FIRST RACE – Hot weather; stretch headwind … SCOTT ROCKS was urged leaving, three-wide to the 1/8 then cover to the ¼ then raw to 3/8 command, still got a rest to the half, then came home in 54.4 and proved too tough. BABES DIG ME started raw on turn two and went up in 26.2 the third split to challenge, held very nicely. WHITE HAIR ROCKS backed off early, sat in and was shuffled to last, angled widest in early stretch and had strong velocity. CURIOUS CORTEZ left between horses, needed most of the ¼ to gain the lead, yielded 3/8 and stayed tight in the pocket, to the Pocono Pike, not quite enough. ALEX TYE pushed a very fast quarter from the rail and yielded, sat in, to the deep Pike, OK late. BELLOWS BINGE stayed tight second-over, three-wide midturn, flattened out in the lane. REGAL SON moved to third-over at the half, gapped cover.
SECOND RACE – LINCOLNJAMES made two speed moves and just kept pouring it on, gave these the bum rush with a 26.3 third quarter and won for fun. INDICTABLE HANOVER was midpack the first quarter with some cover, then was left raw, kept on grinding and second in a very brave showing. DECLAN SEELSTER left between horses and spotted third, locked in when the pocketsitter backed up from the 5/8, belatedly to the Pocono Pike and did OK for third. OUTKAST BLUE CHIP was second-over, blindswitched ¾, but couldn’t keep with his two-wide cover. HEISMAN PLAYER moved three-wide with cover far turn and four-wide headstretch, had a little pace late. HORSING AROUND was third-over, gained some three-wide on the turn but flattened in the stretch. ITSONLYROCKNROLL A was three-wide to the 1/8 in taking back to last, never again heard from. CAPTAIN MALICIOUS was three-wide early and urged to clear at the 1/8, yielded to the winner, gapped from the 5/8.
THIRD RACE – BELL I NO made the lead at the 3/16, got a little breather to the half, then blistered home in 54.3 – 27.1 as a clear winner. LOVE THE ACTION left hard, pushed the winner then yielded for the pocket, could not stay with that one late today. ALBERGO HANOVER gapped as the top two fought early then tightened in, backed out and wide after the second-over broke, drifted wider but a clear third. PROVOCATIVEPRINCEN was wide leaving then took back to tuck fourth 3/16, uncovered early on turn two, gained some down the back but could gain no further. TULLOW N couldn’t keep up. KEYSTONE STEAM was second-over, gapped, broke mid-far turn.
FOURTH RACE – INDIGO ART stayed in, had a rough step or two ¾ closing a gap inside, but then was taken directly to the deep Pocono Pike and had good pace to get the decision. NEWBIE didn’t have to go that much to defend the pocket as there was only one leaver, to the Pocono Pike, got the lead, but then was outpaced to his left. ZOEEZ BOY HENRY vacated third 11/16, steadily while no threat. ALL IT TAKES was on top just past the 1/8, went slow-fast in the middle quarters, empty in the stretch. BAMSKI sat in, didn’t gain in the lane. BUSBOY HANOVER moved to the outside but never entered in the picture. A REAL MIRACLE moved raw from far back into turn two, got cover late backstretch but never reached it then started to retreat midturn.
FIFTH RACE – LOUD SPLASH took a tuck third but was again on the move before the ¼ to claim the top 5/16, separated from the pocket horse much of the last half and won for fun. NEEDLESS TO SAY made the front at the 1/8 then relinquished to sit in the pocket, on a line late on turns two and three (no surprise) and started to gap entering the backstretch, proved to be second-best here. REDHOT ROMEO left for the early pocket, stayed third-in, outfooted the other overmatched foes for third. GIVEN UP TERROR moved uncovered before the 5/8, never reached the leader, evenly. RAKSMACH N was third-over, not a presence here. LENWOODS REAL DEAL didn’t enter the picture. MYIDEALSON N was second-over behind nonadvancing cover, went three-wide ¾ but then himself did not advance.
