Claiming

Chart notes

PLATINUM GHOST veered in at the break to tighten up and bother a pair of inner rivals, was straightened and dueled in the two path for a half, extended that advantage a bit in upper stretch, lugged in nearing the furlong grounds causing EXPRESS THUNDER to steady, edged steadily clear the final furlong. DUTCH MILLS off a step slow, moved out a bit while racing back, advanced four wide through the turn, got closest to the leader with a furlong to run, managed little late gain thereafter. EXPRESS CRUISER broke alertly, dueled up front closest to the inside, fell back slightly off the other speed when straightened for home, put in tight by that one approaching midstretch, steadied, fell further back while being steered out a bit, finished up evenly. VIOLENT RIVER lacked early foot off rail, moved out three wide midway on the turn, angled back to the two path late in the bend putting HOPPIN JOHN in tight, moved back out, went evenly late. IMPRESSOR broke back, lacked speed inside, continued to save ground turn, improved inside of rivals entering the stretch, went flat late. HARD SPUN FANTASY bothered at the start, in the second flight outside, three wide through the turn, within striking distance turning for home, lacked a closing punch. BEAUTIFUL LIFE in the second flight inside, steered to the two path for the drive, also found lacking without a closing response. HOPPIN JOHN lacked speed, put in tight by VIOLENT RIVER late in the bend, moved out to the three path, lacked a rally. EIGHT STRAIGHT cut off at the start, quickly recovered to move up into the second flight, came three wide for the drive but was finished, steady fade down the lane. FOLLOWING A STEWARDS' INQUIRY REGARDING THE STRETCH RUN AND A CLAIM OF FOUL BY THE RIDER OF EXPRESS CRUISER AGAINST PLATINUM GHOST FOR INTERFERENCE IN MIDSTRETCH, THE LATTER WAS DISQUALIFIED FROM FIRST AND PLACED THIRD. AFTER A SECOND INQUIRY REGARDING THE START, NO ADDITIONAL ACTION WAS TAKEN.