Maiden Optional Claiming

Chart notes

POLITICAL WARFARE assumed command having the fence into the first turn, travelled comfortably unopposed along the backside, spurted away when called upon turning for home and held safe keeping to the task in deep stretch. HIGHLY POTENT was pushed out by the inside foe to travelled five wide into the first bend, improved sharply three deep down the backstretch, closed in three wide outside foes on the final turn, was in the thick of things between horses in the three path in upper stretch, was no match for the winner who had down the lane but determinedly fought on with challengers on both sides to just capture the runners up share at the finish line. GONE HUNTING settled near the rear on the outside, improved to midfield down the backstretch, rallied four wide around foes at the quarter mile pole, could not threaten the winner in the lane but finished up willingly outside in deep stretch almost getting the second money in a tight finish at the wire. TOTAL SENSATION tracked the frontrunner outside in the early stages, was scrubbed on inside another with five sixteenths from home chasing the winner in vain through the last bend, was in the mix inside two others battling for the place share by mid-stretch but ended up getting a minor role while on the losing end of a three-way photo for the runners up placing at the finish line. CONN SMYTHE (GB) was brushed outside on the break, rated kindly under a snug hold drafting behind the leader on the first turn, dropped back a couple of positions on the rail by the half, was under a ride with five sixteenths to go inside runners keeping pace, shifted out finding a seam four wide in upper stretch but failed to fire between horses in the late running. SCUDERIA was allowed to settle into stride at the back of the pack in the beginning, started to pick up rivals outside at the half, cmade a brief run closing the gap outside foes by the quarter pole and could not factor outside horses in the stretch drive. SLUGGERNAUT had the rail in a stalking position in the early stages, was urged making little headway taking the short way around the last bend and could not get involved on the fence in the stretch running. HEART OF SPADES broke inwards on the start, settled in mid-pack drifting out four wide entering the initial bend, regressed between rivals down the back straight, lagged at the rear in the far turn and lost touch with the group by upper stretch.