Saratoga Special S.

Chart notes

SHOWCASE chased just off the inside down the backstretch before briefly tipping inside near the half mile pole, went back to the two path through the turn and followed the leader through the bend coming under coaxing with five-sixteenths remaining, continued just off the inside into upper stretch and was in behind the leader when nudged to the rail due to pressure outside from TOUCHY and SMOKEN WICKED trading jostles, tipped back to the two path nudging ACE IT and gained clearance as the leader drifted in in front, got roused into daylight quickly collaring that leader a sixteenth from home before edging clear to the finish in hand in the final strides. FIRST RESORT broke in at the start filling the space left vacant by GLOBAL LEGEND who also broke inwards, knocked heads in hand early on with ACE IT before establishing sole command five furlongs out, steadily shook away into the turn before coming under pressure from that rival with five-sixteenths to go and was placed to coaxing at that station in response, spun just off the inside into upper stretch, dug in under a drive drifting to the rail a furlong out, dug in under new threat and was collared at the sixteenth pole, ran on to preserve the place honors on the wire. SMOKEN WICKED chased along the inside briefly before tipping to the two path five furlongs from home, tipped three wide at the half mile pole forcing TOUCHY to the four path at the half mile pole, came under coaxing tipped four wide at the three-eighths carrying TOUCHY five wide at that station, swung four wide into upper stretch leaning out against TOUCHY and was denied the lean and bumped back to his four path straightened away, had TOUCHY come in on him at the three-eighths and was pushed three wide before jostling his way back four wide near the eighth pole aided by pressure inside, then ran on to miss for the place honors while clear for the show. TOUCHY three wide in pursuit, got nudged four wide at the half mile pole when SMOKEN WICKED tipped out to the three path at that station, got floated out five wide midway on the turn by that rival, came under coaxing at the five-sixteenths, continued five wide into upper stretch and was being leaned on by the aforementioned foe, came in at the three-sixteenths nudging that rival to three path when briefly taking the four path, got nudged back outwards a furlong out and weakened in the late stages. ACE IT led early on before being engaged by FIRST RESORT five and a half furlongs out, got headed for command and prompted that rival from the four path down the backstretch before tucking three wide into the turn, advanced to knock heads through the turn coming under coaxing nearing the quarter pole, swung three wide into upper stretch, got shaken off straightened away and was bumping between foes at the three-sixteenths and then leaned on a furlong out and weakened in the final furlong. GLOBAL LEGEND broke in a step at the start, bobbled just after and chased along the inside coming under coaxing at the three-eighths, spun just off the inside into upper stretch, offered no response. GOOD DIRECTIONS got bumped solidly at the start by KEEP IT EASY who came inwards from a bad stumble, got buckled by the contact and bobbled heavily conceding three lengths to the front before being able to settle into stride, chased four to five paths off the inside down the backstretch and then three wide through the turn coaxed along from the three-eighths, angled out six wide into upper stretch and weakened in the drive. KEEP IT EASY stumbled badly at the start collapsing inwards and crashing into GOOD DIRECTIONS pushing that rival askew and then bobbled once more, the rider showing great athleticism to stay upright and onboard and keep his feet in both irons and conceded five to six lengths to the front before settling into stride, chased six paths off the inside down the backstretch and then three wide through the turn coming under coaxing three furlongs from home, swung four wide into upper stretch and trailed throughout. There was a Stewards' Inquiry into the stretch focusing on SHOWCASE, SMOKEN WICKED and TOUCHY. After review, the result was allowed to stand and the race was declared official.