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.

FANCY SAILOR settled outside a foe stalking the leaders not far removed from the pace, went mostly two to three wide on the turns, was encouraged along while swinging five wide into upper stretch, put to stronger urging at that juncture, struck the lead about the sixteenth pole and edged past. ZAKINTHOS was coaxed forward at the start and soon clear shifting in to set the pace from off the rail, came out a bit in mid-stretch, was overtaken a sixteenth out and yielded but saved the place. SIX O CLOCK was taken back in the early going racing inside mid-division, came out off the fence to pass a foe along the rail on the far turn, altered in for room in mid-stretch, kept on evenly inside. SWIFT BLADE exchanged incidental contact at the start, settled last but one near but off the inside, went three then four wide on the far turn tipping out a bit further in upper stretch under stout urging, ran on with late interest but needed more. BEAUTIFUL WAR settled near the inside toward the rear, was guided out eight wide in mid-stretch seeking room, finished strongly but far too late. DR. AGNE brushed with a rival lightly at the start, settled outside a foe off the pace racing about three deep, swung out six to seven wide for the stretch run, offered no late bid. ZEUS'S ECHO stalked from outside three to four wide, was under urging by the quarter but had no response and faded. ARCHIMEDES was taken hold receiving light rating tactics just off the pace and inside early, made no bid and faded in the stretch. UNCLE BUCKY broke a step slowly and lacked early speed bringing up the rear, took the overland route fanning seven to eight wide outside foes turning for home, was never near enough to threaten.

WIND FLOWER settled mid-pack off the inside in the two to three path, took closer order on the far turn racing in behind runners, rallied between foes in upper stretch with aim on the leader, drove past about a sixteenth out and cleared. SERENDIPITY swiftly moved clear and shifted in, dictated terms, extended the advantage turning into upper stretch but weakened and was reeled in late while holding second. BOHEMIAN was in a bit tight after the start shuffling back to last, raced outside a foe at the rear, swung seven wide into upper stretch, gained late. POPPY THE PRINCESS was fractious in the gate, settled off the pace near the inside, came out a bit on the far turn passing outside a tiring rival in upper stretch, kept on late under urging to get up and round out the super. TEMPTABLE (GB) was forced in and placed in tight quarters after the start, raced outside toward the rear two to three wide, angled out seven wide in upper stretch and kept on late. CLIFFS stalked two to three wide, came out five deep for the drive under urging but flattened out. REINING FLOWERS had some trouble cornering into the first turn racing inside at the back, settled saving ground, swung six to seven wide turning into upper stretch and passed tired rivals. PRINCESS ATTITUDE came in after the start, stalked from outside three to four wide early, was carried out a bit late on the far turn, faltered and faded. CONTRARY was forwardly-positioned stalking inside, came up empty. NECESSITY gave brief chase but soon retreated, was eased, crossed the wire and walked off.