Woody Stephens S.

Chart notes

BOOK'EM DANNO away last despite no incidents, chased four paths off the inside down the backstretch before tucking to the two path into the turn, came under coaxing near the quarter pole and seized command straightened away swinging four wide into upper stretch, edged clear under a drive to the eighth pole, dug in under late threat from a pair of rivals and gamely fended them off to the finish. PRINCE OF MONACO broke out a step and was bumped solidly by NUTELLA FELLA due to pressure from MAXIMUS MERIDIUS and was pinched back conceding about four lengths to the front before settling into stride, chased four then three wide down the backstretch and into the far turn before tucking to the two path placed to coaxing at the three-eighths, angled five wide into upper stretch, dug in under a drive rallying willingly through the final furlong but was ultimately repelled to the wire. NUTELLA FELLA got bumped at the start by the breaking inwards MAXIMUS MERIDIUS and in turn bumped the aforementioned foe solidly and pinched that rival out against REASONED ANALYSIS, chased along the inside coming under coaxing three furlongs out, went seven to eight wide into upper stretch and closed well through to the finish to secure the show honors while well clear of the rest. REASONED ANALYSIS got bumped at the start by PRINCE OF MONACO and pinched that foe back in tandem with NUTELLA FELLA, chased just off the inside and then along the inside coming under coaxing at the seven-sixteenths, took the inside route into upper stretch and offered up a mild kick. VALENTINE CANDY hustled from the gate, chased eight paths off the inside down the backstretch heads apart with IMAGINATION before tucking four wide through the turn, came under coaxing at the seven-sixteenths, went seven wide into upper stretch and improved position to the finish while making no true ground on the front. BE YOU broke out at the start and was corrected, chased six paths off the inside down the backstretch and then three wide through the turn coaxed along from midway, swung four wide at the head of the stretch and passed tired rivals. IMAGINATION hustled from the gate, chased seven paths off the inside down the backstretch head to head with VALENTINE CANDY, tucked three wide into the turn and came under urging with seven-sixteenths remaining, angled six wide into upper stretch and weakened in the drive. MAXIMUS MERIDIUS broke in at the start bumping NUTELLA FELLA into PRINCE OF MONACO and in turn REASONED ANALYSIS and caused the pressure that forced PRINCE OF MONACO to be pinched back and out between foes and for NASH to steady off the heels of NUTELLA FELLA when also squeezed from his lane, chased six paths off the inside down the backstretch and then just off the inside through the turn and was ridden along from midway, took the inside route into upper stretch and tired. NASH stumbled badly at the start and then got forced to check when squeezed out as MAXIMUS MERIDIUS broke inwards bumping NUTELLA FELLA directly in front, got squeezed out and conceded five to six lengths to the front before being able to settle into stride, chased three to four wide down the backstretch and then just off the inside through the turn under coaxing from the seven-sixteenths, swung three wide into upper stretch and was unable to make an impact. BARKSDALE hustled from the start, got rushed up to tackle the early leader and then dueled two to three wide with FROST FREE to his outside through blistering splits, shook away briefly near the five furlong marker before coming under pressure into the turn from that rival once more now tucked along the rail, came under a drive at the five-sixteenths, swung three wide into upper stretch in the midst of shaking off his main pace rival and was overhauled by the eventual winner straightened away, then faltered through to the finish. FROST FREE led briefly early on before dueling from the five path with the aforementioned foe to his inside, got shaken off a bit briefly midway down the backstretch before advancing once more to press the issue now tucked to the two path through the turn, got ridden along with five-sixteenths to go and was shaken off just outside the quarter pole, went four wide at that station, then gave way in the stretch.