Starter Optional Claiming

Chart notes

IL CAPITANO broke alertly and sped to the early lead, drew to a clear advantage into the first turn and set decent fractions through the backstretch run while well handled, had the margin cut into along the far turn and felt mild pressure nearing the top of the lane, kept to task into the stretch and held foes at bay to the furlong marker, extended the lead under steady urging into deep stretch, dug in in the final sixteenth and held safely for the win at the finish. CHIEF JACKSON was forwardly placed leaving the start, saved ground into the first turn and tracked the decent early pace from the rail, advanced along the backstretch run, saved all of the ground to the far turn and continued to gain at the quarter marker, raced in tight into the stretch, was not able to reel in the winner in the late stages and won the nod for second at the wire. DICK BEST bobbled at the start and was off a step slowly, recovered and was forwardly placed into the first turn, tracked the decent pace through the backstretch run, gained ground while two wide along the far turn, chased IL CAPITANO into the stretch, could not make headway on the winner in the late stages, was outfinished and was just edged for second at the finish, while clear of the rest for third. WARD 'N JERRY settled in the second flight, saved ground into the backstretch run and was well placed heading to the half-mile pole, made a steady gain while two wide along the far turn, continued that steady gain into the stretch, could not sustain his bid into deep stretch and flattened out. LORD WIMBORNE (IRE) was allowed to settle, saved all of the ground to the quarter marker, angled three wide nearing mid-stretch, gained ground at the furlong marker, lacked the needed response in the final sixteenth and was outkicked. RIJEKA (IRE) settled in the second flight away from the gate, tracked outside of a rival along the first turn and was guided three wide into the backstretch, came in a bit tight and raced in traffic at the half-mile pole, continued to race in tight entering the far turn, found room nearing the quarter pole and came two wide into the stretch, ran evenly to the furlong grounds and could not muster a late response. WILL IS CHILL was fractious prior to the start and was pinched back leaving the break, was unhurried into the first turn, raced three wide into the backstretch run, trailed into the second turn and did not factor in the drive. UNUSUAL CODE was forwardly placed in the early running, tracked the decent pace while outside of rivals and raced three wide into the backstretch run, gained ground at the half-mile marker, continued that advance while three wide nearing the quarter marker, could not keep pace into the stretch drive and tired in the final furlong.