FIRST RACE – “Sloppy +1” and 51 degrees for the card … BETTER B ROLLING was rolling raw into turn two and quickly rushed to the lead, built up a huge advantage, tiring late but too far gone to be caught. HIGHVIEW CONALL N joined the lively (far behind the winner) outer flow, three-wide far turn, and steadily for second. BIG TURN ON was in the flow, left uncovered into the far turn, ducked in to the Pocono Pike for the stretch and reclaimed some ground. SPORTSMANSHIP had forward position, then was shuffled horribly behind a tired horse, sent wide once escaping and regained good territory. NEWS WATCH was second-over then soon first-over well off the lead, got the pocket ¾, gave way. MEADOWBROOK FLASH left but was looped, out past the quarter for the lead, passed easily early backstretch and faded. CARMENS BEST left wide and cleared before turn one, yielded after the ¼, was behind the tired pacesetter and shuffled, but didn’t regain ground once clear. NORTHBROOK RON was already gapping by after the ¼.
SECOND RACE – JUST MAYBE THE ONE left, was behind cover to the ¼ when making a break, recovered quickly and went into the 5-hole, uncovered at the half, gained and briefly went in the 3-hole upper far turn then outside on the lower part, just overpowered these; an inquiry into his early break gave no reason for placing. CAMPBELLINI let and pushed before yielding at the 1/4, sat in the two-hole and stayed close in fast fractions, went to the Pocono Pike, second-best. POND JUMPER was two-wide until finding the 3-hole off the first curve, gapped down the back, went evenly as the tempo slowed. DON was parked to a stiff quarter for the lead and kept on rolling, tiring in the stretch. SIR JOHN F backed out to follow cover 11/16 but couldn’t get into the main fight. CIMERONKEN moved outside early but never achieved contention. PUERTO RICO and GRAN PARAISO did not feature. MARLEY’S GUY broke shortly before the start.
THIRD RACE – FEELING CAM LUCKY shifted gears early and went frontward, three-wide to the 5/16 then two-wide to going into the second turn in a blazing clip for these (53.4 front half, 59.2 back half) to get the lead, was clear from early backstretch all the way to midstretch, obviously (and understandably) tiring but held together. EGOMANIA gapped behind the early fireworks, moved out before the 5/8 and had to check behind a breaker at that spot, gapped the parked-the-mile horse then got closer, three-wide late turn, made meaningful gains only a trifle too late. JANAID was looped early and stuck in the two-path, with cover to the second turn and then without it, kept on going in a big effort. WARRAWEE VELOCE moved outside before the 5/8 but before long made a break, recovered and followed cover, went four-wide on the far turn, OK; his break was the subject of an inquiry which yielded no reason for placing. NATIONAL SPORT went offstride 3/16. GRAND PRIORITY left a gap early and had little late. FERDINAND N outleft everybody, kept rivals stacked three-wide to the 5/16, yielded the lead nearing turn two, gapped much of the last half.
FOURTH RACE – A stretch tailwind has picked up … SWEET ROCKIN GIA let and had the early pocket, quarter-moved in front of the parked horse to make the lead and then had that one hounding her to the ¾, then had to dig in to ward off the leftward threat of LATE NIGHT DATE A late. The latter left to get the front, yielded to the winner and sat the two-hole, had a shot up the Pocono Pike, did well but didn’t quite make it. SHEIKH YABOOTY N tucked in third past the 1/8, came out behind the parked horse off turn two and then moved three-wide 11/16, gradually progressed until two-wide late turn, then bore out but still managed third. GEORGIE MARTIN N, not away well, moved out on the far turn, ducked inside the drifting show horse, not enough. STELLENBOSCH was wide leaving then had cover from two different horses until in front of the stands, then pressed hard from the death seat, didn’t fade until past midturn. PEGGY J had little to offer. BOLT OF BEAUTY stayed in, not prominent late.
