Maiden Special Weight

Chart notes

PRECIPICE settled behind SPARKLE SWEETLY while saving ground to the far turn, was always travelling well, tipped out to the two path for the stretch run, powered past that rival at the head of the stretch despite racing on the wrong lead, straightened out at the furlong marker and sprinted away to an easy win under a brisk hand ride. SPARKLE SWEETLY won the race to the first turn then took command when LEMON HAZE drifted out, carved out moderate fractions to the far turn without taking much pressure from that foe, quickened into the last turn, held all at bay then had no response when PRECIPICE made a challenge at the top of the stretch but kept on well to hold second. PIPPA PHILIPA took a light bump from LEMON HAZE then got forced into the path of VALENTINE CRASHER, all started by THEA from the seven stall, got away from that tight spot and raced up close going into the clubhouse turn, became boxed in and had to settle between horses through that first turn, remained inside through the far turn the looked to make a move to the outside nearing the eighth pole, then shifted the inside, found best stride passing the chute and surged late to grab the third spot. LEMON HAZE was forced in at the start to avoid contact with LEMON HAZE, then prompted to get early position and went into the first turn even with SPARKE SWEETLY on the lead, drifted out a path taking FIREWORK out wide as well, then took up a stalking position ceding the pacesetting duties to SPARKLE SWEETLY and was content with that position to the far turn, came under a ride from the quarter pole and could not keep up with top two down the stretch, finishing evenly and losing the third spot in the final yards. THEA broke in a bit at the start causing a minor chain reaction to the inside, then settled in the second half of the pack while racing three wide to the far turn, made a nice three wide bid through the far turn to get into contention then lugged out extremely wide out to the seven or eight path, then lugged in when trying to correct, making light contact with FIREWORK at the top of the stretch, continued to run on when straightened, and was gaining some near the end. SILVER FLIRT was taken in hand from the start then tried unsuccessfully to get over to the inside before the first turn, floated three wide through that turn, then was last heading into the backstretch run, was put into a drive with three furlongs to run, came into the stretch with every chance but could not summon the needed response. VALENTINE CRASHER took the worst of the action to the outside at the start and got shuffled back, then became a bit rank through the first turn, was still a little hard to place in the run down the backstretch with the rider taking hold on two or three occasions, was last going into the far turn, swung four wide into the stretch and drifted out even farther down the lane but finished well enough to pass a couple late. OUR KENTUCKY ROSE raced in the rear half of the field while saving ground, made a mild bid on the far turn but did not quicken in the stretch, finished one-paced, unable to improve. FIREWORK floated three to four wide on the first turn then tracked behind the pace while part of the forward group to the far turn, went four wide into the stretch and tried to keep up but was outfinished.