SIXTH RACE – PAPI HANOVER got command past the 1/8, yielded 5/16 for the pocket, was steered to the Pocono Pike, was confident in going past CONQUEST AS. The latter had early cover then went on, might’ve been shopping for a hole but found none and proceeded to get the lead 5/16, rated Q2 against the win then sped up, gave way grudgingly. NOTHING BUT MUSCLE was uncovered at the half, was never closer to the lead than at the wire. MANHATTANUP NO ICE left and yielded, inside, not enough late. TRUEMASS VOLO and MYSTICAL WYNN were in the two-wide nonflow behind a gapper, four- and five-wide respectively in the stretch and kicked home well. O JONNIE offered little. JACK RULES was second-over, three-wide late turn but didn’t do much. RIVER OTTER was wide early then took back, not heard from again.
SEVENTH RACE – SHANE ADAM was three-wide leaving, took back but wouldn’t go in a hole so motored up nearing the 25.4 quarter and went on to the lead 3/8, threw a 26.3 third quarter at these turning back the first-over and leaving the rest behind, won for fun. CLASS SIX was out a long way in the scorching opener before taking the pocket, stayed in, outside early stretch and was along, had some back-end “b.e.” flopping under the wire (the tail tie?). BLOW A CLOUD N refused to give up the lead in a 25.4 opener, then did relinquish to the winner 3/8, fell back from the far turn, very tired late. URBAN RENEWAL sat in, evenly. CAPTAIN HILL closed in behind the early duelers, then was uncovered into the second turn and rushed up to the leader by the half, did not go by by the 5/8 and fell back in the last stanza. P H KENNY moved second-over but couldn’t keep up. SPORTS TEEN drifted outside near the back early, developed a problem late.
EIGHTH RACE – SPORTSMANSHIP left well and pushed a little before yielding for the pocket, was under a good hold in the two-hole, went to the Pocono Pike, made the lead midstretch, then held off the closers – not what you’d expect from your typical $169.40 horse. ARCHETTO HANOVER spotted at the 1/8, then was second-over, three-wide past midturn, steadily to just picture out ARTACHE HANOVER for second. The latter was third-over, followed the place horse’s cover on the turn, then wider and moving well late. SWEET TALKIN SATIN led the outer charge at the half, grinded up and challenged hard from the ¾, held decently. PANTHEON HANOVER sat in, outside late turn, OK between horses late. AN THE THUNDEROLLS gapped off the second turn. POLAK A was used to clear 3/16, didn’t have it in the stretch today. GOLDEN GESTURE never featured. HIGHVIEW CONALL N moved outside but had very little.
NINTH RACE – WAR-N-MUNN left and was content to take the pocket, outside late turn and proved the best in here. JUST PLAIN LOCO sat in, came out just before the ¾ and moved up well, stayed two-wide when the winner pulled, finished steadily for the deuce. IDEAL COWBOY went out quickly to establish command, wasn’t bothered on the lead, but couldn’t make his advantage last. VALIANT IVY moved outside far turn, then ducked to the Pocono Pike, edged for third, far ahead of the others. ALWAYS THE SUN was away slowly and gapped. VICTORIAS MAVERICK started to gap out 5/8. MISSISSIPPI RABBIT was parked with cover early, never made a sharp move frontward and faded down the backstretch.
