FUNNY CIDE came out bumping with OFFLEE WILD for several strides just after the start, gained a forward position four wide while under a rating hold when under the wire for the first time, edged nearer the inside to draft in behind front-running BRANCUSI and PEACE RULES, eased outside of PEACE RULES when that one took over approaching the end of the backstretch, inched to challenge that one approaching the final quarter, reached the front when straightened for the drive, opened a clear advantage leaving the furlong grounds after being roused sharply on the right side, then, after the rider switched the whip to his left hand and again back to his right, gamely maintained his advantage. EMPIRE MAKER, away in good order and six or seven wide during the early stages while under light restraint, continued five wide on the backstretch and into the far turn, advanced steadily five wide leaving the three-eighths pole, loomed boldly outside FUNNY CIDE through the drive and wasn't good enough. PEACE RULES broke sharply to briefly lead, surrendered the advantage to BRANCUSI from the inside, raced well out in the track the opening eighth, edged in three wide to battle heads apart with that one into the first turn while full of run, assumed the advantage just after going six furlongs, opened a clear lead on the far turn, was displaced on the lead by the winner when straightened into the stretch and continued with good courage to save third position. ATSWHATIMTALKNBOUT, bumped at the start by BRANCUSI and forced out slightly, quickly recovered, was taken in hand to the inside, saved ground for a mile, came out for the drive to make a run between rivals seven wide and was going well at the end. EYE OF THE TIGER gradually worked his way in four wide by the first turn to track the leaders under light rating, leaned in lightly bumping with BRANCUSI approaching the stretch, continued in a challenging position into the lane but flattened out. BUDDY GIL, slightly sluggish at the break and bumped soon after by OFFLEE WILD when that one was forced out by FUNNY CIDE, settled three or four wide, reached contention nearing the final quarter, moved near the rail for the drive and improved position while unable to seriously menace. OUTTA HERE, eight or nine wide early, was checked slightly and able to angle in behind rivals while losing position entering the first turn, raced four or five wide while outrun to the stretch, came to the extreme outside to be 12 wide for the final furlong and offered mild gain. TEN CENTS A SHINE, reserved after the start and maneuvered towards the inside, raced three or four wide while outrun for seven furlongs, eased out to make a run 10 wide into the stretch and offered a mild gain. TEN MOST WANTED, bumped after the start by SCRIMSHAW, was checked during the opening furlong, settled six wide, continued off the inside, reached contention as the field tightened approaching the stretch but failed to offer a closing response. DOMESTIC DISPUTE, within striking distance while five or six wide, remained in contention into the upper stretch while five wide between rivals but was empty when the test came. SCRIMSHAW drifted in at the start bumping with TEN MOST WANTED, tracked the leaders four or five wide, was asked for his best three furlongs out while between foes but flattened out in the drive. OFFLEE WILD, bumped for several strides soon after the start by FUNNY CIDE, reserved between foes, three or four wide to the end of the backstretch, moved to contention midway with a burst of speed between calls on the far turn, came out five or six wide for the drive but couldn't sustain the needed momentum. SUPAH BLITZ came out brushing BRANCUSI after the start, saved ground, was checked lightly soon after passing the wire the first time and failed to menace. INDIAN EXPRESS, rank early and steadied repeatedly when caught between rivals approaching the first turn, raced in contention to the end of the backstretch and weakened thereafter. LONE STAR SKY, steadied and shuffled nearing the first turn, failed to reach contention. BRANCUSI came out brushing with ATSWHATIMTALKINBOUT soon after the start, moved to the fore near the inside, held a slight advantage while battling inside of PEACE RULES to the end of the backstretch, lost the edge to that one, continued forwardly to the stretch and faded. SIR CHEROKEE was declared from the race on Friday morning due to an injury to his right hind ankle. Because of the scratch, the number one post position in the starting gate was left unoccupied. Post positions do not correspond to actual gate position. The horses in the auxiliary gate were OUTTA HERE, TEN MOST WANTED and SCRIMSHAW.
