Belmont at the Big A

MILITARY ROAD was rated just off the pace on the inside, drafted behind the leader on the far turn, was asked at the five-sixteenths pole, chased along the rail into upper stretch, was guided out coming to the furlong marker, moved further out outside the sixteenth-pole, gained outside into the final sixteenth and got up late to prevail. INDY RAGS tracked the pace on the outside in the three path, was urged along late on the backstretch, gained into the far turn then made a bid in the three path, turned into upper stretch under a drive, took the advantage outside the furlong marker, came in some near the sixteenth-pole, led until the final several strides but was caught while clear for the place. FIRST TRUMPET went to the front, showed the way in the two path with a clear advantage, was asked when challenged by the winner on the far turn, came under a left-handed crop in upper stretch, lost the advantage outside the furlong marker, fought on into the final sixteenth, was crowded while weakening late and failed to match strides with the top two while well clear for the show. HEY PORTER dropped back after the start then angled in at the rear, moved from the two path to the inside on the first turn, settled well off the pace, saved ground while urged along on the far turn, turned into the stretch in the two path and failed to respond. HERMOSO HOMBRE was hustled from the gate, came out from the three path to the four path early on the first turn, was guided around that bend under some extra left-rein guidance, dropped to the rear under urging on the backstretch, rounded the far turn in the three to four path, spun into upper stretch in the six path and was no factor.

GUNNER BAY chased along the inside, was just in behind EPITAPH and leaned out against PRINCIP at the nine-sixteenths but was denied access to the two path by that rival, remained inside through the turn coming under coaxing three furlongs out, angled five wide into upper stretch, dug in under a drive rallying to engage the embattled trio a furlong out, seized command near the sixteenth marker and inched away to the finish. PRINCIP chased just off the inside and was leaned on by the aforementioned foe near the nine-sixteenths marker and refused to tip out, tipped out three then four and eventually five wide through the turn when placed to urging at the three-eighths pole, angled seven wide into upper stretch and offered up a mild bid to belatedly garner the place honors. SCHLOMO led briefly early on before being engaged by EPITAPH with five furlongs to run and then NANTZ with half a mile to go, vied from the two path between foes through the turn coming under coaxing near the quarter pole, got bumped lightly by EPITAPH and spun three wide at that station, fought on head to head to the finish, weakened in the late stages while salvaging the show honors by a nostril. NANTZ got away last to an awkward beginning, then ranged up nearing the half mile pole and vied four then three wide outside a pair of rivals through the turn coming under urging just outside the quarter pole, cornered four wide into upper stretch, dug in under a drive, weakened in the late going while continuing to knock heads to the wire and just missed the show honors. EPITAPH vied inside a pair along the rail coming under encouragement with five-sixteenths remaining, spun just off the inside into upper stretch, dug in under a drive clinging to the front until caught near the sixteenth pole, then weakened in the late stages. PANAGIOTIS chased three then four wide under a ride from three furlongs out, angled five then four wide into upper stretch, angled in straightened away and weakened to the end.

CAT FAST was sent hard to the front, set the pace under pressure to his outside while off the rail, was asked while inside on the turn, passed the five-sixteenths pole under a vigorous hand ride, responded well when put to a right-handed crop in upper stretch, battled inside of the runner-up in the final furlong and held gamely under strong urging. ISOLA D'ORO broke out and brushed with a foe, showed speed then chased the pace on the outside, moved in with five furlongs to run, shifted from the two path to the three path early on the turn, pursued the leader under a drive into upper stretch, made a bid inside the furlong marker, reached even terms while bobbing heads with the winner late and just missed but was clear for the place. LOUGH CURRANE was hustled from the gate, pressed the pace on the outside, moved further out in the track around the nine-sixteenths pole, dropped in some leaving the backstretch, vied in the three then two path while asked for more on the turn, spun into the stretch under the crop, dropped back into the final furlong and weakened but held the show. GUALILLO dropped back quickly after the start then angled in while showing no speed, moved from the rail to the three path on the turn, turned into the stretch in the five path and failed to rally. REIGN IT IN was brushed by a foe at the start, dropped back early then angled in outside the three-quarter pole, moved closer around the nine-sixteenths pole, chased inside on the turn and tired. BELLAMY bobbled ever so slightly just after the start, dropped well back on the outside, moved from the three path to the inside early on the turn, shifted to the two path late on that bend, came into the stretch in the three path under a right-handed crop, drifted out under a left-handed crop near the furlong marker and was no factor.

DETERMINISTIC lightly coaxed from the start, established the front just after the break and showed the way in hand along the inside, settled into a comfortable rhythm down the backstretch and was patiently handled until set down taking the inside route into upper stretch, edged away under a drive to the eighth pole, dug in and held well and safe to the finish kept to task. BATTLE OF NORMANDY got bumped at the break in the hindquarters by MONTADOR, tracked the pace along the inside from the pocket in reserve until placed to encouragement with five-sixteenths to run, tipped three wide into upper stretch, shied out under a left handed crop nearing the eighth pole, then rallied willingly to close in and latch on the top one as he hit the finish. RIDARI (FR) saved ground at the tail of the field, came under coaxing nearing the quarter pole and spun along the inside into upper stretch, kept on under a drive to procure the show honors. MONTADOR lost his rear footing at the start and recovered inwards bumping BATTLE OF NORMANDY in the hind end, settled just off the inside near the rear of the field, came under urging three furlongs out, angled five wide into upper stretch, weakened. UNCATALYZED (GB) a bit fractious in the gate prior to the start, tracked the leader in closest aim just off the inside, got put to a ride at the three-eighths marker, tipped four wide into upper stretch and tired.