FIFTH RACE – O JONNIE rushed uncovered at the half and went right on by at the ¾, opened an insurmountable lead. WHAT A RUSH was outside slightly off the winner’s cover, left raw ¾, just held second over the onrushing MARION GONDOLIER. The latter got a forward spot, then was badly shuffled on the far turn, fanned very wide and was eating up the real estate late to just miss place. KEYSTONE SERGEANT had some cover early then raw at the 1/8, made the lead 5/16 then yielded to the retaker, shuffled when that one tired, evenly late. CHOCOTURE was outside but gapped. URSIS DES CAILLONS was in front at the 1/8, yielded 5/16 but quickly reclaimed control, couldn’t withstand the winner’s move 3/4 and faded. CELEBRITY SERENA made a couple of breaks.
SIXTH RACE – WISE IMAGE was hard-used to make the lead at the ¼, set the pace, held on gamely to the line. BAYONET got the lead, pushed the winner to the ¼ then yielded for the two-hole trip, outside in the stretch, not quite enough, did retain second over JEREMES GENERAL. The latter came outside 5/8 even though he was gapping because he saw the horse in front of him weakening, continued two-wide but didn’t gain that much, then did gain when the pace slowed late. HES GONE BADDER came outside off turn two, three-wide 5/8 through past midturn then went back to two-wide, went on evenly. ARTACUS stayed in and got the last check via the Pocono Pike. CHANCELLORCULLEN N left, gapped much of the last half, so-so. THE OTHER THREE were far away from the main action.
SEVENTH RACE – The two longest shots go by the favorite very late … RAKSMACH N got an excellent second-over trip, three-wide midturn, paced home well and got the decision. REDHOT ROMEO went to third-over at the half, followed the winner’s cover three-wide far turn though gapping it slightly, better in the stretch and up for second over POLAK A in the last step. The latter was on top at the 1/8, forced a tuck 5/16 only to see that one break and went on to a brief clear advantage, got backstretch pressure, shook that off and held until the last 50 yards, good mile. AN THE THUNDEROLLS had the most early step, yielded, gave the pocket 5/16 but got it right back as the holefiller made a break, gradually tightened back in though a trifle loose, to the Pocono Pike but had no gain. ARCHETTO HANOVER was inside then went to the deep Pocono Pike but also couldn’t gain contention. ACE OF CLUBS came uncovered from sixth 3/8, went a big third panel to challenge, but tired midturn. GOLDEN GESTURE stayed in, had all kinds of traffic troubles upper stretch and lost all chance. SWEET TALKIN SATIN left, had cover early then went on to challenge, had just gotten into the pocket 5/16 when making a break.
EIGHTH RACE – JAHAN HANOVER was first on top, yielded before the 3/16 for the pocket, to the Pocono Pike and took over midstretch, just held off BAGS TO RICHES. The latter was third-over, followed cover three-wide past the 5/8, went on three-wide uncovered to two-wide covered on the turn then had to swing back out three-wide as cover stalled, flying late to just miss after going a very good last half. TACT TATE N was in front before the 3/16 and fronted these a long way on the lead, held well. SEEL THE DEAL N tucked early, moved second-over, three-wide around dull cover 5/8 to two-wide raw 11/16, stopped gaining approaching headstretch. COMMANDER HILL sat in, had enough to get the last check. WILDCAT HILTON never contended. BRINGITONHOME N was always far back. ROCK THREE TIMES started the outside train but didn’t have much power from just before the 5/8.
NINTH RACE – JACK RULES was three-wide to the 1/8 to get the top past the 3/16, opened up turning into the backstretch, and if it were a prizefight they would have stopped it at the ¾. ZOOMING was second-over, three-wide late turn, beat out the others but far behind the winner. NATALIE HANOVER was forwardly-placed, moved raw at the half, never got past the pocket horse to the ¾ and around the turn, but went on steadily. CRITICAL MASS stayed in the two-wide lane and waited out the blindswitch on the turn, wide, fair. PITTSTOP KIP was blocked as the pacesetter left an ever-increasing gap, so-so once free. KATKIN AND COKE was second-over, didn’t tip wide, little. LANDONFITZ left well to 1/8 command, pushed the quick quarter and yielded, then fell further and further back in the two-hole. KANDY KORN tried to come three-deep from the back but didn’t gain. LAKEVIEW TAMMY offered little.
