FIRST RACE – A “good +1” track in 40-degree temperatures, with a stretch headwind early… I GOT THE LOOKS went to three-wide with cover to the first turn then two-wide, left raw 5/16 and to the lead 3/8, mildly roused late to withstand MEADOWBRANCH RICKY. The latter was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-wide to the top 5/16, yielded, a bit loose in the pocket much of the last half, then did better from early stretch home. MARION GONDOLIER was third-over in a dull flow. three-wide ¾ and gained very nicely. OUR WHITE KNIGHT took a forward spot, was shuffled to last, split horses before midstretch and finished willingly. MEETMEINTHEMIDDLE was innermost of the leavers, pushed the early pace then yielded, looked all-out to keep up much of the last half. ANDOVERS TOUCH, off the gate a bit, moved to second-over, didn’t reach cover, blindswitched, not a contender. MAYFAIR WELL charged out from fifth 5/16 but did not make the lead, faded near the ¾.
SECOND RACE – THE LADY SHERIFF set the pace with two moves, strung the field out in the third quarter then drew away. JEWEL LEHIGH A left well and was on top just past the 1/8, yielded to the winner, loose in the pocket, just held second over SHE’S A BILLIONAIR. The latter was uncovered from last just before the half, retucked fourth down the back, outside on the turn, came a long way in a good outing. THE BAND K had a forward position, could make up no ground late. CHEEKY CHERRY and BETTOR BECAUSE A never entered the picture. SEA’S IDEAL left an ever-widening hole from early backstretch.
THIRD RACE – CHERRY RED persisted leaving and made the top to the 1/8, got his own pace, all-out as others were charging late. RARE MUSCLE wanted to leave but took third 3/16, uncovered 5/8 and went up, fell back some on the turn, then regathered and came up just shy. I AM THE STORM left and protected the pocket, had a shot up the Pocono Pike but couldn’t quite make it. SHELL SHOCK made a brief skip past the ¼, gapped at the 5/8, then found a better gear late and finished in tight quarters. SECTOR was two-wide on the turn, ducked in and gained some then made a break midstretch, placed for LOB. DUKE OF LINDY was not prominent. MR BLUMETTI went offstride 5/8. APOCALYPSE lost gait twice.
FOURTH RACE – VITANI AS went right to the lead, strung the field out most of the way, won easily. SERRANO VOLO slid into a tuck 3/16, moved out second-over, tightened in then left uncovered as cover broke ¾, inside late turn, second-best. BOUNTIFUL BRITTNEY was far back at the half but got a lot closer in the third quarter, with cover on the turn, could not sustain her gain. FIRE UP went into the pocket as a foe miscued going to the 3/16, gapped a bit the last half. CHING CHING LUCKY tucked in a hole that the first turn breaker left, moved out 9/16 and gained, got rough challenging 11/16 and then did go offstride. MULLIGAN’S MISS broke at the half and was taken inside the course. LADY AT ARMS was far back when going offstride on the far turn. QUEENS N BEES may’ve been trying to keep the pocket closed when she misstepped nearing the 3/16.
FIFTH RACE – YOUR HONOR left like a shot, yielded, backed out to follow cover 11/16, gapped it a little then ducked in far turn, swung wide early stretch and had the most pace late. TRICK CARD moved down the back, lost his cover and challenged the new leader, ahead from the 11/16 through much of the turn but couldn’t get to the rail, got the lead again before midstretch but outkicked on the end of it. JAM THAT GUITAR was looped and parked to the ¼ for command, yielded for the pocket, outside 5/8 and went right by, held a foe outside around the turn, then tired. MAX GASTANK DEAN was on the move before the ¼ to get the lead by the 3/8, was attacked down the back and surrendered the front without a fight, faded. BENEVOLENCE moved outside but couldn’t keep up. GRATEFUL KISS was three-wide after leaving when breaking at the 1/8.
SIXTH RACE – EXPLOSIVE MAGIC tucked fourth then quarter-moved to get the lead past the 3/8, strung the field out the last half and won quite easily. HOLIDAY HANOVER pulled 3/16 from third and was in front 5/16, yielded to the winner, couldn’t go with that one but had enough to maintain the deuce. WINNING GENE trotted steadily along the inside the last 3/8 to grab third from CHRISTOPHER CRAZO. The latter was away sharply to command, yielded, couldn’t keep tight behind the pocket horse on the turn, just lost show. BUTTER TOFFEE gapped. FRAC was never in it. TW LAUXMONT got an early spot, uncovered 5/8 but made no headway. JACKIE’S RN was far back when coming out of the final turn very wide.
SEVENTH RACE – Wind has shifted to a quartering wind, behind the horses going to the half … ADAGIO DE LA TOUR went straight down the road, with only O JONNIE close-by most of the last half, kept to business to almost the wire. The latter took a tuck third, moved past the half and quickly retucked as the pocket horse retreated, tried but settled for second, far ahead of the others. BRUTAL STORM backed off into a 4-tuck, moved out then left uncovered early backstretch, retucked third 11/16, just held that spot. PERSEVERANCE was behind slowly-advancing cover, ducked inside and was OK along the inside late. SOUTHWIND BLIZZARD got into the outer tier, left uncovered late backstretch, not that much. HAVANA OOH NANA was never prominent. DIVINE SPIRIT ran 3/16. ARUBA VACATION made the pocket at the 1/8, had no more to give not long off turn two.