MOSCONI angled in early, went around the first turn in the two path, settled towards the rear, traveled around the far turn in the two path, dropped to the inside while roused at the top of the stretch, rallied along the rail into the final furlong and closed strongly to get up late and prevail. ROYAL ASCENDSHIN settled on the inside, was urged along passing the nine-sixteenths pole, saved ground on the far turn, moved to the two path outside the quarter-pole, was driven into the stretch in the four path, chased outside in the drive, brushed with a rival late and finished willingly to just get the place. POWERED BY COAL angled in early, rounded the first turn in the two path, moved closer while rated off the pace early on the backstretch, saved ground on the far turn, was roused late on that bend, came off the inside into the stretch, pursued the leader under a drive into the final sixteenth, brushed with the runner-up late and just missed the place while narrowly able to get the show. PILOT KNOB went clear early, raced inside on the first turn, lost the lead with five furlongs to run, regained the advantage before the half-mile pole, vied inside on the far turn, shook off a rival late on that bend, was roused near the quarter-pole then came under a right-handed crop in upper stretch, held a clear advantage into the final furlong then was switched to a left-handed crop, came off the rail while shortening stride outside the sixteenth-pole and was overtaken then caught for the trifecta late. FREE REFILLS angled in early then became briefly rank off heels, moved from the three path to the four path on the first turn, rushed up while dragging his way forward early on the backstretch, took the lead with five furlongs to run, lost the advantage back to the early pacesetter before the half-mile pole, vied in the two path under urging on the far turn, dropped back late on that bend and weakened. SAVVYLICIOUS broke out then bobbled awkwardly and was taken up, spotted the front several lengths, raced in the two path on the turns and was no factor. DEEMER broke out then was corrected by the rider, dropped from the four path to the three path on the first turn, pulled his way closer under tight restraint early on the backstretch, moved from the two path to the four path under urging on the far turn, came into the stretch in the six path and faltered then was eased in the final furlong but walked off. G FIVE established a forward position early, raced in the two path on the first turn, moved closer to the leader under restraint early on the backstretch, was urged along passing the nine-sixteenths pole, chased in the three path on the far turn, dropped back in the five path into the stretch and also faltered then was eased in the final furlong but walked off.

SEA VISTA chased five then four wide just off the pace before advancing in concert with SEEKER'S HOPE to engage the once clear leader three furlongs from home, vied outside a pair of foes through the latter portion of the turn and swung three to four wide into upper stretch emerging with SEEKER'S HOPE to his inside, dug in dueling through the stretch to the finish in game fashion and ultimately bested his rival on the wire. SEEKER'S HOPE chased two then three wide advancing in tandem with the aforementioned foe three furlongs out to engage the leader, vied between foes through the latter portion of the turn and spun just off the inside into upper stretch, dug in engaged in head to head combat with SEA VISTA at the three-sixteenths and fought head to head through to the finish gamely but was ultimately bested at the end. FAVORITE DAY chased five to six paths off the inside down the backstretch and then four wide through the turn coming under encouragement at the three-eighths pole, cornered three to four wide into upper stretch, offered up a mild bid. FIRST BLESSING coaxed from the gate, chased four then five wide under a ride from midway on the turn, continued five wide into upper stretch, kept on through to the finish. MOMENTUM FILES established the front and showed the way through a swift opening quarter mile along the inside, got engaged by a pair of rivals near the midway point on the turn and was placed to urging in response, vied inside that pair through to the quarter pole and took the inside route into upper stretch, got shaken off near the three-sixteenths pole and weakened to the wire. TOGA D'ORO coaxed from the start, chased two then three wide under urging from the three-eighths marker, went seven wide into upper stretch, offered no response. MORLOCK coaxed from the gate, chased along the inside and then just off the inside coming under coaxing three furlongs from home, cornered just off the inside into upper stretch, backed away and was eased up nearing the eighth pole, crossed the finish well behind nearing a walk, then fell after the finish appearing to suffer an apparent fatal cardiac event and was attended to on track.

