FIRST RACE – A BETTOR BEACH made the lead early, not really threatened at any point, drew away. DREAMS BEACHBOY was three-wide to the first curve, tucked in the pocket before the 3/16, couldn’t make up any ground in the lane. HOW ARE YEE JOHN was first to show, yielded, stayed in third, outside stretch and gaining on the place horse. DA MAGICIAN didn’t show much after an inside trip. FATHER FRED came uncovered with a 27.2 burst but couldn’t put pressure on the lead, backed off in the last 1/8. FRISKY PEDRO backed out to third-over 11/16 but couldn’t get much going. MAJOR OFFENSE was far back while gapping cover. STEUBEN GLADIATOR never featured. ROCKIN THE SHADES had a pretty good trip second-over from eighth, but had nothing to offer in the lane.
SECOND RACE – CREWS HILLTOPPER went up quickly to take over the racetrack, got a challenge nearing the ¾ and around the turn but disposed of that foe, then held off O JONNIE coming in the Pocono Pike. The latter made sure of the pocket and stayed close, took a shot inside and did OK but had to settle for second. MEADOWBRANCH RICKY had cover early then spotted fourth 3/16, moved raw 5/8 and went up to challenge the winner, gained until nearing headstretch then flattened out some. MAJOR IMPACT tucked third, backed out behind the first-up ¾, steadily. THE OTHERS never got into competition whether racing inside or outside.
THIRD RACE – PAINT BY NUMBERS left well and cleared just past the 1/8, set the pace with no pressure, actually drew clear despite the last quarter being only 30.4. PRAIRIE TRINKET yielded for the pocket, stayed close to the stretch, outtrotted but still far ahead of the others. TSM EMILIA T and TURN THE TAB, both never close, circled BLUE GREEN MACHINE, who had cover leaving, tucked third 3/16, then was done 11/16. FASHION PRINCESS broke past the half.
FOURTH RACE – HUNTED HOUSE got to the top early, rated the half and didn’t have the first-over come to him until late backstretch – but then that one did so with great intensity, calling on the winner to fight back with courage to get the decision. FORREST BLU waited in third until the 11/16 then moved quickly to challenge, had a small lead from midturn to midstretch, tough loss to a game foe. HONKY TONK FLAME came outside on the far turn and was along for the distant third. BET ON YOURSELF was three-wide a bit early on, took the two-hole before the 3/16, was tight on the winner until the first-over went by, whereupon he started a retreat. HARRY HANOVER got around a gapper for a check. PRAIRIE HANDSOME was always far back. LIFEGUARD started gapping before the ¼.
FIFTH RACE – CRITICAL MASS went out and had a big lead most of the half despite a slow second quarter, had the first-over come charging down the back, appeared to have shaken that one off late turn, but got tired and just did prevail. STAR TRACK HANOVER made a big uncovered move before the 5/8 and got right up to the leader, backed off a little and tucked into the pocket after that spot’s occupant broke, was coming back late in a good outing. GREEK LEGEND tightened up on the second turn, swung wide in the stretch and was coming on. WHOUCALLNCRAZY was second-over but couldn’t quite stay with the cover, next. KANDY KORN got the last check. EXUBERANCE defended the pocket then was loose in it most of the first half, got closer, made a break interfering with NOBLE ANTHONY, who had tucked third behind him (and then ran home in the infield after being bothered), was placed. SCARLETT RAIDER offered little.
SIXTH RACE – GHIBLI took over going to turn one, forced a rival to tuck, rated the half, sprinted down the back, had challengers headstretch but maintained the advantage to the wire. AMBERS CHAMPION was out behind not-so-good cover, three-wide late turn and gained solidly. SUN TEMPLE came out behind cover, couldn’t stay with it, left uncovered down the back, advanced steadily in the stretch between horses. KRISTIELEIGH was three-wide to the first turn, tucked second 3/16, gave up the pocket in the quickening down the backstretch, then back in a better gear and moved outside far turn, flattened a little. BARNUM moved uncovered 3/8 and gained to be able to tuck in the pocket midbackstretch, to the Pocono Pike but not much kick left late. GIRL FROM QUEENS couldn’t go enough. BLUE TWISTER was well off the gate, made a break and suffered “b.e.” at the ¼, never recovered. TSM LOYAL T was galloping an eighth of a mile from the start.
