Maiden Optional Claiming

Chart notes

FROST BITTEN travelled in midfield on the inside into the first of two turns, took up the chase picking up the bit three furlongs from home, edged closer through the final bend, posed the only threat outside two wide straightening out for the drive but needed the entire length of the stretch to finally get the better of a gutsy front end runner just before the finish line. LUMBERYARD assumed command into the first turn, was loose up top but slowed the tempo down along the backside, continued up front but by a dwindling margin at the top of the stretch on the fence, fought on stubbornly when headed outside through the lane but just could not hold off the winner nearing the wire. QUIET KNIGHT was near the rear ahead of a couple of runners into the first turn, made little progression on the rail down the back straight, had a quick turn of foot when asked at the three eighths pole, could not reel in the front two who had it to themselves down the lane but did win the show battle in deep stretch. PARADISE PERFECT co-trailed on the inside, made little movement between rivals along the backside, commenced a rally three wide around runners with five sixteenths to go, fought outside four wide for the show prize in upper stretch but had to settle on the fringes in the end. HAPPY QUAD co-trailed on the outside in the beginning, lost ground to others seeing the field along the backside, could not get involved around the far turn and did finish with some interest to pass a couple of tired runners through the lane. SPECIAL ELEMENT settled outside runners in mid-division along the backside, was hard ridden midway through the final turn but was being passed by rivals on either side and could not make a presence in the stretch running. MIDNIGHT MO chased outside in the early stages, came under a ride but was spinning his wheels at the three eighths pole, backed away through the turn and was empty five wide at the top of the lane.