Belmont Park

EVER A FRIEND took up position in midpack, was rated near the inside for nearly a half, cut the corner into the lane under encouragement, gained readily, altered course to be outside the embattled front runners coming to the furlong marked, grabbed the lead a sixteenth later and edged away, crossing the wire being hand urged. GOLDEN WEEKEND assumed a forward post after the start, gradually closed the gap from the early pacesetter departing the backstretch, drew abreast just past midway on the turn, went head to head for the rest of the run around the bend, turned for home in possession of the slimmest of leads, continued to battle to maintain control with the winner steadily but surely cutting into the margin, got overhauled with about a sixteenth to go, but showed good courage to preserve the place. FISHERMAN'S WHARF unhurried for the opening stages, picked up interest late on the turn, was under a drive settling into the six path at the head of the stretch, displayed a good kick down the center of the course, barely missing on second. ZIPTRONIC reserved towards the two path, lacked the necessary stretch response. LUIGI P swung five wide into the stretch and rallied mildly. CLOSE TO THE VEST coaxed along stalking the front runners, angled three wide into stretch under much stronger handling, failed to muster up a solid closing punch. SCORPER three wide departing the backstretch, was asked for a response by the five-sixteenths pole, folded. MATT'S A GIANT three to four wide on the turn, was a forward factor throughout the initial half before backing away. CAN'T REFUSE taken to the rail at the nine-sixteenths pole, had no rally. SAINTS ALIVE kicked clear of the competition soon after the start, came under pressure in the vicinity of the five-sixteenths pole, responded positively to it until midstretch and gave way. KHAN OF KHANS between rivals, tired. CHERNOBYL'S HERO three wide at the three-eighths pole, folded.

WEE FREUDIAN bided time early on as a duel commenced up front, came under light hand urging into the turn, steadily closed ground around the turn while widest of all four wide, moved into prominence by the three-sixteenths pole now fully engaged by the rider, took over nearing the eighth pole and edged clear holding his only remaining rival in striking distance at bay to the end while being kept busy. GAME TOKEN saved ground throughout from the two path, tracked a pressured duel up front around the turn while coaxed along, got spirited up as they straightened for home and came home with good energy fighting through the furlong grounds while not making any progress on the winner procuring the place. WON GREAT CLASSIC tracked three wide on the turn, vied between rivals briefly nearing the three-sixteenths, displayed a mild rally to procure the show. HEAD HEART HOOF hustled early from the gate, dueled inside through solid fractions, took command at the quarter pole when his dueling rival began to back out, succumbed near the eighth pole, steadily tired through the final furlong while procuring the last major share. AL'S DEPUTY bided time towards the rear, came under coaxing midway on the turn, passed tiring rivals in the stretch. STEAL THE SHOT settled towards the rear , came under encouragement at the head of the lane and offered no response. OUR BRAVE WARRIOR broke through the gate prior to the start, was coaxed early on, then was taken in hand off a developing duel up front, altered in the two path prior to the turn, steadily faded from that point on. FIGHT FOR V L T'S was put to the whip at the start, dueled from the two path for a half through solid fractions and gave way.

LILY LYNN hit the right side of the gate at the start, was slow to settle early on while out sprinted through the first quarter, came under light coaxing while saving ground through the turn, rallied readily into prominence, swung five wide at the quarter pole, collared the leader just past the eighth pole and drew clear being shown the whip on the right side through the final eighth while under hand urging to the wire. WESTSIDE SINGER tracked a pace dispute up front while three to four wide in the turn, came under a drive nearing the head of the lane, steadily rallied through the furlong grounds to procure the runner up spot. SCOOTLES broke on top despite stumbling at the start as it appeared the ground gave way a bit underneath her, showed the way through pressured fractions from the inside as she vied with a pair throughout the turn, began to shake off those rivals when the winner arrived at the scene by the eighth pole, dug in to preserve the show through the furlong grounds while steadily tiring. SCENIC DRIVE disputed the pace while three wide until the top of the lane and steadily faded. MY GIRL GRACIE vied between rivals in a three way pace dispute for a half and faltered.

