Claiming

Chart notes

HANDSOME TICKET vied inside a pair of rivals up the backstretch, went three wide into the turn, quickly moved to the two path while being challenged by WHITE MOUNTAIN, put that rival away while dealing with NO MORE DING DONGS late on the turn, came out and made light contact with that rival past the eighth pole, dug in late and gamely prevailed. NO MORE DING DONGS stalked outside a rival, bid three deep midway around the bend, dueled outside HANDSOME TICKET turning for home, got floated out by that rival in the lane and could not get by. NOBEL GARY vied three deep in the early going, could not keep up with the leader early on the bend, chased five, four, then three wide to the stretch and outdueled WHITE MOUNTAIN for the show honors. WHITE MOUNTAIN stalked the top trio from inside, put in a rail bid past the seven-sixteenths pole, could not sustain the challenge past the quarter pole, kept trying down the lane and was edged for third. LAST CALL PAUL vied between rivals up the backstretch, could not match strides with the leader early on the bend, chased four then three wide to the lane and weakened. ONE BIG SMILE was fractious in the gate, chased five wide into the turn, drifted to the six path then moved back in a bit late on the bend and lacked further response. DRUM BUNNY broke in the air and lagged behind the field from well off the rail, angled to the inside on the turn and was never a factor. THERE WAS AN INQUIRY INVOLVING THE STRETCH RUN BETWEEN HANDSOME TICKET AND NO MORE DING DONGS. FOLLOWING A REVIEW, THE STEWARDS UNANIMOUSLY RULED THAT ALTHOUGH HANDSOME TICKET CAME OUT AND MADE SLIGHT CONTACT WITH NO MORE DING DONGS, THE INCIDENT DID NOT WARRANT A DISQUALIFICATION.