Maiden Optional Claiming

Chart notes

STRATUS settled at the rear shifting in a bit, moved out and advanced outside rivals late up the backstretch and on the far turn going five to seven wide, struck the lead in mid-stretch, kicked clear and held sway. JUST JACOBO was positioned mid-pack four to five wide early, settled mid-pack for the run up the backstretch, was encouraged along past the five-sixteenths, fanned seven to nine wide coming into upper stretch, finished strongly to secure the place. FUN FELLA exchanged light brushing with rivals at the start, settled toward the back from outside, bided time into the far turn, moved out five wide later on that bend to commence and advance while forced out further, came into upper stretch eight to ten wide, fought on outside a rival but was unable to get past that one for the place. HOLIDAY SNOOZE was very lightly brushed at the start, tucked in to the rail entering the first turn saving ground while mid-pack, gained a bit two to three wide on the far turn finding room in upper stretch, kept on evenly. SPIRITUAL MAN settled in behind tracking inside saving ground, found room at the rail to bid at the top of the stretch, took a brief lead, lacked the needed late kick. LET'S GO LIAM was lightly brushed at the start, settled at the back tucking in, saved ground both turns, found room up the rail in the stretch, ran on evenly. RHUMBABA broke outwardly lightly brushing a rival, settled near but off the fence and off the pace, faced traffic in behind four wide coming past the quarter pole and bumping a rival, angled nine wide in upper stretch, finished willingly. MICHAELS GIFT was lightly brushed at the start, caught three to four wide through the first turn racing just off the leaders, went four to five deep on the far turn, flattened out in the stretch. SPRINGER was prominent between runners heading to the first turn but in tight and taken back while fighting the restraint, tipped out then keenly moved forward again chasing the pace from between runners and still headstrong, dropped back and faded. TEMPLE HALL moved to the lead to set the pace near but off the rail, was headed outside the half-mile marker, retook the lead a furlong or so later, faltered and faded. WOODGLEN COURT stalked not too far off the pace two to three wide, began to weaken between runners late on the far turn, was bumped and steadied at the top of the stretch, faded thereafter. NYCELY moved forward outside, pressed the early pace, took a narrow lead from about the nine-sixteenths till past the three-eighths, gave way.