TENTH RACE – CRAZY CUTE gradually worked up to the 4-hole at the 1/8, came uncovered with a rush while going in 27.1 down the back putting high heat on the leader, kept on digging and completed her last half in 55.2 over the off going, showing her class. CAVIART CHERIE left, yielded, retook, really slowed the half then really quickened when the winner came on, held well. STOWAWAY HANOVER had excellent cover, three-wide headstretch, very good outing. MONICA GALLAGHER was four-wide early, on the point 3/16 then yielded, to the Pocono Pike, came up a step shy. LUCKY ARTIST A pushed away some, then sat in, looked all-out at points. ALII NUI was third-over, gapped, moving OK under the line. TALL POPPY N did not figure in the outcome.
ELEVENTH RACE – TRUEMASS VOLO got a great trip second-over, three-wide in the lane and strongly to the wire. GEMOLOGIST went on to the lead 3/16, yielded for the pocket, had to wait for the Pocono Pike as the winner built momentum, finished solidly when clear. LIFE WELL LIVED came uncovered off turn two and made a strong backstretch move, got an advantage around the turn but couldn’t clear, held well. RECIPROCALBLUECHIP was third-over, finished very nicely. DARTY left and yielded, stayed in, clear inside but couldn’t gain late. WILLIE B WORTHY got an early spot, underway before the ¼ to take the lead, under serious pressure, held the challenger out on the turn but then was out of gas. ANDOVER’S TOUCH never made his presence felt.
TWELFTH RACE – The wind has died down … CLARION HALL quickly got in front then yielded 3/16 for the pocket, sat until the Pocono Pike, finished strongly; four wins for trainer Garcia-Herrera. THISISSHE was outside 3/16 in a quick opener to get command, set the pace, pressured on the far turn, shook that one off but then couldn’t hold off the winner to her left. MADHATTER BLUECHIP went up to grab third early, raced evenly late. SVF CASH DEPOSIT sat in, backed out then angled wide nearing the lane, finished well. STOP RESISTIN was the first-over, gained down the backstretch then pushed the leader hard on the turn, then gave way. MAGIC VACATION couldn’t do much from second-over. INAPERFECTWORLD got away slowly and was gapping when breaking nearing the ¼.
THIRTEENTH RACE – THE WALL was carried up in a dynamic flow, tipped three-wide and proved the strongest in a good last quarter for this card. GLENGARRY KNIGHT N left, reluctantly took the pocket 3/16, moved when HEREITIZ started to move at the 1/4 but both soon reseated themselves, stayed in and was shuffled after the lead change later in the backstretch, angled out midturn to three-wide and then behind the winner as he went to the lead, finished well after bad racing luck. IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N would not cede the early lead, rated the half, got outrushed 11/16 but stayed up on the bit in the pocket, Pocono Pike and along for third. LINCOLN JAMES had fine cover from the half then lost it 11/16, went up on the turn, then flattened a bit. LOVE THE BLUES N stayed in to get the last payday. HEREITIZ wanted to quarter-move but retreated as the pocket horse made the same move (including the retreat), underway at the half and urged to get by 11/16, but couldn’t sustain the advantage. CAPTAIN MALICIOUS got outside but could offer little. STOP ACTION never factored.
FOURTEENTH RACE – I’M VERY SPECIAL was three-wide to the 1/8 then a like distance two-wide to the top, rated then sped up, game to withstand the charge of potential pocket rocket DIBABA N; five for George Nap (and brother Anthony had four). The latter took over to the 1/8 and yielded at the ¼ for the pocket, outside headstretch and had good pace but just failed reaching. JUXTA COWGIRL left and yielded, stayed in, left a gap midbackstretch then got closer, held third over DELISHKA N. The latter hustled early to tuck fourth, stayed in, went to the inside of the show horse in the lane but could not beat her out. TRUSSED UP TRUDY was inside, shut off late. TOPVILLE ANGELINA got little help from her cover, swung wide and had some pace in the end. JUSLIKEAQUEEN started raw 3/8, did pace her third split in 27 but never seemed menacing, faded. ALL ABOUT AMY didn’t do much after a second-over trip.