FIRST RACE – Temperature from just above to just below freezing through the card … Stretch tailwind most of the card … SCOTT ROCKS was the innermost of three leavers, yielded before the 3/16 but came back for the retake, shook off all but ALTA SHELBY N in a fast third quarter, then disposed of that one through the stretch. The latter was three-wide to the first turn to command to the 3/16, yielded for the pocket, stayed fairly close to the leader to headstretch, couldn’t gain but far ahead of the rest. MEADOWBROOK CROWN left between horses and settled third, gapped the top two 5/8 but still got the show. BARGAIN SHOPPER moved out late far turn but couldn’t make third. STONEBRIDGE PROUD went out uncovered but never got anywhere near the lead, evenly. THE REST were always well behind.
SECOND RACE – DURANT was underway before the ¼ to get the front 5/16, rolled on and had no problem. ALL ABOUT RUSTY got to the lead just past the 1/8, yielded to the winner, stayed relatively close late. CHICO ESTRELLA moved out with cover ¾ but then ducked back in midturn, edged BRIMFIELD for third. The latter made up a lot of ground while getting around gappers down the backstretch. HES GONE BADDER showed speed, yielded, came back raw 5/8, tired in the last ¼. ALASKAN SEELSTER never got going. COLE PORTER N suffered “b.e.” past the half. HOPETOBEFIRST was last throughout.
THIRD RACE – HOTTIEONTHEHORIZON started three-wide from last 5/8 and went up to two-wide raw on the turn, took the lead headstretch and won handily while pacing her last half in 55.4. BRING ME DIAMONDS fought for the top but was forced to take the pocket 3/16, had stretch clearance and did well to be second. HURRICANE CALLEIGH took full advantage of the pole to keep control, got a big breather to the half, not enough sprint late. ENGLISH ROSE N went up to third at the 1/8, uncovered nearing turn two, kept at it in her one-gear style. JERICHO DIVA sat in, may not have had any clearance in the lane. SOMETHINGABOUTMARY N moved second-over at the half, blindswitched 11/16 then gapped out the last quarter.
FOURTH RACE – AMERICAN ZEST A got the pocket almost by default as no one save FEELING CAM LUCKY showed sharp speed, sat a dream trip then came out for the drive, went by late in a quick mile. The latter barreled right to command and strung out the field in fast fractions, couldn’t quite withstand the winner but bottomed the rest out in a quality outing. CLOUSEAU HANOVER moved with cover ¾, wide and up for the distant show. DRAGON STRIKES retucked around a gapper and stayed inside, didn’t appear to have all that much late. QUICK FUN N moved out 11/16 but couldn’t gain. ADIOS MUCHACHOS started backing up before the 11/16. MISS U BIG MIKE began to gap off turn two.
FIFTH RACE – CENTURY FERRARI settled into the pocket early then quarter-moved, was clear of these most of the last half. BB’S HARLEY made the front by the 1/8, yielded for the two-hole, couldn’t keep tight in the pocket but kept at his task steadily. GIVEN UP TERROR sat third, didn’t gain or lose ground late. AWESUM ACE tucked fourth 3/16, not heard from again. DEVISSER ducked back in to avoid stagnant cover on the turn, got the last check. BOBBIES POWER PLAY started on the grind 3/8 but never menaced. ILLEGITIMATE SON could offer little from second-over.
SIXTH RACE – SHECOULDBEGOOD N took the pocket going to the 1/8, backed out nicely to second-over 5/8, three-wide headstretch and had the most of these. YES DOUBLE DOWN started uncovered at the half, grinded but never got within a length of the leader until the winner went by nearing midstretch, steadily for the deuce. ELENIARK A quarter-moved then had things as she wanted them, still not enough. LIGHTNING VIRGIN closed up the inside late backstretch through the turn, to the Pocono Pike and was moving well late. TRAFFIC JAM was too far back. AUDREY ANNA was the first to show, yielded, done nearing the ¾. MORE MORE MORE left a gap gap gap at the back. TWICE AN ANGEL originally was second-over at the half but started gapping very soon after that. IAQUINTA could offer little.
SEVENTH RACE – NOX VEGAS BLUECHIP left enough from the rail to force a lineup, sprinted down the back and left these behind as stragglers. SEEL THE DEAL N took back for the pocket at the 1/8, kept up until the far turn. SMILEANDSAYCHEESE kept up third until the ¾. DOIN THE MOST was wide early but put into his own hole, kept up to the 11/16. JERICHO WILLIE started uncovered before the 3/8 but never reached the front half of the field. GOLDEN GESTURE didn’t advance behind nonflowing cover. SHADY CITY stayed in and never surfaced. INSTRUCTOR fell back significantly in the last stanza.
EIGHTH RACE – VALLEY OF SIN got a sprightly start and soon cleared, rated the half, picked up pressure which was shaken off at the ¾, turned for home with a good lead and stayed safe ahead of the closers. THE NEXT THREE all sat inside most of the race: KEYSTONE SERGEANT got to the Pocono Pike with alert foot; MUSCLE AVE, who took back early, angled wide early stretch but didn’t quite have enough for the deuce; O JONNIE was last, came up the deep Pike with a good finish. WISENHEIMER was looped and made the two-hole at the 1/8, not enough response late. VALLORIA N was outside the duration, never got into the main action. CR BLAZIN BEAUTY was underway raw past the 3/8, challenged until the ¾ then retreated. OPTIMIST BLUE CHIP was looped, got a 4-spot 3/16, then moved second-over, gapping from early in the backstretch. KOW GIRL jumped off the first turn.
