Claiming

Chart notes

BOOTSY'S MERLOT hustled from the outside, stalked PRINCESSTAPITURE for a half-mile, then started a forward move through the turn, took a clear lead in upper stretch, and went clear to the wire under steady handling. LUBU was content to track behind the pace through the early stages, was coaxed forward approaching the half-mile pole, then responded when asked to go on with three furlongs to run, was kept to task under steady handling and urging, and moved up into second in deep stretch while never a threat to the winner. SACRED CONNECTION lacked any early speed and was the distant trailer to the far turn, started to run on from that point, came four wide into the stretch, finished up well, and just got up for the minor award. TIZ INDEPENDENCE was reluctant to load, then was backed into the gate from the front, broke a step slow, then moved up three-wide on the first turn to advance to press the leader as the field turned down the backstretch, took over the lead well before the half-mile pole, then opened up on the turn with BOOTSY'S MERLOT in pursuit, gave way to that rival before the stretch, and weakened. WICCA WISDOM broke a beat slow after being in the gate for an extended period, was not asked for speed, and settled well behind the leaders through the early stages, was under pressure to keep up through the far turn, and had little to offer in the stretch. PRINCESSTAPITURE sent hard from the break, led the way for a half-mile then gave way.