Maiden Optional Claiming

Chart notes

SEMPER LIBER had a narrow advantage in the three path down the backstretch with rivals on each side, fought on outside having the head still in front throughout the turn, shifted out to the three path between challengers in upper stretch clinging up top, was stubbornly resilient fighting to the wire and just got the nod in a very tight three way finish for the win. BONGINO WARRIOR was forwardly placed from the start, pressed the issue on the inside of the frontrunner at the half, dueled on the fence saving all the ground through the turn, angled to the two path battling inside two others in the stretch drive, never wavered to the wire just losing the bob in a photo finish inside. TOMMASO broke a step slow at the start, improved steadily down the backstretch in the three path to sit just behind the pacesetter at the half, ranged up three wide outside the contesting pair around the oval, moved in on the outside of the lead duo four wide at the top of the stretch, was closing in gradually through the lane but could not get there in time with one last surge at the wire, settling for a hard fought third in the end. NO CAPE was forced out on the break then soon afterwards was pushed out to the six path by another rival entering the backstretch trailing the field, started to go by runners at the half, had a good sustained run circling horses three to five wide on the turn, moved out seven wide having momentum at the top of the stretch but stalled at the furlong pole going into the strong headwind but did manage to get up to be a fringe player at the finish line. ELGIN PARK was away slowly veering in on the break, moved outside very eager advancing five deep to be in midfield at the five furlong pole, offered a brief rally circling around runners four wide from the three-furlong pole until the quarter marker and flattened out in the five path in mid-stretch. ENCORE MO was pushed out on the break, had a stalking trip near the rear on the rail in the early going, was roused to stay involved when passed on the outside to be in the last position leaving the half mile marker, lagged behind the pack on the turn and showed a little late interest passing a couple of weary foes in the stretch run. DAVE'S LEGACY broke out on the start, vied between runners at the half up front, dropped back at the three eighths marker going the wrong way around the bend and had nothing left to give in the drive to the wire. PELEE ISLAND was brushed inside at the start, travelled in the four path in mid-division between runners down the backstretch, retreated on the turn taking the short way around and came up empty in the two path at the top of the lane.