Sam Houston Race Park

MAYBE DOLCIE was allowed to settle after the start, advanced in the two-path up the backstretch to join the main pack heading into the turn, deftly navigated a path through rivals on the far turn without losing any momentum, emerged from the pack into the straight with a clear lead, opened up and held safe from a closing rival while under steady handling. FINE FINISH raced at the back of the second flight, kept to the inside path, tipped out three-wide for the stretch run, finished up well, closed the margin on the leader but ran out of time. LUCKY SPEECH was three-wide in the tracking group, came four-wide into the stretch, and finished well but came up short. MOONLIGHT GAMBLER brought up the rear well behind the rest through the first half, launched a bid midway through the turn while keeping to the inside, and improved despite flattening a bit in the final furlong. NINTH ISLAND raced at the head of the tracking group, was unconcerned with the runaway leader through the first half, then let the charge to reel in that foe on the turn pulled even near the quarter pole, but lacked the necessary response in the stretch and failed to menace. MORNING MIRACLE broke best and was steered, but not rushed to the lead on the first turn, opened up a big lead leaving the first turn as the rider attempted to slow pace, came back to the field after passing the half-mile pole, then tried to fight back as the field caught up late on the turn, but was outkicked in the stretch.

STORY HOUR pulled to the lead on the first turn while under some restraint, slipped away into the stretch while under confident handling, then drew clear in the stretch without really being asked. SECURED pressed the pace between horses in the two-path, then gave futile chase in the stretch to claim the second prize. WORTH CONSIDERING got over to the rail for the backstretch run, tracked close to the early pace, then moved up inside through the far turn and kept on for third. BLAMEITONMIDNIGHT settled at the back but never far behind in the compact field, stayed on along the rail to pass a couple of tired rivals in the stretch. COLORMECAIRO pressed the early pace three-wide, came under pressure approaching the quarter pole, but had no response. NOMORETANLINES was not quick enough to contest the early pace, settled four-wide off the leaders up the backstretch, continued that path through the far turn, then could not close ground in the stretch.

WHISKEY NOT WINE easily made the lead without really being asked, rated nicely a length or so clear of the closest pursuers, then was set down at the quarter pole, and responded with a strong finish and held clear to the wire. WOW THAT'S HOT settled in a stalking position along the rail behind WHISKEY NOT WINE, allowed that one to dictate terms up front, then gave futile chase through the stretch as that rival got first run, and had to settle for second. TAP THE DOT was not asked for speed from the start, settled at the rear of the field, started a run on the inside through the far turn, came off the rail in mid-stretch to the three-path, and rallied to get third. RED MOUNTAIN went three-wide into the first turn, then four wide into the stretch, finished well, but could not get to the winner. TEAM LEADER settled three-wide near the rear, moved up in range of the leaders on the turn, then was outfinished in the final furlong. SUMMER LOVER settled along the rail in the back half of the field, well off the pace, saved ground, and lacked a rally. BIG BERNIE raced close up three-wide, then was outkicked through the stretch.

AUTHENTIC QUEEN raced close up four to five wide down the backstretch, continued through the turn, then kept to a steady rally through the stretch and ran down the leader in the closing yards while being floated out to the middle of the track. MAJESTIC MOON broke well, contested the early pace two-deep with several rivals in close attendance, backed off heading into the turn, then re-bid three-wide at the top of the stretch, had a little trouble with the lead change but straightened and finished well to pass all but the winner. MORE COFFEE was the inside horse in the early pace scramble, kicked on through the turn with SNEAK ATTACK, went a length clear in upper stretch, then started to shorten strides in the last sixteenth, and yielded grudgingly while drifting out in the final yards. SNEAK ATTACK broke well, contested the early pace three-wide, put a head in front near the mine-sixteenths marker, then dueled with MORE COFFEE through the turn, chased that rival through the stretch, but weakened in the final yards. UNIONVILLE was outpaced and chased the field down the backstretch, advanced on the rail through the turn, then continued to run on down the stretch but came up short in the end. ALYDAN pressed the pace for the first quarter-mile, then steadily dropped back through the turn, and had little to offer in the stretch. MS EXAGGERATOR chased the main pack while under coaxing, struggled to keep pace through the turn, and came up empty in the stretch.

LADY AUTHENTIC was hustled away from the start, seized a clear early lead, rated nicely to the stretch, then drew off with disdainful ease through the stretch. SAY AS I SAY settled in the middle of the strung-out field, and kept on along the rail to win the race for the second spot. STRIKE THE BELL got inside position midway through the first turn, gradually advanced through the middle stages, followed the runaway leader into the stretch but was outfinished for the place. KARA was devoid of any early speed but kept up a steady pace in the late stages, came four-wide into the stretch, and closed well. REAL MISCHIEVOUS settled in a tracking position behind the pacesetter, then lacked any response in the stretch. IFUAINTFIRSTURLAST was held up at the back of the main pack through the first half-mile, advanced late on the backstretch run and through the turn, then flattened in the stretch. MISS MAVIS chased the pace three-wide, made an early try at LADY AUTHENTIC going into the turn, but did not respond and faltered before the stretch. GOSPEL TIZ GOT showed little. SENSE OF AWE hustled from the outside stall to get a forward position, went four-wide through the first turn, raced well back to the far turn, and offered nothing in the late stages. LAST PENALTY lacked any early foot, dropped back to last before the half, and trailed far behind the rest of the trip, was eased to the finish, and walked off.

GOLDBRICK got inside position and secured the rail and a piece of the lead on the first turn, was still traveling well while turning away pressing rivals late on the turn, responded when set down in upper stretch and held sway to the wire. AUSTIN CRUISE raced in mid-pack for a half, then rallied along the rail through the far turn, then finished strong, got put in a bit tight near the wire and just missed. MAGNOLIA WEST was allowed to settle along the rail at the back, kept to the inside and moved up into contention through the far turn, continued the bid up the rail, was without a clear path forward passing the chute, came out a poth and kept on and gained third. DOWN THE ISLANDS raced in mid-pack two or three-wide through the first half mile, came five-wide into the stretch, checked off heels, then put in a good finish through the final furlong but came up short. STREET ROCKIN tucked in behind the dueling leaders early, moved to a three-wide stalking position heading down the backstretch, remained a contender in ujpper stretch, then was not doing enough in the late stages. SHOGUN BE FAST hustled away seeking a forward position but got caught four-wide, moved up coming out of the first turn to track close up, but still four-wide down the backstretch, made a four-wide bid from the quarter pole but was outkicked through the stretch. AS ONE DOES hustled away to duel two-wide on the clubhouse turn, came into the stretch with every chance but did not kick on and faded. WILTON went four-wide on the first turn at the back of the pack, then lacked a late bid. CAPOTE'S GLITTER lacked early speed and raced near the back of the field early, started to lose contact with the rest of the field after passing the half-mile pole, and was not persevered with when hopelessly beaten. THERE WAS A STEWARD INQUIRY INTO THE STRETCH RUN. ALSO, THE JOCKEY ON #1 AUSTIN CRUISE LODGED A CLAIM OF FOUL AGAINST THE WINNER #5 GOLDBRICK, ALLEGING INTEREFERENCE NEAR THE FINISH. AFTER A REVIEW, THE OBJECTION WAS DISALLOWED AND THE ORIGINAL RESULTS WERE MADE OFFICIAL.