Hopeful S.

Chart notes

FORTE broke in trading a bump with WESTERN GHENT, who broke outwards at the start then got bumped by BOURBON BASH breaking inwards from the outside, chased four to five paths off the rail down the backstretch before tucking briefly three wide at the half mile pole and then to the two path once in the far turn under light coaxing from the half mile pole, came under further motivation from the rider near the quarter pole and swung four wide into upper stretch rallying to seize narrow command at the three-sixteenths, then dug in under a drive edging away to the finish kept to task. GULFPORT established the front just after the start and showed the way five to six paths off the inside down the backstretch under some pressure early on from WESTERN GHENT to the inside, tucked to the four path half a mile from home and shook off that inside prompter at the seven-sixteenths coming under some pressure from a pair to the outside and floated out five wide midway on the turn, came under coaxing through the latter portion of the bend and continued to get out slightly as the rider attempted to angle in and went seven wide at the head of the stretch, got collared with three-sixteenths to go and drifted an additional path a furlong out, then ran on to chase the winner home well clear of the rest to be along second best. BLAZING SEVENS coaxed from the gate, chased six then five paths off the inside down the backstretch before tucking four then three wide through the turn coming under coaxing at the seven-sixteenths, swung five wide into upper stretch and improved position to the finish battling head to head with MO STRIKE in the late stages and was up for the show honors in the final jumps. MO STRIKE coaxed from the start, raced seven then six paths off the inside down the backstretch just off the pace, tucked briefly four wide before tipping five wide put to coaxing at the three-eighths, retreated through the latter portion of the turn and swung six wide at the top of the stretch, dug in under a drive and weakened in the late going being bested for the show honors in the final strides to the finish. BOURBON BASH came in at the start bumping FORTE then got steadied briefly, raced eight paths off the inside down the backstretch before advancing seven then six wide bidding into contention at the three-eighths under coaxing from the seven-sixteenths, angled seven to eight wide into upper stretch fading and gave way in the drive. WESTERN GHENT broke out at the start trading a bump with FORTE, prompted the leader from the inside down the backstretch four then three wide before tucking to the inside half a mile from home put to coaxing, got shaken off at the seven-sixteenths and retreated, went five wide for home and faltered in the stretch.