOUL AGAINST THE RIDER OF WONDER WATER ALLEGING INTERFERENCE IN UPPER STRETCH WHILE THE STEWARDS CONDUCTED A CONCURRENT INQUIRY. AFTER REVIEWING THE STRETCH RUN, THE STEWARDS DISQUALIFIED WONDER WATER FOR INTERFERENCE, PLACING HIM FOURTH.