2005

GIACOMO, in a bit tight between horses at the start, was unhurried while five wide between rivals during the early stages, continued five wide along the backstretch, worked his way forward between horses six wide on the far turn, was in behind a wall of horses entering the upper stretch, was alertly angled eight abreast to secure racing room at the furlong grounds, then closed determinedly under extreme left-handed urging to prevail in the final seventy yards. CLOSING ARGUMENT bobbled slightly while drifting out for a stride at the break, gained a forward position while nine wide during the opening quarter, angled inward to be four wide on the first turn and along the backstretch, inched up between foes four wide entering the far turn, angled five wide while going between horses at the top of the stretch, gained a narrow advantage leaving the three-sixteenths pole, was joined by the winner from the outside about the sixteenth pole and held on tenaciously to save the place. AFLEET ALEX, nicely placed under light rating from early on while between foes four or five wide, rallied near the inside around the far turn, came out and split rivals while four wide when straightened into the stretch, gained on even terms for the lead in deep stretch and wasn't quite good enough. DON'T GET MAD settled eight wide early, edged in on the first turn, raced four wide on the backstretch, was asked for his best nearing the three-eighths pole while circling foes eight wide, came to the extreme outside to be ten wide entering the stretch, offered a serious bid entering the final furlong but couldn't sustain the needed momentum. BUZZARDS BAY gained a striking position early while maneuvering in six wide, edged closer nearing the end of the backstretch, commenced a sweeping bid seven wide to reach contention approaching the final quarter, loomed menacingly in upper stretch but came up empty. WILKO, eased back five wide early, began to advance four wide on the far turn, came out between horses six wide for the drive, checked in tight quarters leaving the three-sixteenths pole and improved position while unable to threaten. BELLAMY ROAD, away in good order to track the leaders under light rating five wide, was asked for more nearing the five-sixteenths pole, gained a slight advantage between calls when straightened into the stretch, remained a factor into upper stretch then weakened. ANDROMEDA'S HERO, unhurried to the far turn and racing near the inside, came out six or seven wide entering the stretch and produced a mild gain. FLOWER ALLEY, a bit sluggish to begin, leaned in early bumping with HIGH LIMIT and forced that one in on NOBLE CAUSEWAY, moved inside, continued forwardly placed along the backstretch, was steadied behind SPANISH CHESTNUT approaching the five-sixteenths pole, dropped back nearing the quarter pole and weakened soon after. HIGH FLY, nicely placed while working his way near the inside between foes, continued between horses while going after SPANISH CHESTNUT approaching the stretch, put a head in front near the final quarter, battled heads apart into upper stretch, but couldn't sustain the needed momentum. GREELEY'S GALAXY was pinched back in tight after a tardy start, quickly was angled in to race four abreast, came a bit wider on the far turn to commence a sweeping bid, reached contention when straightened for the drive and lacked a further account. COIN SILVER, eased back early after being forced to steady behind NOBLE CAUSEWAY, made a run four or five wide around the far turn, worked his way out eight wide for the drive but was unable to continue his bid. GREATER GOOD, void of early speed and outrun to the stretch, came out ten wide for the drive and failed to menace while improving his position. NOBLE CAUSEWAY bumped with COIN SILVER at the start, was forced to check sharply when bumped by HIGH LIMIT nearing the wire the first time and failed to reach serious contention thereafter. SUN KING, in contention near the inside for seven furlongs, made a brief move in close quarters approaching the far turn then gradually weakened. SPANISH CHESTNUT moved to the front early, maneuvered in to show the way three or four wide, opened a clear advantage on the first turn, set a rapid pace for six furlongs, held on for almost a mile and tired. SORT IT OUT never reached contention. GOING WILD angled in early to press front-running SPANISH CHESTNUT four wide, was asked for more leaving the backstretch, failed to keep pace and faded. BANDINI, in contention while racing in mid-pack between rivals, was finished entering the far turn. HIGH LIMIT, bumped passing the wire the first time and forced in on NOBLE CAUSEWAY, was finished after six furlongs while near the inside.