FIRST RACE – Low 70s; some stretch headwind, at varying strengths including not so much early … SPORTS TEEN was edging outside trying to flush cover early backstretch, did so 5/8 but then gapped and briefly went back inside, outside far turn and wide stretch, had the most late. VALIANT IVY pushed much of the ¼, yielded but soon was back on the retake, set a quick pace, trying to find more late while bobbing his head, held pretty well. BLOW A CLOUD N was out most of the 27 opener to get the lead, yielded, pocket, Pocono Pike, not quite enough. CLASS SIX tucked third, came out raw 5/8, went up to the winner’s wheel but no closer, held OK. URBAN RENEWAL sat in in last, blocked in the stretch. LOUD SPLASH followed cover but didn’t have enough late.
SECOND RACE – LENWOODS REAL DEAL was underway before the 5/16, went up to get second-over, three-wide ¾ through the turn, took the lead into the stretch and lasted until the wire. REDHOT ROMEO left and went on between horses to the front 3/16, yielded 5/16 for the pocket, went out into a blindswitch on the turn as all the two-wide horses went three-wide, ducked between horses and had late pace to just nab second. LORD OF MISRULE was in a good flow fourth-over, three-wide on the turn then inside his cover in the stretch and finished well. ARTACHE HANOVER was third-over, three-wide behind the winner on the far turn, widest in the lane, flattened just slightly. SWEET TALKIN SATIN was originally three-wide then outside with cover until tucking fourth at the ¼, came out into turn two and challenged hard first-over, had the lead part of the far turn, held OK but was engulfed by the closers. JOURNEYMAN left from the rail, yielded 3/16, caught in, so-so in the lane. ARTOFFICIAL FLAVOR was behind a troubled horse 3/8, never heard from again. BURNING MIDNIGHT was four-wide early and three-wide 3/16, made the lead 5/16, set a moderate pace but under high pressure, tired. LIVE LUCKY developed a problem to the 3/8 and dropped far back.
THIRD RACE – KEYSTONE STEAM pulled before the ¼, given reminders to get on with it and made the lead into turn two, drew away in the last quarter. CAPTAIN HILL was out with cover early, took the top at the ¼, yielded nearing turn two, struggled to stay tight the second half, but a clear second. BARNABAS was second-over, three-wide when cover stalled late backstretch, some late foot. A REAL MIRACLE was on top the 1/8 and yielded at the ¼, not too much along the inside late. GIVEN UP TERROR started uncovered early on turn two, didn’t threaten before fading. SUNSET BRAYDON was at the back throughout.
FOURTH RACE – Stretch headwind has picked up … TWO AM quickly made the front, got a slow half, picked up the pace, unthreatened winner. GREAT UNKNOWN was second-over, went three-wide headstretch, finished steadily while going his own back half in 56.1. THE LIONKING AS had the pocket by default as there was only one leaver, fair along the inside. NEXTROUNDSONME was third-over, widest in the lane and was doing well late. BANK BOX TREASURE advanced along the inside, trotted up in the stretch to a position where he had no room late. WARRAWEE ROO gapped early, started first-over 9/16, gained until the stretch then tired.
FIFTH RACE – NEEDLESS TO SAY, once again bad on a line on the turns, left well and yielded for the pocket, his difficulty causing him to go inside the last two pylons into the stretch, mustered the pace to go past WISE IMAGE, but after an inquiry was placed second for the pylon violation. WISE IMAGE left to get the racetrack just past the 1/8, slowed the half then sped up, caught in the lane while bearing out, but placed first. BYE BYE JOHN sat third throughout and clearly maintained that position late. SPORTSMANSHIP was caught in then backed out to third-over, three-wide ¾ through the turn, made up good ground. AN THE THUNDEROLLS was four-wide early the dropped behind the top two, tucked fourth 3/16, not prominent late. GOLDEN GESTURE never got on the main radar. MYIDEALSON N took back early, wheeled out raw before the 3/8, never did get close. WHATA TWIST was second-over, gapped and blindswitched.
