Claiming

Chart notes

CONTRARY CHIEFTAIN was allowed to settle into stride and content to race in the middle of the field around the first turn, made steady forward progress down the backstretch, became boxed in through the far turn but found a seam as the field turned into the stretch, responded when set down, took command near the furlong marker and prevailed under steady handling. HANKS got away from the gate in good order and was able to get over to the inside and put pressure on AZURE STAR (IRE) early, pulled the rider to the front under a strong hold, then backed away preferring the stalking trip, went to challenge in earnest passing the quarter pole, took a brief lead at the top of the stretch, was overtaken near the furlong marker by CONTRARY CHIEFTAIN but finished well to hold second. WELLSWORT (IRE) reserved from the break, raced two deep near the rear of the field along with STRAIT OF GEORGIA, moved a little closer heading into the far turn then deftly navigated through traffic, found an opening up the rail, rallied down the stretch and gained third. AZURE STAR (IRE) was hustled for, and gained the early lead with the rider attempting to slow the pace down and still maintain a slight lead, kept the field at bay to quarter pole, fought back gamely when met by a host of challengers from all sides, battled hard to mid-stretch then weakened in the final furlong. CHIEF WILD EAGLE broke alertly, tracked two to three wide a few lengths behind the pace, lacked a middle move when the pace picked up on the turn, was kept to task down the lane and split the field. QUALITY CAT was roused from the start but was outrun and trailed well behind the rest through the early going, mounted a mild rally from last with three furlongs to run, kept grinding away down the stretch and managed to pass a few tired ones. WORTH LOOKING was allowed to settle three wide through the first turn, moved a little too aggressively towards the leaders and had to check briefly passing the six furlong marker, then moved out a path, tried to rally between several rivals through the far turn but was not able to keep up as they quickened pace then finished one-paced. NUESTRO ENGREIDO broke well then got a good stalking position behind the leading pair, continued to shadow that pair to the far turn, waited for some room through the turn, had an opening along the rail at the head of the stretch but was unable to quicken when called upon and was outrun in the late stages. HOWDOYALIKEMENOW got a good start and was in the middle of a trio contesting for the lead going into the first turn, backed off to a tracking position near the thirteen-sixteenths pole, launched a bid from the three-eighths marker, loomed a five-wide threat turning for home but flattened out. STRAIT OF GEORGIA hopped in the air at the break then was roughed up between horses a few strides later, steadied out of traffic then was rank going into the first turn, saved ground while racing in the back of the field to the far turn, tried to muster a rally but was unable improve and came up empty in the stretch.