FIRST RACE – Stretch headwind … MAJOR SUGAR RUSH went uncovered 5/8 and grinded up, outpaced ALL IT TAKES to the line. The latter went to the lead then yielded for the two-hole, right to the Pocono Pike, just missed in a good outing. CODE MEISTER was second-over, gapped late backstretch then closer, swung wide but couldn’t match the steps of the front two. DARTH FADER was three-wide to the 1/8 and onward to 3/16 command, rated the half and didn’t get much pressure, still gave way. ALL ABOUT RUSTY left between horses and tucked third, clear in the stretch, not enough. MEADOWBROOK RUSTY started uncovered from last soon after entering the backstretch, never get very close. GRANTOR HANOVER gapped at the ¾.
SECOND RACE – SPORTSMANSHIP left and yielded, had to wait third-in, room in the Pocono Pike when the pocket horse came out and quick enough to be along. CHANCELLORCULLEN N was three-wide to turn one then paced on up, used hard past the 3/8 to get the lead, bore out stretch but held his ground well. SHARKNADO advanced all the way up the inside from last, with some pace. SUNBURST CRUZE took the lead just past the 1/8, made a foe work hard to get the lead nearing turn two, sat the two-hole then moved out in the lane, not quite enough. NEWS WATCH was second-over, blindswitched through the far turn, came clear but couldn’t make up the ground. LIMA RAIDER was first-up at the half and pressured the leader, then gave way. JEREMES GENERAL, saddle pad askew, went three-wide from third-over ¾ but didn’t reach.
THIRD RACE – PEMBROKE IDEAL BJ took second in the early lineup, then stayed third after the brusher until the ¾, moved up when moved outside, took the stretch lead then withstood the inside charge of BETTING HANNAH. The latter sat in and came up the Pocono Pike to just miss. HEAVEN SENT ME put the others in behind early, yielded to the favorite for the pocket, came outside headstretch, not far off. SHADOWS DANCERS was put into play 3/16 and got the lead 3/8 in a slow second split, set the pace, was found wanting at crunch time. YES OUI SI was last, swung wide, didn’t reach. LIFELUVN YANKEE was outside from last early backstretch but was rough, didn’t reach far turn cover.
FOURTH RACE – BIG NUDGE started uncovered from last at the ¼ and gained in a slow Q2, kept pace as the pace picked up down the back, dueled with RIVER OTTER through the lane and just did get to that one late. The latter went out between horses to 1/8 command, moderated the half then turned on the afterburners down the back to make it a three-horse contest by the 3/4s, then boiled it down to a two-horse duel, rocked and almost held on. INAPERFECTWORLD was three-deep towards the 1/8, took a pocket tuck, kept up until into the stretch, then faded, still way ahead of the others. HITITOUTOFTHEPARK sat in with the early-forming outer tier, was shuffled and blocked in last, next at the finish up the inside. GEMINI EDDIE was outside but didn’t gain. PHOTO BOMBER left and yielded, gapped out 5/8. MUSKINGUM backed out to second-over 3/8 but didn’t gain after the 5/8.
FIFTH RACE – ROCK KING DEO quarter-moved, controlled the throttle, stepped home in 56.1 to ensure the victory. RUNHAPPY TEN stayed inside on the far turn, got room in the deep Pocono Pike, in gear a little too late, finished with pace. IMAGINEUWITHOUTME left, took back to the pocket 3/16, outside midturn, evenly. DARK HORSE forced an early tuck, yielded to the winner, tried to gain in the Pike but couldn’t. KOLT POWER had the best view the whole way.
SIXTH RACE – CAVIART CHERIE left between horses to the lead at the 1/8, yielded 3/16 and stayed tight through fast fractions, outside headstretch and had a good late response. SWEET LUCY LOU and ROLLING GOING GONE both stayed in until the far turn, went wide and gained on a tired pacesetter. BRONSKIMACKENZIE A was three-wide before the 1/8 to 3/16 command, rolled on with big numbers, came up shy in the lane. MAGICAL MISTRESS was up-close early, sat in, where she gapped slightly at times. BRING ME DIAMONDS never sparkled.