SEVENTH RACE – Stretch headwind picking up … SERRANO VOLO took the pocket early, to the Pocono Pike and caught LIONBACKER KIDD. The latter took control from the pole, set the pace, not quite enough late to hold on. FRAC tucked third, sat in, blocked the entire last ¼ with trot. CON AIR HALL came out at the half and advanced a long way raw, tiring only late. THE OTHERS had no influence on the outcome of this mile.
EIGHTH RACE – DEEDEE DIDIT sat third until nearing the 11/16, where she came out and from where she slowly but steadily progressed, up in the last step over BET ON CHRISSY. The latter sat the pocket trip, to the Pocono Pike, lead midstretch, just edged on the money. TOUGH LITTLE BEACH went right across to the lead, went a good third quarter with the wind down the back, didn’t have quite enough late. ALESSANDRA HANOVER gapped to past the 3/8, stayed in, not enough. KATES WAY moved outside past the 5/8 and not long after picked up cover, couldn’t summon the necessary kick.
NINTH RACE – SEVEN IRON was three-wide much of the quarter going for the lead while avoiding a two-wide breaker, got the top, left a foe go 3/8 but retook before the half, had a foe come at him soon into the backstretch and had a hard battle with that one in a fast 3/4, but emerged the best late after hard usage. KEYSTONE SERGEANT was third-over, got into a higher gear after his cover ducked in, just up for second. NICE STUFF was the innermost of the three main leavers, yielded before the ¼, came out to the half and went 27.3 raw down the back fighting the winner, held up well late. TW LAUXMONT was looped leaving, had to avoid the first turn breaker then tucked, moved second-over, gapped a bit and ducked into the gaping pocket on the turn, held decently. BIG MONEY HONEY was three-wide with cover most of the first quarter while avoiding trouble, left raw to the ¼ and worked to the top 3/8, quickly yielded, gave the pocket in the fast third split, OK late. SHEER MUSCLE was not away well, was inside and shuffled, swung wide, fair. KISS ON FIRE AS was out in a lively flow but never reached. SHOSHIE DEO became detached down the back. MUSKINGUM was between horses bidding for the lead when making a break nearing the 3/16.
TENTH RACE – STEWARTOFTHELAND was first on top, let the chalk go at the ¼ and sat in the golden chair, outside into the stretch and just caught the pacesetter. REGENTS HANOVER was three-wide to the first turn and two-wide to the ¼ in getting the lead, set a reasonable pace, outsprinted on the line. A DEAL’S A DEAL advanced up the inside and was next in line. SMOKESTACK came second-over, gapped midturn. CHARIOT DRIVE gapped much of the way to the half, out raw 11/16 but made little impression before fading. AMERICAN ZESTAR moved uncovered just past the 5/8, quickly got cover but soon after that broke. TSM TRISTAN T couldn’t go with these.
ELEVENTH RACE – FASHION ON A STAR spotted third then quarter-moved, rated quarter two, didn’t have any threats once making the lead. TSM PRINCE TITAN was in front into turn one, relinquished for a pocket trip, couldn’t stay with the winner the last 3/16 but safely ahead of the rest. CHERRY MASON was three-high to turn one, took the early pocket 1/8, in, Pocono Pike, evenly. FATHER PAT’S SECRET moved outside before the 5/8 but failed to menace. THE NEXT THREE couldn’t keep up in the latter stages. GOTCHA HANOVER was a bit off the gate, moved outside off the second turn, never gained much before breaking.
TWELFTH RACE – NEXTROUNDSONME found an early tuck, then moved second-over behind a fast pace, three-wide headstretch and got the decision in the finale. TRICKY DICK was quickly on the lead and set a good pace with fast odd-numbered quarters, had pressure come to him on the turn, withstood that one but succumbed to the heavy chalk. MAGIC VACATION was looped, into the pocket 3/16, had a chance in the Pocono Pike but chasing the fast numbers may have taken a toll. OOH RAH was uncovered at the half, shifted to a higher gear ¾ and threw serious heat on the leader, couldn’t quite sustain that move. ONE FANCY KID gained inside on the backstretch, angled wide in the lane and gained as the tempo slowed. GRAPPLE HANOVER couldn’t reach. CIMERONKEN was not prominent here.