EIGHTH RACE – DECLAN SEELSTER had to work past the quarter to get the early lead, yielded but retook just before the half, had immediate pressure from SWEET N FAST N and defeated that one in a big showing. The latter was left uncovered going to the half, stayed close to the winner to the wire. NOX VEGAS BLUECHIP was in the good outer flow, three-wide headstretch, clearly third. MISSILE SEELSTER was out with cover to the ¼, pressed on to the lead 3/8, yielded to the retaker, kept semi-connected to headstretch, then gave a little more ground. DRAGON STRIKES pushed the winner just past the ¼, yielded, stayed inside, went to the Pocono Pike but could not get closer. THE OTHER THREE were not in serious contention.
NINTH RACE – CAMPBELLINI hit the front at the 1/8 in by far the fastest quarter, didn’t have much pressure, saw CHUCKY DE VIE get to about even using the Pocono Pike, fought on gamely for the win. The latter got a comfy trip in the two-hole, took his shot in the stretch, OK but not quite enough. MANWITHAMISSION went uncovered off turn two, grinded up steadily. BATTLE MAGE was second-over, wide in the stretch and found his best steps a mite too late. CREDIT FRAUD sat in, gapping on the turn, but was gaining near the wire. RENTIER and SHOEMAKER HANOVER were always at the back. NATALIE HANOVER was three-wide early, took third at the 1/8, wasn’t keeping up from early backstretch.
TENTH RACE – STEP ON THE GAS made the front past the 3/16, yielded to a brusher, back outside early backstretch to go right back to the lead in fast fractions, was about out of gas late but had too big a margin to be denied. REST ASSURED sat in and was shuffled, out in a blindswitch, then three-wide late turn and paced home steadily. JUNIOR MAN went uncovered on the second turn, improved position as the inner tier collapsed and tucked third, outside late turn and made second before midstretch, held OK. YER SO BAD weaved in traffic on the far turn, came up the inside to be next. PET SUR-ROC joined the lively outer tier, left uncovered, went a little wide as rough late turn, fair. TOPVILLE CRUISER stayed in and got lost in the shuffle. PLAY THERAPY moved from fourth before the quarter and went to the top, was passed easily by the winner and left an ever-increasing hole. NOTYOURTYPICALMAN never factored. FATHER FRED was in the early pocket, had little to offer from the 5/8.
ELEVENTH RACE – OUTKAST BLUE CHIP got around early confusion and tucked fourth, uncovered 5/8, urged around the turn after the fast pace, made the lead early stretch and paced away. SPROCKET yielded at the 1/8 and stayed third-in, very slow to clear in tight quarters past midstretch and finished well to photo FEELING CAM LUCKY for second. The latter had to work past a 27 opener to get the lead and continued to a very fast half, held well but had to pay for the early usage. CLOUSEAU HANOVER was bothered by the early breaker but recovered quickly, outside towards the far turn, stayed in the fight for second. BABES DIG ME was on top at the 1/8, yielded and trailed the fast pace, Pocono Pike but came up empty. CENTURY ENFORCER and POYNTA BOY were bothered early but never recovered at all. IN ROCK WE TRUST was outleft, spotted, then broke past the 1/8 bothering those behind.
TWELFTH RACE – ITSONLYMONEYHONEY was second-over, didn’t tip wide until nearing headstretch, found enough late kick to catch REMARKABLE DE VIE. The latter was three-wide to the 1/8 to two-wide to the lead 3/16, yielded for the pocket and stayed close, to the Pocono Pike and had the lead just before midstretch, almost got it all. SVF BLUSHINGBRIDE yielded at the 1/8, quarter-moved, was rated then picked up the tempo down the back, outtrotted late. HASHTAGMADEYALOOK took up uncovered status towards turn two, gained in a quick third split but couldn’t sustain that gain. KOMBUCHA looked to contemplate a quarter-move but stayed in, not that much late. BULLY BOY, hard to steer at times, was third-over, had speed in spots. SIX BAX trailed throughout.
THIRTEENTH RACE – HALLIE’S COMET came uncovered into turn two, paced a 27 third quarter in clearing the leader to the 5/8, had no problem through the stretch. WAR DAN DELIGHT N showed a sharp burst off the gate, yielded, backed out behind the brushing winner and retucked second, good but not as much as the impressive winner. WARRAWEE TOTAL took back early and tucked near the ¼, was in the good outer flow, uncovered 11/16 and tucked in on the far turn, good mile. DUDDIE’S LOR was looped early, made the lead 5/16, yielded for the pocket, then lost all chance when shuffled as the leader gave way, was coming back a little late. AWESOMENESS was shuffled then got outside but couldn’t get into the main action. MARINER SEELSTER moved out with cover at the ¼, lost it 5/16, pressed on to the lead, surrendered without a fight 5/8. THE OTHER PAIR were never in the main picture.
FOURTEENTH RACE – STOP RESISTIN stayed outside early until the front end had all but resolved itself then brushed up to the 3/16 to the lead before the 5/16, appeared to be comfortably in control until MAGNIFICENT SEVEN burst on the scene late. The latter made a break at the start and lost about eight lengths, moved strongly from the back on the far turn and circled up, kept on coming and almost got there with a big recovery. BROADWAY MOJO was three-wide to the 1/8 to two-wide to the lead 3/16, yielded for the golden seat, Pocono Pike, not quite enough. KEYSTONE SERGEANT was second-over, left uncovered on the far turn, steadily. NICE STUFF was not a factor. ONE DIRECTION made the front between horses at the 1/8, yielded, outside again 11/16 but couldn’t threaten. PILGRIM’S LASS showed some speed but was not heard from thereafter.