SIXTH RACE – GRAPPLE HANOVER was three-deep leaving to the top at the 1/8, yielded but retook almost immediately, an easy winner today. HOT SUMMER KNIGHT pulled raw from midpack 5/8 and grinded, ducked inside headstretch and to the Pocono Pike, giving a little ground late but good. O JONNIE backed out in front of a gapper before the 11/16, himself initially gapped then was better on the far turn and through the stretch. KEYSTONE SERGEANT was third-over but gapped, went on evenly. FINAL DREAM had some finishing trot coming wide from last. MEADOWBRANCH RICKY left and yielded, wound up third, gapped, no factor late. FOREVERHILLREIGN never surfaced. RIVER OTTER was four-wide early and three-wide to the 1/8, on to the lead nearing the ¼, yielded to the retaker, faded the last quarter. BILLIE BLUE improved position early, but then was not heard from.
SEVENTH RACE – LOVE THE ACTION took the pocket at the 1/8, alertly moved just before the parked horse cleared the leader before the 3/8 and went on to command into turn two, fought off the favored first-over, bore very wide in the stretch but still was clear. NATIVE’S SWEETLOU left and went on doggedly to claim command past the 5/16, yielded for the pocket, a good second. MISSISSIPPI RABBIT moved second-over, left a slight gap late backstretch but then in gear and three-wide midturn, steadily. STICK WITH CRAMER was fourth-over, zigzagged between horses in the stretch with pace. JANAID was third-over, three-wide with cover on the turn then four-wide, OK. GLENGARRY KNIGHT N was last, finished widest of all and well. BAMSKI left some, inside, gapped. BOBBY K HILL made the front, let a horse go 5/16 and saw the winner pull right behind that one and go on to the top, had to go raw to the second turn or else risk being pinned-in, challenged hard, tired after using a lot of energy. TIGERS WAY never got a call.
EIGHTH RACE – BELLOWS BINGE was three-wide to the 1/8 and then tucked fourth, started the outer tier at the half, grinded a good third panel to reach the leader, had an advantage on that one through the turn but could not clear inside, went on and proved the best. WHITTAKER N had a dream trip second-over, three-wide headstretch, closed well but beaten by a tough horse. ELECTRIC WESTERN was the first on top, yielded, shuffled third-in on the turn, found room between horses towards midstretch and responded well. PROVEN DESIRE was looped, refused a big pocket 3/16 and went on to get the front off the first turn, set the pace, came under pressure from the winner, not equal to the task. MYSTICAL WALLY moved before the 3/8 and wound up third-over, couldn’t keep pace in the last 1/8. SOMWHERENBROOKLN N had an excess of cover, three-wide ¾, was in a tough spot. MONEYMAN HILL was three-wide early to command before the 1/8, tried to get a rival to tuck but then yielded to that one off turn one, fell back through the stretch. HOW ARE YEE JOHN gapped inside. ABSOLUTE INTENT gapped outside.
NINTH RACE – BELL I NO made the top leaving, saw tucks given behind him so the favorite could come first-over, but that one did not threaten as the winner was clear the last 3/8 in a fast mile. REGAL SON was underway 3/8 and was second-over before the half, left two-wide uncovered midturn, caught SCOTT ROCKS for second. The latter was urged leaving, tried to keep the pocket closed but could not so gave a tuck to another outside horse 3/8 so he could come first-over, tried hard but not enough here. TULLOW N was three-wide to the 1/8, could get into the pocket past a fast quarter, then fell back from the 5/8. SWEET N FAST N had excess cover, had a bit of pace finishing. ROCKIN INTHE HILLS gapped from third-over ¾. BUSBOY HANOVER was shuffled but showed little once clear. WAR-N-MUNN was looped, outside with cover to the ¼ then coverless until getting in 3/8, backed up.
