Maiden Claiming

Chart notes

JOE VITTORI cleared and crossed over, challenged by GRAY THUNDER nearing the half-mile pole, came in a bit to cause that rival to check at the three-eighths pole, kicked away on the far turn, led clear into the final sixteenth, came under threat from DOING TIME late but was able to hold on. DOING TIME sat off the pace in the two path, traveled three deep on the backstretch then off the rail, split rivals at the quarter pole, closed well through the lane, reeled in the leader late but ran out of ground. MILKEN COOKIES was closest in pursuit early in the two path, stalked the top pair up the backstretch, came under a ride on the far turn, went two wide into the lane, kept on willingly in the furlong grounds and whittled the gap late while earning third. SHAPOVAL tracked two wide, saved ground along the far turn but had to pause in traffic at the quarter pole, angled to a clear path in upper stretch, kept on late and rounded out the superfecta. HAMMERBARN was off slow and lost a clear path leaving the gate, traveled in the two path near the back then along the inside, took the far turn three then two wide and improved position. GRAY THUNDER stalked keenly in hand from inside, made a middle move up the fence to challenge the leader approaching the half-mile pole, got put in tight and checked with three furlongs remaining, chased next to the rail to the stretch and weakened. PAPA SANTOS stalked in the three path, asked while continuing three wide around the far turn and faded down the lane. WICKED SPUD unhurried in the opening stages, saved ground around both turns and could not make an impact. HENIE IN BLACK settled in the two path, remained two wide to the stretch and came up empty. DESERT HAWK came away slow and lost a clear path, trailed along the rail, eased off the fence around the far turn, spun three wide into the lane and was never a factor. THE TRAINER OF GRAY THUNDER LODGED A CLAIM OF FOUL AGAINST THE RIDER OF JOE VITTORI FOR ALLEGED INTERFERENCE AT THE THREE-EIGHTHS POLE. THERE WAS ALSO A STEWARDS' INQUIRY REGARDING THE SAME MATTER. FOLLOWING A REVIEW, THE STEWARDS UNANIMOUSLY RULED THAT ALTHOUGH JOE VITTORY DID SHIFT IN AND CAUSE GRAY THUNDER TO TAKE UP, THE INCIDENT DID NOT WARRANT A DISQUALIFICATION.