Optional Claiming

Chart notes

SOUTHERN STYLE settled on the outside in mid-division three wide around the initial turn, closed in four deep at the half moving well, circled runners three wide at the five sixteenths pole when roused to go, moved in taking the lead four wide at the top of the stretch on the outside, pulled away under a busy ride with a furlong to go and held on safely at the wire for the win. RUNNER EYES was inside another stalking in the third flight, edged closer on the rail at the half, shifted out three wide midway on the last turn, had a crisp move five wide circling rivals to be in the hunt at the top of the lane, closed in determinedly through the stretch run outside but could not get to the winner in time. PRINCE ALMASTY was well placed in the rail watching the contesting duo on the first turn, settled into stride tracking the lead trio in the two path down the backside, had to wait behind tiring runners ready to make a move at the quarter pole, shifted to the three-path coming with a run in the hunt straightening out for home and finished up willingly on the fence unable to threaten for the win late but capturing the show money at the finish line. DECADENT DANISH had the rail sitting in the middle of the pack, started to commence a rally shifting out off runners three wide at the quarter marker, moved to the four path behind the leaders looking for a seam, had clear run by the sixteenth pole and ran on mildly in deep stretch to settle on the fringes with another. FLIRTING WITH FIRE was part of the back quartet having the three path outside of runners on the first of two turns, offered no change down the back straight, started to come with a rally reaching for more ground three wide at the midpoint of the second turn, swung out widest in the six path coming on outside in upper stretch and had a sharp late turn of foot in the final sixteenth of a mile to dead heat for the minor award. FUN FELLA co-trailed on the outside for the first half of this route race, shifted out three wide on the far turn making little progression, moved to the six path turning for home and passed many runners outside in the stretch run but could not get into contention in the late going. THOR'S CAUSE had the fence stalking close to the back ahead of only a couple of runners around the first bend as well as through the backside, took the short way through the last turn but could not advance on rivals, angled to the three path at the top of the stretch, finished up with some interest but could not get involved. CALL ME BOND travelled outside another in the third flight, dropped back slightly at the half, came under a drive at the five sixteenths pole being passed on both side by rivals and could not factor in the three path down the lane. DELTA FORCE had a slim advantage on the rail in the beginning, relinquished the front end pressing the pace instead on the inside down the backstretch, drafted behind the pacesetter early on the last turn, lost momentum stuck behind the tiring leader by the quarter pole and failed to menace in the two path in the stretch drive. SEMPER LIBER had to go four wide tracking the lead duo early on the first bend, narrowed the gap shadowing the pacesetter outside in the three path down the back straight, rallied taking control between horses at the quarter pole, had no answer when three wide collared by the winner in upper stretch and had little left in the tank folding on the rail at the sixteenth pole. NOBURU was in tight soon after the break at the rear, shared the back on the rail at the half, lagged behind the pack on the far turn and could only pass a rival that came up empty inside of horses in the final furlong. KING RONIN argued for the lead three wide outside in the early going, had a head in front between foes along the backside, was engulfed surrendering the top spot on the rail at the five sixteenths pole, emptied out on the fence by upper stretch and was wrapped up by the final furlong.