TENTH RACE – HIGHALATOR was outleft and gradually worked his way to the lead 3/8, proved too tough to catch. VETTEL N started up raw before turn two, threw 26.4 heat on the winner, couldn’t get by him but did very nicely to maintain second. REBELLIOUS moved strongly early to 3/16 command, yielded for the two-hole 3/8, had a shot up the Pocono Pike for second but got edged out. BLOOD LINE pushed a foe then relinquished 3/16, stayed in, deep Pike, OK+. AFLAME HANOVER was wide early, had some cover, then finally got a tuck, back out again second-over, didn’t tip wide for the drive, came between horses in tight quarters with willingness. MYKINDACHIP had an excess of cover, good pace belatedly. FAST N FIRST was third-over, three-wide, not enough. IDEAL FEELING was far back throughout. LEAR SEELSTER never contended.
ELEVENTH RACE – MAJOR OFFENSE drew mutuel attention, disdained a 4-tuck 3/16 and went on to 3/8 command, saw off the favored first-over, clear midstretch but still under encouragement to the wire as the closers were coming. BRAVO TEX N started the outer flow into turn two, got cover at the half, gapped slightly ¾ then found a better gear, three-wide late turn, finished steadily. HORSING AROUND was third-over, four-wide for the stretch, came on well late. THE WALL yielded 3/16, came back uncovered at the half and challenged in a big third quarter, held on well. MELODIES MAJOR gapped a bit down the back, blocked most of the stretch, some when clear. DIVISION BELL gapped inside down the backstretch. WARRAWEE VELOCE had late pace from an impossible spot. WHEN YOU DANCE got the front 3/16, yielded 3/8 for the pocket, started getting loose ¾.
TWELFTH RACE – POINTS NORTH was between horses most of the opening quarter and made the lead just after that point, set a quick pace, opened up some room ¾, but then was kept to task to resist AINTNOBETTOR N. The latter took full advantage of the rail to cause a three-deep situation a long way early, wound up in the pocket, loose at the ¾ but then kept narrowing in to just fail. KINNDER JACKSON left a gap behind battlers to the half, then was uncovered early in the backstretch, couldn’t get close enough but made third. LYONS NIGHT HAWK was second-over, outside to the 5/8, three-wide midturn, couldn’t get to third. SEEL THE DEAL N and YANKEE ROLLER A never entered the main action. BILL HALEY N was three-wide almost to the ¼, took back to tuck third, fell back in the stretch.
THIRTEENTH RACE – STEUBEN HANOVER started uncovered into the backstretch and started a tough one-gear grind that carried him past the pacesetting SUSIE’S SISTER late. The latter was three-wide to the 1/8 and in front going past a good quarter, got mounting pressure from the winner going to the ¾, nicely held off the others. NOTHIN BUT MUSCLE gapped behind the winner’s cover but trotted steadily for third. CONSUS VICTORY was innermost of three leavers, yielded for the pocket near the ¼, couldn’t keep up in the last 1/8. MARION GONDOLIER sat in and was shuffled, went inside a stretch breaker and got the last check. MYSTICAL WYNN was never in the main picture. ANDOVERS TOUCH went on between horses but took back before the first turn, little to offer here. MASSIVE OPULENCE was third-over, looking for more midstretch when going offstride.
FOURTEENTH RACE – SOMBODYITREASURE tucked third then quarter-moved, rated quarter two, then came home in 55 – 27.1 to win easily. ALEX TYE came a long way uncovered (27 third quarter), and while not reaching the winner he was admirably game late to grab second. BLOOD BROTHER made the lead 3/16, then yielded for a pocket trip, loose most of the last half, in the middle of a three-horse photo for second. CAPTAIN MCKEE was seventh but got excellent cover, three-wide into the stretch and with some late pace. CAPTAIN CASH yielded 3/16, sat third-in, to the Pocono Pike but couldn’t quite make the battle for second. MACH WEST and THEFREEDOMFIGHTERN didn’t do much off cover. BLACKLIGHT never entered the fray.