TENTH RACE – SHOOBEE DOO A moved into turn two and got a great second-over trip, three-wide midturn, came out of the turn with a small lead, paced steadily to the wire and bettered the inside move of J M MANDARIN. The latter pushed away very hard, finally yielded past the 3/8 in brutal fractions, was crucially shuffled late turn as the pacesetter tired, finally got to the Pocono Pike and was pacing at least as fast as the winner late. HIGHALATOR was urged leaving, backed off to keep the pocket closed, moved uncovered at the half and was pushed while challenging, had the lead but not the inside in an amazing 1:20.2 3/4s, outkicked by fresher horses, game. BLAZEN RIVER N was third-over, four-wide headstretch, raced well. CROCKETTS CULLEN N sat in, behind a wall headstretch but couldn’t keep up late. COVERED BRIDGE was three-wide most of the hot ¼, then parked past the 3/8 to get the lead, went to the half in 53.1, had a hard challenge from the first-over, kept that one out on the turn but finally tired nearing the stretch.
ELEVENTH RACE – HICKFROMFRENCHLICK made the top before the 1/8, dissuaded an early move from MAYHEM HANOVER, then held on against a late charge from that pocketsitter. The latter rethought an early move from second, then came on in the stretch with a 27 quarter against the wind but just missed while far ahead of the others. PRINCE OF TIDES sat third, gapped the top two on the turn but did hold on for third. BLOOD LINE didn’t keep tight along the inside. FABRICE HANOVER stayed in and got the last check. SOMEBODYITREASURE moved third-over 9/16 but had dull cover. AMERICAN ZEST A was just behind midpack when deciding to go frontward past the 1/8, out raw, never got close. JK MUSICMAN was second-over, three-wide ¾ but never gained. BAY MEADOWS was off the gate a little then gapped at the back.
TWELFTH RACE – WITH OUT A DOUBT charged through to get early command at the 1/8, yielded off the first turn for the pocket, a bit loose on the far turn after the fast fractions but dug in and summoned enough to catch the leader up the Pocono Pike. MISS MCKEE had cover to the 1/8 then was left raw and went up to clear to the lead off turn one, went a fast third quarter and as noted briefly stole clear far turn, but couldn’t hold the advantage to the line. THE LIONKING AS left and yielded, evenly for third. AFTER ALL PAUL came raw 9/16 and started a gradual grind that didn’t really get him close. TWO AM was not prominent. JACK VERNON struggled second-over. HATIKVAH was far back when breaking near headstretch. MUSHANA had moved outside into turn two but soon broke.
THIRTEENTH RACE – AMERICAN VIRGIN started a long uncovered move before the 3/8 in front of a horse who pulled early, just kept coming and coming and earned the decision impressively. ROCKIN INTHE HILLS backed out to second-over past the ¾, almost took it all. NATIONAL SPORT sat in, outside in a blindswitch headstretch, searched for clearance through the stretch, didn’t seem to find it until very late. CLOSING STATEMENT was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-wide past the 3/16 in a 26.1 opener, rated the half, didn’t get pressure until the turn, not enough. BARNABAS was inside, appeared to check before as a horse in the Pocono Pike made a break, then gained a little near the finish. LORD WILLOUGHBY A came at the ¼, was behind the winner but gapped and was blindswitched. WAGON MASTER tried to gain three-wide around dull cover 11/16 but couldn’t do much. CAPTAIN CASH went into the two-hole before the first turn and stayed there, moving into the Pike to take a shot in the stretch but went to a gallop.
FOURTEENTH RACE – AINTNOBETTOR A drove through early to protect the pocket, then moved in front of the stands to get command, withstood the late charge of MIGHTY SANTANA with some late encouragement. The latter left but was caught three-wide and retreated into his own hole, stayed in, came off the rail past early stretch and gained well late. BLACKLIGHT drove on between horses to the lead, yielded for the two-hole, did not have sufficient punch late. SOMEBEACH BARON was third-over, three-wide midturn, had late pace; MELODIES MAGIC followed that one’s path, four-wide headstretch, OK. GLENGARRY KNIGHT N was not prominent. WEONA SIZZLER A tucked behind the three early fighters, then moved raw 3/8, got up to the wheel of the winner but no closer, tired. WAVES OF FIRE A was second-over, accepted the blindswitch midturn, little late. CAVIART ROCKLAND never featured.