Claiming

Chart notes

MYSTIFICATION broke on top, dueled with MAGIC CASTLE through the turn, was always traveling better than that one, responded when set down in the stretch, edged ahead mid-stretch, then fended off a late bid by FORT HOOD in the closing stages. FORT HOOD raced close up to the early pace but about five-wide down the backstretch, ranged up through the turn to be just behind the dueling leaders, bid three-wide at the top of the stretch, had a little trouble with the lead change but got straightened up by mid-stretch, closed in but had to settle for second. DR. SOULFIRE settled inside in the middle of the pack, came out a path near the half-mile pole to avoid a tiring rival, stayed inside through the turn, then found best stride late to move up and claim the minor award. RUN FOR KIDDER was outpaced early on, settled in the back half of the field, then came on late to improve. I'M WIDE AWAKE outpaced early, pulled into the rear of the main pack, steadied off heels near the nine-sixteenths marker, swung out five-wide into the stretch and finished up well but could not make up the needed ground. RUNHAPPY D'ORO tracked close up behind the leading trio, came under a stiff ride from the three-furlong pole, was kept to task but lacked the needed late response. MAGIC CASTLE ducked in while being sent hard to contest the early pace, narrowly missed contact with HALO RANDO, dueled outside of MYSTIFICATION through the turn, turned for home even with the leader, but faded in the final furlong. WILD JEWELS chased at the back four-wide and kept on to pass a couplle of tired foes in the stretch. BIG EFFECT broke well, dropped back after a level start and was never a factor. HALO RANDO bore out after the start, then was outrun initially, made a middle move through the turn but was unable to sustain the bid and had little to offer in the stretch.