Maiden Special Weight

Chart notes

GRACEFUL MISCHIEF unhurried leaving the break, settled two wide into the first turn, improved position along the backstretch run and maintained a two wide path into the far turn, waited for racing room at the quarter marker and tipped four wide for the drive, split rivals into upper stretch and loomed at the furlong marker, dove to the inside, responded to urging and drew to even terms with DAZZLE THE COMMAND at the sixteenth-marker, battled with that game rival into deep stretch, took a narrow lead in the final strides and held for the win at the wire. DAZZLE THE COMMAND settled while not far back in the early going, raced two wide into the backstretch run and improved position at the half-mile marker, continued his gain three wide at the quarter pole, angled seven wide into the stretch, rallied and vied for the lead at the furlong marker, took command and was confronted by GRACEFUL MISCHIEF approaching the sixteenth-pole, battled gamely into deep stretch and was bested in the final strides, while holding clearly at the finish for second. BOOMING BERNARDO allowed to settle early on, saved ground into the first turn and advanced into the backstretch run, was well placed while between runners heading to the half-mile marker, continued his advance two wide at the quarter marker, shifted to the five path into upper stretch and loomed at the furlong grounds, was outkicked by the top pair in the final sixteenth and held clearly in the end for third. HERON BAY lacked early speed and was far behind in the early going, regained contact with the field near the three furlong marker, circled the field to mount an eight wide bid in the stretch, could not sustain that run into the late stages and flattened out. PASS THE BATON forwardly placed away from the start, saved ground into the first turn and tracked the decent pace into the backstretch run, made a steady advance while saving ground and came within aim at the quarter marker, came in tight and waited for racing room nearing the top of the stretch, shifted paths in upper stretch and shut off DANZING ALYDAR inside of the three-sixteenths marker, lost position at the furlong pole and weakened in the final stages. DONTIM settled three wide into the first turn, was unhurried through the backstretch run, slipped to the rail and saved ground into the far turn, waited for racing room nearing the top of the stretch, tipped two wide for the drive and did not threaten in the late stages. DEO prominent leaving the start and disputed the decent early with DANZING ALYDAR, contested solid fractions with that runner approaching the half-mile pole and dueled into the far turn, lost position into upper stretch, put PASS THE BATON in tight at the three-sixteenths marker which in turn caused DANZING ALYDAR to clip heels, could not keep pace at the furlong marker and faded in deep stretch. CHELSIESDANZIGLITE forwardly placed early on, stalked the decent pace two wide into the backstretch run, raced close up to the pace heading to the half-mile marker, chased four wide into the second turn, angled six wide for the drive, lost ground at the furlong marker and tired in the late stages. THE FUSS broke slowly then rushed three wide around the first turn to join the leaders just past the six furlong pole, launched a bid near the seven-sixteenths pole but was blocked by a wall of horses at the quarter marker, could not keep pace into the drive and was not persevered with to the wire. DANZING ALYDAR hustled to the lead then pulled hard with the rider doing his best to temper the pace, was joined on the backstretch run by a pair to the outside, and was let loose to regain the lead and set the pace to the turn, was overtaken into upper stretch, came in tight, clipped heels and fell inside of the three-sixteenths marker and was vanned off. THE STEWARDS CONDUCTED AN INQUIRY INTO THE INCIDENT IN UPPER STRETCH INVOLVING DANZING ALYDAR CLIPPING HEELS. THE STEWARDS RULED THAT DEO PUT PASS THE BATON IN TIGHT IN UPPER STRETCH, WHICH IN TURN CAUSED DANZING ALYDAR TO CLIP HEELS AND FALL. DEO WAS DISQUALIFIED AND PLACED UNPLACED.