Allowance Optional Claiming

Chart notes

NIAGARA SKYLINE had a good set up on the outside tracking the contesting duo at the half, advanced smartly slipping up the rail in midturn, angled out still closing in at the quarter pole, pounced three wide at the top of the stretch still not being asked for complete run and when called upon had more in the final furlong to stave off a stubborn inside rival who would just not quit. ARMSTRONG got the early advantage up top between runners, had company moving in on even terms outside by the seven sixteenths pole, relinquished the front end to the outside foe by the three eighths marker, drafted behind that rival through the turn, hugged the rail coming on again inside, brushed the fence in mid-stretch in tight fighting for the top spot but did not have enough late chasing the winner home. LAZIO had the inside position near the rear down the back straight, started to make a rally three wide around foes at the five sixteenths marker, angled out widest in the mix having the five path in upper stretch and finished up willingly in the final eighth of a mile to be a clear but non-threatening third. FORESTER'S FORTUNE settled close to the tail end on the outside early on, kept pace through the turn travelling two wide, scraped paint taking closer order straightening out for the drive, had to alter course three wide off runners when the seam in the two-path closed between runners coming up to the furlong marker and ran on gradually outside in deep stretch settling on the fringes. SHAK TOWN prompted the issue three deep outside two runners in the beginning, moved in taking over control clearing and getting loose crossing over to the rail by the five sixteenths marker, rolled along up top settling a rapid pace uncontested on the turn, offered no resistance surrendering the lead in the two path when engulfed by runners on either side at the top of the lane and wilted inside horses in the final sixteenth of a mile. MISTER BLUE pressed the pace on the fence initially, was reined back off the engaged pair by the half mile marker, came under a busy ride being scrubbed on for more two wide between runners but was getting passed on both sides at the quarter pole and emptied out in the three path by upper stretch. GASLIGHT DANCER was void of any early foot lagging well behind the group down the backside, continued to be a long last around the turn, lost touch with the pack turning for home and cantered on in.