Claiming

Chart notes

EMPIRE'S BEST won the race into the first bend and was allowed to dictate moderate early fractions with the rest in close pursuit, ramped up the pace from the three furlong pole, opened up a bit and had plenty left for the stretch run to hold clear under a steady hand ride. ABSOLUTE COURAGE was content to stalk EMPIRE'S BEST to the far turn, came under a ride from the seven-sixteenths when the pace quickened, was unable to to go with the eventual winner but kept on well to hold the place. LEVY unhurried early, was near the rear of the tracking group to the half-mile pole, was being ridden to keep up at that point, tipped out to the three path for the stretch run and produced a mile rally to gain third. COMPUTATION raced mid-pack between horses through the first turn and down the backstretch, then bided time near the back of the tracking group to the far turn, ran on some when asked from the five-sixteenths marker, was mildly gaining in the stretch but was passed for a minor award in the final yards. NAUTICAL MOON got good forward and inside position to the far turn, then came under heavy pressure to keep on on the far turn, kept on under aggressive handling but could not threaten. UNITED PATRIOT hopped in the air at the start, spotting the field a head start, then raced four wide around the first turn, continued to race near the rear of the field while staying to the clear in the outside, made some mild improvement through the turn and passed a couple of tired ones in the late stages. IMA BIG BOPPER raced close up for five furlongs then struggled to keep up and steadily faded. TEXAS TITAN raced three to four wide to the far turn and had nothing to offer late. SEND OFF trailed from the start and was never a factor.