SEVENTH RACE – NICE STUFF was on top at the 1/8, had things her own way on the front end, came home well and retained stretch control. SEVEN IRON came through at the start and yielded for a pocket trip, chose the Pocono Pike, just held second over CELEBRITY SERENA. The latter wasn’t on the gate but still got away third, sat in, had to wait to find room between horses midstretch then had a good surge once free to almost nab second. O JONNIE moved before the 11/16 and gained well on the leader, but couldn’t sustain the gain. FRAC didn’t threaten here. SHEER MUSCLE gapped at the back.
EIGHTH RACE – GOLDEN GESTURE yielded to ride the two-hole, edged out late turn and gained into the 55 back half to win going away. SULLIVAN was out 3/16 in pursuit of the throttle, rated the half then picked it up, outsprinted by the pocket rocket but did hold the deuce over BARON MICHAEL. The latter sat third, edged out late turn and wide headstretch, did well in the quick latter stages. LITTLE BEN was uncovered from last 11/16, couldn’t advance quickly enough to keep the 2-3 horses from coming out, went between horses stretch and wasn’t bad at all. ARCHETTO HANOVER and BLUEBERRY HEAVEN looked all-out once the pace picked up down the back.
NINTH RACE – TRAFFIC JAM had the point before the 1/8, pushed most of the 27.1 opener then yielded for the pocket, to the Pocono Pike and as easily as you please. DOUBLEOFFTHEWALL was three-wide early then two-deep to a quick quarter, rated the half, not enough to stall the winner, did just save second over RHYME N ROLL. The latter got a forward spot early, stayed in, came clear between horses midstretch and was narrowing the gap towards second rapidly. CRYSTAL SPARKLES N had to angle widest and finished with pace. FEAR MY SHADOW was uncovered towards turn two, remained at the flank/saddle pad of the pocket horse until early stretch, then retreated. ROCK N ROLL ROSIE did not feature; nor did THE BOSS’ WIFE.
TENTH RACE – Remember the name of driver Braxten Boyd – he introduced himself to Pocono by guiding the longest shot on the board home first … BYE BYE FELICIA was put into grind mode at the half after the early wicked battles were resolved, kept grinding, got past the spent inner horses, then dug in gamely to ward off the closers. PANSY’S IMAGE was third-over, widest and flying late. TURNTHEFROWNAROUND had great cover second-over, wider stretch, OK but had no real excuse. SURREAL FEELING made the top past the 1/8, save waves of Napolitanos coming after him in the second quarter, yielded, shuffled out of it. CRAZY CUTE left and yielded, moved out and then (oh, brother) went three-wide to the 3/8 to clear the new leader past the half, couldn’t hold up in the last 1/8. DELISHKA N was looped, decided to go on, had life made hard for her, did get the lead past the 3/8 but soon yielded to a foe, pocket, gapped far turn, retuned with b.e.
ELEVENTH RACE – The American Harness Drivers Club Championship … ZOOMING was inside when there was trouble on the second turn, emerged uncovered and gained, kept on gaining and overhauled the leader late to give driver Steve Oldford the Championship. SOUTHWIND FROST stayed out of harm’s way by setting the pace, opened a big lead midbackstretch that the winner chomped into, held well but couldn’t withstand that one late. CIMERONKEN was outside from the back early, went inside the trouble at the half then followed the winner’s cover, closed steadily. SLATED TO WIN was far off the pace and gapped cover, best of the rest. FRENCH MONI was three-wide to the first turn, had cover which he lost past the ¼, went up and himself could get a pocket tuck into turn two, couldn’t keep up in the last ¼. MUAY HANOVER raced outside, compromised badly when stuck behind the breaker three-wide past the half, regathered OK. FASHION POSSESSED challenged for the early lead in a quick quarter, got into the two-hole just past the ¼, then himself gave the pocket at the other end of the frontstretch, fell back. URSIS DES CAILLONS left and filled the two-hole early, gave that spot at the ¼, backed outside and was advancing when breaking at the half. SILVERMASS VOLO was caught inside, broke in tight quarters before the second turn.