Churchill Downs

LOST CHORD got away well, ceded the lead to an outside rival dropping back and switching outside that foe, moved up to press just off that rival's flank early, continued in pursuit just off that leader into the turn, moved to the fore just past the quarter pole and was put to urging, faced an outside challenger soon after, dug in under steady urging and held that rival. MAX broke just a step slowly, settled outside at the back, rapidly advanced outside foes on the turn near the three-eighths pole, floated five wide coming out of the bend gaining on the leader, was game but held off for the top prize while clearly secopnd best. AUTHENTIC BEAUTY chased from mid-pack outside a rival, went three wide on the turn, tipped out further in upper stretch, was no match for the top pair but ran along for show honors. WATERSHED MOMENT exchanged light contact at the start but was nevertheless prompt to take command, set the tempo kept well off the rail but inside the eventual winner, was challenged late on the turn, gave way in upper stretch. CREVALLA DE VIL exchanged incidental contact at the start, settled at the back shifting in and saving ground early on the turn, began moving out near the five-sixteenths, swung six deep turning into upper stretch, made no bid. SOUPERRAZZLEDAZZLE settled near the inside mid-division but racing off the rail into the turn, failed to menace.

OPTICAL broke just a half-step slowly, settled into stride at the rear switching outside the leaders, advanced willingly on the turn, came past the quarter pole four wide and niggled along, was asked at the top of the stretch, struck the lead in mid-stretch, edged clear and held under steady handling. SPECIAL CALIBER pressed from outside, shifted in at the three-sixteenths, ran on inside. MO WORK went quickly to the lead, was coaxed along edging just clear while setting the pace and racing off the rail, was challenged by outside foes leaving the turn, came out a bit in upper stretch, weakened.

TISUM bumped a rival at the start, switched out on the first turn stalking the pacesetter three wide, floated out leaving the far turn under urging exchanged repeated bumps with an outside foe, straightened out and gained steadily on the leader taking over a sixteenth out and edging away. CARCAR EXPRESS quickly moved clear, set the pace from off the rail, drifted out a bit leaving the far turn and under urging, was no match for the winner but second best. DON'T FIRE JOE was bumped at the start, settled at the rear, could see them all leaving the far turn still near the inside, ran on from between and inside runners in late stretch to get up for show. JINXZI stalked from outside mostly four wide, exchanged several bumps in upper stretch, flattened out. TIMBERLINE was bumped and squeezed at the start, switched out racing four to five deep through the first turn off the pace, continued wide on the far turn moving out further for the stretch run, failed to rally. BAYOU FLYER shifted in early, settled mid-pack saving ground, edged closer after a half to reach striking distance tracking inside, faded in the stretch.

STORMTOWN quickly moved clear, set the pace from off the rail, held sway under steady handling. FUZZBUSTER settled mid-pack just a couple paths off the inside heading to the turn, angled five to six deep at the top of the stretch, finished strongly in deep stretch but too late. DISMISS stalked from outside up close going three wide on the turn, lacked the needed late kick but was best of the rest and eased up late. EQUATOR broke just a half-step slowly, settled inside at the rear, came out four to five wide for the drive and improved position. TIZ AUTHORITY exchanged incidental contact at the start, chased from between runners, was one-paced. SLEEPING WARRIOR exchanged a bump and was in tight after the start, moved out and advanced early three to four wide into and on the turn, evened out in the lane. CASH BONUS shifted in early, saved ground on the turn, angled six wide in mid-stretch, ran on mildly. WARNOCK exchanged a bump and was in tight steadying slightly just after the start, raced outside at the back, was forced wide swinging eight deep into upper stretch, made no bid. HALLEY'S COMET exchanged light contact at the start, was a bit hard to settle in the early stages, went three wide on the turn swinging out six wide leaving that bend, failed to rally. HIGH HONORS chased from inside, dropped back and faded.

SWEET MARY settled into stride just off and outside the leader, made a swift move at the three-eighths taking a narrow lead past that marker, dueled through the turn, edged away from the three-sixteenths and continued extending the advantage under moderate late urging. SPEECH AND DRAMA set the early pace facing pressure, edged clear past the half but only momentarily, was soon headed past the three-eighths, fought on through the turn into upper stretch, yielded grudgingly but saved the place. TEXAS DANDELION broke in a bit and was urged but lacking speed, saved ground inside on the turn, came out four wide for the drive, ran on but missed second. STARFINDER pressed the early pace then continued to chase while coaxed along, dropped back between foes on the turn, swung out five wide leaving that bend, failed to rally. MY BLUE HEAVEN lacked early speed despite encouragement, shifted in a bit nearer the fence saving ground trailing through the turn, was never near enough to threaten. MO TOWN FOXY BROWN chased from outside three to four wide into and on the turn, floated six deep into upper stretch, was not a factor.

HALEAKALA broke sharply, set the pace from off the rail, was headed by an inside foe at the half but re-took the lead soon after, floated out a bit for the drive then again near the furlong grounds, held a rival at bay under steady handling. MUSTANG LADY broke a step slowly and was in tight, shifted in racing three deep and moving forward into the first turn, stalked from outside three to four wide, drifted wider for the stretch run under urging, kept on gamely but was only second best. HONOR AZTECA was allowed to settle racing outside well back and three to four deep, advanced between foes at the half, shifted seven wide into upper stretch, moved inward past mid-stretch while rallying slightly, kept on to get up for show. ROMANY ROAD raced inside just off the rail, went evenly and made no bid. TIZ SALTY was outpaced trailing far back early and racing near inside, passed tired rivals. VINNO RONNIE was a bit keen inside in the early going, pressed under a light hold, took the lead briefly at the half, flattened out in the lane. RHAENYS stalked from outside four to five wide early, was forced out six deep on the far turn floating eight wide into upper stretch, dropped back and faded.