Starter Optional Claiming

Chart notes

HILLIARD settled just off the inside near the rear of the field, came under coaxing with five-sixteenths remaining and angled out seven wide into upper stretch, rallied on the outside to issue a challenge inside the final furlong, seized command a sixteenth from home, then inched away to the wire. WAR OFFICER got brushed at the start by STEEL VENGEANCE due to pressure from NOSTALGIC ONE, who broke in a step, settled just off the inside in pursuit from mid pack, remained patiently handled until set down angled five wide at the top of the stretch, dug in under a drive rallying into contention a furlong out among a quintet stacked across the track, fought on to secure the place honors. BRIT'S WIT tracked the pace along the inside from the pocket patiently handled until roused cutting the corner into upper stretch, got the jump on the leader straightened away and seized command nearing the eighth pole, dug in under threat from a host of rivals and was collared a sixteenth from home, battled on to preserve the show honors on the line in a blanket finish. NOSTALGIC ONE broke in a step at the start bumping STEEL VENGEANCE into WAR OFFICER, saved ground at the tail of the field, came under light coaxing near the quarter pole before getting let out spinning three wide at the head of the lane, offered up a mild kick. FREEDOM TRAIL raced just off the inside through the first turn and then three wide down the backstretch and through the far turn coming under urging with five-sixteenths to go, angled out six wide into upper stretch, offered up a bid a furlong out into prominence, then weakened in the late stages. SIX KINGS hustled from the gate, attended the leader from the outside three then two wide, came under encouragement with five-sixteenths to run, tipped four wide into upper stretch and weakened in the late going. STEEL VENGEANCE got bumped at the start by NOSTALGIC ONE and in turn brushed WAR OFFICER, established the front shortly after the start and showed the way in hand just off the inside through the first turn and then along the inside down the backstretch and through the far turn patiently handled until placed to coaxing at the five-sixteenths, spun just off the inside into upper stretch and came under challenge to the inside yielding the front nearing the eighth pole, then weakened in the late stages. COLLECT FROM IKE coaxed from the gate, raced just off the inside through the first turn before settling to track the front just off the pace three wide down the backstretch, remained three wide through the far turn coming under a ride with five-sixteenths remaining, angled out six wide in upper stretch and tired.