Optional Claiming

Chart notes

ITSASTORMYMONDAY assumed command from the start, comfortably dictated terms up front along the backside, moved well in hand on the fence holding the lead on the far turn, was well rated up top to have another gear when called upon in mid-stretch and held off the outside rival bearing down in the final furlong for the gate to wire frontrunning tally. PIERRE was under a snug hold tracking the pacesetter outside in the early going, ranged up outside to apply pressure around the far turn, loomed the only threat two wide at the top of the lane, ran on determinedly to the wire but could not get by a stubborn pacesetter who had something left in the final furlong. EL COHETE travelled four wide having an outside stalking role in the first bend, edged up to the leaders at the half, made a brief move at the quarter pole getting into contention three wide in upper stretch, was no match for the lead pair who had it to themselves down the lane but finished up well enough to easily hold for the show money at the finish line. LIL BIT GANGSTA was nestled on the rail behind the frontrunner, settled into stride in mid-division down the backstretch, took the short way around while under a ride at the quarter pole keeping pace around the last bend, gave way chasing the leaders inside at the top of the lane but did have enough to hold for a minor role in the end. SOUTHERN STYLE was unhurried at the rear just off the fence in the early parts of the race, could not advance through the far turn, swung out widest in the five path turning for home, was lugging in not switching leads in mid-stretch and just got up to nab a rival for a placing right at the wire. MODDASSAH stalked in the three path close to the back of the pack between foes into the first turn, made no improvement on the rail down the backstretch, was urged for more but could not get into gear around the far turn and failed to fire four wide with runners on either side in the stretch drive.