SPARKS WILL FLY established control soon after the start, showed the way from slightly off the inside, was asked for run by the five-sixteenths pole, left the eighth pole holding on to her biggest advantage and held sway. MANERO chased the winner and held on well enough to salvage second. RODINIA got bumped after the start, raced along the outside, commenced to rally in earnest four wide by the three-sixteenths, missed out on the place. REACH FOR A PEACH stumbled at the start, got bumped a few strides later, tucked along the inside, sat within range throughout and lacked the necessary stretch response. WHITE GLOVE bobbled at the break and was no factor. SIMPLE RULES chased the top one for a half before backing away. CLEVER SPIRIT got bumped shortly after leaving the starting gate, was put to encouragement when guided into the three path just past midpoint on the turn, came up empty. WILD KIMMIE was never in contention. ANN FLOWER raced along the outside and was through after going a half. ERIN ENCHANTED three wide on the turn, was outrun. SILVER WILLOW was bumped between rivals in the early stages, took the inside route, was under a drive cutting the corner into the lane, faltered.

CHICKATARI made solid contact with MARGO VERGE at the start, sat reserved from off the inside for nearly a half, was forced to remain on hold, stuck behind traffic as the field turned for home, found an escape route soon afterwards and altered course for it, took off with good energy after completing the maneuver, went by late under a confident hand ride to prove best. STELLARS THEORY swung to be five wide by the three-sixteenths pole, grabbed a narrow advantage coming to the eighth pole, proved no match for the winner, but continued on willingly to secure second. A LA MODA assumed a forward position early, raced towards the two path, with the rider atop with a firm hold on the reins, got mildly shuffled during the middle portion of the run around the turn, found enough room to move past a now tiring SHADY ROAD coming to the quarter pole, turned for home with a clear alley awaiting and got set down, loomed a threat with an eighth to go but soon flattened out. SOLDIERETTE gave chase from the outside, weakened during the final furlong. MARGO VERGE bumped soundly with the top one after lunging at the break, raced at or near the end of the field for the opening half, attempt to commence a rally from six wide at the head of the stretch but wasn't up to the task. SKY HOSOYA three wide, contested the widest of a threesome until the five-sixteenths pole, briefly shook free but was soon overhauled, tired steadily thereafter. DONNA'S SANDEE came six wide into the lane, and was outrun. ROCK STAR ROYALTY chased the ongoing pace dispute and folded. LAST EPISODE contested the pace between opponents until the five-sixteenths pole, and tired. SHADY ROAD along the inside, argued for control until just past three-eighths pole, faded.

HOLIDAY BROAD sat well placed from near the two path, keeping a watchful eye on the front runners, was asked for a response spinning into the lane, rapidly cut into the gap, made a successful challenge between rivals to take charge just past the furlong grounds, then drew away, kept to an intermittent right handed whip to the wire. STAR VESTA broke on top but was soon joined on the front end by an energetically-handled CONCEPT, contested the pace with that opponent from the outside, got asked for run turning for home, had just fought her way to the lead when the top one arrived on the scene in the appearance of a bold threat with an eighth to go, relinquished to that foe's challenge but continued on willingly for the place. CHESSRATE within striking distance for the opening half, altered course to the outside in the vicinity of the three-sixteenths pole, rallied mildly to grab the show award. CONCEPT hustled to the front, sparred from the inside with the runner up until midstretch before backing away. CENTRIQUE urged cutting the corner into the lane, had no kick. FLY TO THE SKY off the inside, went on to improve position during the stretch run. TIANA was no factor. STEAL THE APPEAL raced along the outside and tired. DECIDEDLY SO stalked for a half, folded. GIVING ME FITZ underwent a three wide pursuit then gave way. ANDREA'S MOON failed to menace. PRIVATE MERGER three wide departing the backstretch, tired.

