Starter Optional Claiming

Chart notes

EL TINMARIN away well, raced forwardly through the first half-mile, settled well off the hot pace set by the early leader, launched a bid with three furlongs to run, bid three-wide at the top of the stretch, briefly had some trouble with the lead change, chased a stubborn KING COVEE down the lane, gradually closed the gap and was up in the final strides. KING COVEE was not asked for speed from the break, settled in the middle of the pack, advanced through the far turn while navigating a tricky path through horses, found an opening on the rail turning at the three-sixteenths marker, gained the lead in upper stretch, and finished well under steady handling and urging but was overtaken by the winner in the last jumps. SKY MASTERSON broke well but ceded the front, settled on the rail in well off the pace, responded on cue after passing the three-furlong pole, tipped out to the three path for the stretch run, and was slowly gaining but ran out of time. BOLT FROM ABOVE unhurried from the start, saved ground to the stretch, came out three-wide at the top of the lane, and finished well down the stretch to must miss getting the minor award. PADIDDLE raced in cover in the middle of the pack through the early stages, then followed EL TINMARIN through the far turn while under a stiff ride, bid five-wide and continued to gain ground despite lugging in a bit in upper stretch, but was not quite good enough. HALL MONITOR raced mid-pack but wide down the backstretch, launched a bid before the three-furlong pole but was outkicked in the stretch. TESTED raced forwardly to the far turn, struggled to keep pace late on that turn, then went evenly through the stretch. TWELVE TREASURES was last early, encountered some traffic late on the turn while attempting to launch a bid, took up near the five-sixteenths marker and was unable to regain the momentum. THIRTY WEST won the sprint into the first turn and made the front with HIDDEN MOTIVE in close pursuit, went to a solo lead after passing the five-furlong pole, and led the way through the far turn, then gave way in upper stretch. GREY BIGGSY settled at the back of the field through the early stages, then lacked a rally. HONOR MAGS showed little interest early on, raced wide and never threatened. HIDDEN MOTIVE briefly dueled with THIRTY WEST, then settled in a stalking position down the backstretch, steadily retreated through the field on the far turn, and had nothing to offer late.