Maiden Claiming

Chart notes

NICO'S DERBY RUN was unhurried from the start, settled three-wide through the first turn, and was last midway down the backstretch run, and was pushed to make a forward move after passing the half-mile pole, and responded by advancing three-wide to the front through the far turn to get level with the leaders at the quarter pole, took command in mid-stretch, and drew off under strong handling. THUBOOT dueled outside of KING HAZELTON while racing five lengths clear of the rest through the first half-mile, took a brief lead passing the five-sixteenths marker, then battled back when taken on by NICO'S DERBY RUN approaching the quarter pole, then weakened in the final furlong. UTOPIAN TREASURE tracked inside with the second flight well behind the early leaders to the half, saved ground throughout, tipped out to the three-path in the stretch, and was kept to task and able to gain the third prize. THE TOWN TAP setttled behind the field down the backstretch, came four-wide into the stretch, finished evenly, and lacked the needed late kick. LAVERNS LAD raced two-deep well behind the pace through the early stages, got floated out to the four or five path on the last bend, then was in tight between horses in upper stretch and lacked a finish. KING HAZELTON dueled inside of THUBOOT while under some restraint, dropped off the pace while trying to get out on the far turn, then had nothing to offer in the stretch.