COMMENTS

POINT GIVEN was away a bit slowly, was unhurried during the early stages, made a strong middle move while five wide in hand along the backstretch, closed the gap from outside to threaten on the turn, drew on nearly even terms with Congaree entering the stretch, lugged in briefly while challenging at the three-sixteenths pole, took the lead when straightened out approaching the furlong marker, opened a clear advantage when struck left handed a sixteenth out then edged clear under a vigorous hand ride. A P VALENTINE was brushed by Marciano while between horses going into the first turn, settled in good position along the backstretch, was shuffled back in traffic between horses nearing the far turn, regaining his momentum closed rapidly while splitting horses approaching the top of the stretch then gained steadily under brisk urging to edge Congaree for the place. CONGAREE bobbled then broke inward at the start, rushed up between horses in the early stages, forced the pace while three wide along the backstretch, edged closer midway on the turn, surged to the front gaining a slim advantage leaving the five-sixteenths pole, battled gamely into midstretch then yielded grudgingly in the final sixteenth. DOLLAR BILL was unhurried early, steadied and was shuffled back at the five-eighths pole, checked in traffic on the far turn, circled eight wide while launching his bid at the top of the stretch then rallied belatedly while drifting out under steady left-handed urging. GRIFFINITE caught in tight quarters between horses in the early stages, was shuffled back a bit nearing the half mile pole, raced well back to the turn then improved his position with a mild late rally. MONARCHOS raced far back while being outrun in the early stages, moved to the outside leaving the first turn, made a mild run while six wide along the backstretch, continued six wide on the turn then lacked a strong closing response. MARCIANO steadied in tight along the rail on the first turn, moved up along the backstretch, checked in traffic on the far turn, remained a factor into upper stretch then weakened in the final eighth. BAY EAGLE saved ground early, moved out along the backstretch then failed to mount a serious rally. PERCY HOPE raced within striking distance while four wide for five furlongs, was caught in mild traffic on the far turn then steadily tired thereafter. RICHLY BLENDED rushed up to gain a clear early advantage, set the pace along the inside to the turn then steadily tired thereafter and was not abused in the late stages. MR. JOHN broke awkwardly, angled in on the first turn, saved ground while forwardly placed to the far turn then gave way and was eased in the late stages.