FRESHMAN DORM bumped lightly with each rival breaking alongside at the start, settled in midpack two wide entering the backstretch, went shoulder to shoulder with GREEN BLUFF to briefly take away the three path, tucked back into the two path for run around the bend, turned for home lacking optimal racing clearance, bulled his way towards the outside in the vicinity of the three-sixteenths pole, interfering with and twice initiating contact with GLOBAL POWER before reaching the eighth pole, took off in earnest departing that station with the runner up making a bold run a few paths closer to the inside, grabbed a narrow advantage in the vicinity of the sixteenth pole and dug in stubbornly to preserve it. UNBRIDLED OCEAN lagged behind in the early going, picked up the pace during the run around the bend, was already under encouragement turning for home, was taken inward a path or so in upper stretch, accelerated after securing his new passageway to loom boldly, battled hard but couldn't go by the revved up winner. NINE O WONDERFUL displayed a good kick en route for the show. ABILIO vied for command with FORUM from near the three path, but with space separating the two pace combatants, had BOMBAGULA join the fracas nearing the end of the turn, fell back slightly after the previously mentioned grabbed the front, fought back with good intensity to re claim it, but with several fresher faces now in hot pursuit, relinquished shortly after leaving the eighth pole, and weakened. IMAGINING underwent a three to four wide journey, lacked the necessary stretch response. BOMBAGUIA broke outward, was pulled off the top one but not before making light contact, contently stalked the ongoing pace dispute, was let out a notch and after challenging from between the two front runners struck the top as the field headed for the top of the lane, yielded it back in short order and steadily tired thereafter. GLOBAL POWER departed the backstretch three wide, remained forwardly placed for the next quarter of a mile, seemed to respond positively when given his cue in upper stretch, got bullied by the winner, bumping twice with that opponent as the twosome proceeded down the stretch from the three-sixteenths pole to the furlong marker, was steadied after making contact the second time and lost all interest. E. H. INDY brushed at the start, tired soon after going a half. GREEN BLUFF pushed four wide early down the backstretch, was three wide on the turn, failed to menace. FORUM dueled from the inside and retreated. There was a Stewards' Inquiry focusing on the stretch run before the result was declared official.

PIN carried inward slightly in response to outside pressure bumped with A ROD just prior to the half mile pole, sat within striking distance from the outside during the run around the bend, paused assessing the situation, heading to the quarter pole, was given his cue and angled three wide into upper stretch, made little progress during the initial portion of the stretch drive, gained ground more readily thereafter, took over under confident hand urging near the wire. DEPARTURES was hustled from the starting gate to grab the front, showed the way from the inside with HE'S A SCROOGE close behind just off his hind quarters applying some resistance all the while, continued along on the same scenario for the opening half, spurted away from the competition when let out entering the stretch, emerged from the eighth pole in possession of his biggest advantage, felt the top one's presence by the sixteenth pole, offered good resistance before reluctantly yielding in the final seventy yards. SWEAT SHOP shadowed TOMMY KARAKORUM inward nearing the half mile, leaning enough on the winner to cause that opponent to bump another, continued the chase from the outside on the turn, rallied willingly down the lane to secure the show. YESTERDAY'S STORY swung four wide into the stretch and came home belatedly en route for the final major slice of the pot. HE'S A SCROOGE pressed the issue from the two path for a half and gave way. OLD KIT BAG placed three wide at the five-sixteenths pole, got called upon and came up empty. A ROD was bumped by the winner and steadied a short distance before reaching the end of the backstretch, took the the inside route, angled three wide into upper stretch and went on to improve position. CONTROVERSIAL three wide at midpoint on the turn, was put to a prolonged drive but made no headway on the front runners. HAYA'S BOY steadied while in tight shortly after the start, was a forward factor for a half before backing away. CODE PURPLE three to four wide on the bend, folded. TOMMY KARAKORUM off the inside, failed to menace. BOSTON POP saved ground on the turn and faded.