WARALO coaxed from the gate, established the front near the five and a half furlong marker and showed the way in hand just off the inside and then along the inside, got set down taking the inside route into upper stretch, dug in under a drive under challenge from flanking rivals through the stretch despite leaving a tight seam to his inside and held stubbornly to the finish coming off the inside late under a left handed crop to alleviate the tight seam TWENTY SIX BLACK was in through the final furlong. TWENTY SIX BLACK chased just off the inside and then along the inside coming under coaxing near the quarter pole, cut the corner into upper stretch in behind the aforementioned foe, had a tight seam to move into straightened away, had that seam close down and continued on into it without pause and unfazed, dug in scraping the paint a furlong out and then a sixteenth from home when nearly bouncing off the rail when balking in very tight, had the top one come off the inside late and was along for the place honors, missing for it all on the wire. CLOCK TOWER prompted the pace three then two wide patiently handled until set down spinning two to three wide into upper stretch, dug in latched on and fought on to the finish and was along for the show honors. SON OF A BIRCH chased along the inside and then just off the inside down the backstretch, briefly tucked back inside into the turn before tipping out midway back to the two path, got placed to coaxing with five-sixteenths remaining, spun three wide for home and stayed on one paced to the finish. SPICED UP lost his rear footing at the break and was away last, chased four then three wide under a ride with five-sixteenths to go, cornered four wide into upper stretch, weakened.

NATURAL HUNK settled off the pace, was asked near the seven-sixteenths pole, went around the turn in the three then four path, turned into upper stretch in the six path, rallied outside to get the lead outside the sixteenth-pole and proved best under good handling. THORSNESS was hustled from the gate, tracked the leading duo from third, made a bid leaving the backstretch, vied in the four path on the turn, reched ven terms inside the furlong marker, battled under a drive into the final sixteenth and was outfinished while able to get the place. DAYTONA MOONSHINE dropped back quickly on the outside then was urged along at the rear, moved closer late on the backstretch, went around the turn in the five path, spun into upper stretch in the seven path and finished willingly to just get the show. RESIDE settled off the pace, moved closer near the nine-sixteenths pole, was asked in the two then three path on the turn, came out to the five path into upper stretch, pursued the leader in the stretch and just missed the show. WHITBY showed speed then contested the pace on the outside, vied in the two path while asked on the turn, battled under a drive into the final furlong and weakened. INTO INSPIRATION moved up to dispute the pace on the inside of an opponent, vied along the rail while asked on the turn, led under a drive into the final furlong then was headed, had the rider lose her crop outside the sixteenth-pole and tired.

SANDBORN settled tracking the front just off the inside from just off the pace, advanced on the leader into the far turn and came under coaxing at the five-sixteenths dueling with COMPLEX AGENDA for the top, spun just off the inside into upper stretch, dug in head to head through the length of the drive and just got the nod on the wire. COMPLEX AGENDA established the front and showed the way in hand just off the inside and then along the inside, had the aforementioned foe advance and dueled under coaxing from the five-sixteenths with that rival, took the inside route into upper stretch, dug in clinging to command through to the finish but lost the bob on the line in the very last jump. THE PADDOCK PASTOR just off the inside early on through the first turn, tipped four paths off the inside down the backstretch in aim of the front, came under urging with five-sixteenths to go, swung three to four wide into upper stretch, dug in and ran on to the finish. FREAKY tracked the pace along the inside coming under coaxing near the quarter pole, took the inside route into upper stretch, kept on to the end. KULAPAT chased two then three wide under a ride from three furlongs out, angled five to six wide into upper stretch and improved position to the finish. AMERICAN GRANT just off the inside through the first turn, chased three wide coming under coaxing three furlongs out, offered up a bid at the five-sixteenths moving into contention, spun two to three wide into upper stretch and weakened. MR FLOWERS three then two wide in pursuit, got ridden along at the three-eighths marker, cornered three wide into upper stretch and tired. DYLAN'S RUBY chased along the inside under a ride from the five-sixteenths pole, continued in the inside route into upper stretch, tired. LEFTEMBEHIND two to three wide in pursuit from near the rear of the field, came under coaxing with five-sixteenths to run, angled six wide into upper stretch and made no impact.

COUNTER MOVE drifted out early, stalked the pace on the far outside, made a bid inside the half-mile pole, took the lead into the turn, raced in the three path on that bend, shook clear when asked for his best in upper stretch and proved much the best while kept to the task. HOT OFF THE BEACH was hustled from the gate then urged along off the pace, went around the turn in the three path, was driven into the stretch in the four path, remained on his inside lead until inside the furlong marker then swapped to the proper lead and finished willingly for the place. MY MUNNY TALKS broke in and bumped with a rival then was hustled, moved to the front then showed the way, was headed into the turn, vied along the rail on that bend, dropped back in upper stretch and weakened but was clear for the show. MYKONOS was hustled from the gate, chased the pace down the backstretch, went around the turn in the two path and came up empty. UNTIL LAST CALL showed speed then tracked the pace, dropped back while saving ground on the turn and also came up empty. GOLDEN JOKER was bumped at the start then forced in and slow into stride, spotted the front a few lengths, went around the turn in the two then three path, came into upper stretch in the five path and failed to threaten. OUT OF THE FOG brushed the inside of the gate at the start then was hustled, settled off the pace, was roused in the two path on the turn and failed to rally. NAZ was carried out early, raced on the outside under urging, moved in outside the half-mile pole, traveled around the turn in the three then four path, turned into upper stretch in the six path and failed to threaten. WHISKEY RUNNER was hustled from the gate, settled under some urging, dropped back leaving the backstretch, saved ground on the turn and failed to respond.