NINTH RACE – SUNSETBOOZECRUISE made a sharp quarter-move and set the pace, in charge to the wire. ESAI HANOVER was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-wide to 3/16 command, yielded to sit in the two-hole, angled out early stretch, clearly second. BULLVILLE TERROR gapped in last past the half, stacked four-wide late turn and finished strongly. TSM BATMAN sat in, just had room to angle out midstretch and finished OK. HYPNOTIC DREAM left between horses for the lead, yielded, angled out and wide late turn, had little left to give. WAY TO CLOSE was second-over, three-wide past the ¾ but didn’t offer much on the turn, did a little better from midstretch then was shut off by an angling horse. TRAY SURREAL moved out to third-over but came up empty and ducked back in. GENERAL WARD began first-over towards turn two, started backing off ¾.
TENTH RACE – LOVE THE ACTION pushed BAMSKI to a 26.4 opener, yielded then retook but was made to pay a bit by that one, saw BAMSKI go to the Pocono Pike and get a nose/head up midstretch, but was very game fighting on late to take the decision. The last-named was out a bit past that quick first stanza, in turn pushed before yielding, as mentioned went inside, got a small lead but couldn’t sustain it. SWEET TALKIN SATIN tucked fourth to the 3/16, then led the outer charge towards turn two, applied pressure, never took a backwards step. CANBEC KINGKAZIMIR got a spot leaving, inside, just a bit shy late. MYIDEALSON N was three-wide early, tucked fifth 3/16, then was second-over, gapped a little late backstretch and was blindswitched, edged over in tight quarters past midstretch and gained some. P-DRIVE HANOVER stayed in, in bad traffic the last 1/8, weaved and regained some ground. BIG GAME HUNTER was three-wide from third-over before the ¾, evenly. THE OTHER TWO were never in the main hunt.
ELEVENTH RACE – STICK WITH CRAMER was away well and kept the pocket closed, to the Pocono Pike, made the lead midstretch, just enough over R GAUWITZ HANOVER. The latter slid in midpack to the 1/8, then third-over, wide with then without cover late backstretch to second-over, three-wide in the lane, came up just shy. DON’TCALLMEFRANCIS was three-wide 3/16 until dropping back and tucking fourth, then second-over 3/8, three-wide 5/8 to two-wide raw before the ¾, not quite enough late but a good race. LUZIANA sat in, so-so along the inside late. NEEDLESS TO SAY shot through at the start and kept a looped foe parked, had heat all the way through, withered a little late. GRITS N GRAVY was fourth-over despite moving out just off the first turn, followed wide cover and left three-wide raw ¾, not enough gain. LUCKY LEVIS was never prominent. ROJAN’S WAY was a bit rough nearing the half, never close. ONLYTHETUFFSURVIVE was between horses and looped, was left out in the air, didn’t have the speed to clear and faded 5/8.
TWELFTH RACE – Wind down to almost calm … ECLIPSE ME N went to command nearing turn one then yielded for the pocket, outside to late turn and bettered 27.3 in the sprint home while winning confidently. ROYALTYWESTHO was three-wide early and to the top 3/16, got her own fractions, did well but outsprinted home by a classy veteran. SURREAL FEELING tightened along the inside late backstretch, did OK as they came home quickly. ALLI NUI also saved ground, with pace to the inside late. QUEEN LOSTRIS N left and yielded, popped out 5/8 but stopped any gain midturn. CERTIFIED IDEAL was a little off the gate, then last throughout.
THIRTEENTH RACE – TWO AM defended third early and sat there until the 11/16, moved up and briefly took the pocket on the turn, then out and went by easily. KING ALPHONSO was wide leaving, took back to spot sixth, then going again to turn two uncovered, steadily made up ground to the 11/16 where he got cover, couldn’t match strides with the winner but still good after a tougher trip. WILBERFORCE showed as much speed as anybody and headed down the road, lost the pocket horse past the half and went a big third quarter, was gradually reeled in by the top duo. HASHTAGMADEYALOOK made up a lot of ground very late from way back. BELLA AVA was out with cover but never entered the drama. CAVILL HANOVER maintained the two-hole, got looser from late backstretch. CHOCO CHARLIE was three-high past the 1/8, finally got in fourth past the ¼, not heard from thereafter. ASKMELATER HANOVER never featured. RIVER OTTER was off the gate and gapped in last.
FOURTEENTH RACE – LAURIE LEE worked her way to command to the 3/16, slowed the half, then picked it up to 56.3-28.1 to have control over the finale field. SURE R LOOKIN GOOD made sure of the pocket early, stayed close but wasn’t really threatening. P L NOTORIOUS, a little rank going to the gate, spotted third at the 1/8, was asked for more ¾ but had no gain to give, kept going evenly. WINNING WORDS and PEGGY J sat in and went evenly. NARINA HANOVER went uncovered towards turn two but never got close. RHYME N ROLL played no factor in the outcome of this race.