FIRST RACE – Stretch headwind … ARTACHE HANOVER left and wound up in the pocket, pulled out late backstretch after the brusher had cleared and attacked, proved the best in a multi-horse photo. RUNHAPPY TEN went into third before the 1/8, sat in then followed the winner outside, got into stretch high gear just a little bit too late. GOLDEN GESTURE left to take over before the first turn in a quick quarter, really slowed the second split, didn’t fight really hard when the brusher came and yielded for the two-hole, into the Pocono Pike, just missed. BOBBY DAZZLER tucked fourth to the 3/16, came with a giant brush at the half and went by 5/8 with a 26.2 third quarter with the wind, couldn’t make the lead stand up. KOLT POWER pulled at the bottom of turn two but couldn’t reach. POLAK A never surfaced. DUCKIES DYNASTY was behind dull cover but didn’t seem to have much anyway.
SECOND RACE – WINNERESS was between horses in a pack early, tucked, raced fourth-in, saw the two-in and three-in horses fan wide before headstretch and came right up the Pocono Pike for the victory. MUAY HANOVER was very wide early and three-wide to the quarter, then two-wide to the top to the 3/8, couldn’t ward off the pocket rocket. ZOOMING was far back, moved out behind a parked horse, launched wide and wound up four-high headstretch, finished with trot. FASHION POSSESSED pushed the ¼ and yielded, moved three-wide from third-in late on the turn, couldn’t quite get there. SWANCREDIT was out to the ¼ for command, yielded 3/8 for the two-hole, outside late turn, tired some. NOBLE WARRAWEE was not heard from. GEMINI EDDIE was three-wide early then dropped behind cover, left uncovered 3/8 and could not gain. LIBERO HANOVER was off the gate, caught the field, broke, caught the field again, broke again.
THIRD RACE – SUNBURST CRUZE left for the pocket, moved out late turn, up by a nostril. JEREMES GENERAL worked his way to command, got no pressure until the stretch, just nipped. GRANTOR HANOVER stayed plugged in until the stretch. SUNSHINE WEST had trouble keeping up as early as before the 5/8. JAMES RIVERSIDE galloped midway on the turn before the start.
FOURTH RACE – NITE TIME DEAL was three-wide leaving then two-wide to 1/8 command, had no midrace challengers, opened a clear lead early stretch, then held together when LIGHTNING LELA surged. The latter was between horses for the lead, then yielded for the pocket, tightened in the last half as the only challenger, found better strides midstretch and didn’t miss by much. BETTING HANNAH worked in fourth 3/16, outside ¾ and retucked third past midturn, next in line. CHEEKIE BABE was forwardly-placed, then started gapping at the half, was coming back a little late. SHADOWS DANCERS passed tired horses for a check. HEAVEN SENT ME came up empty. PEMBROKE IDEAL BJ was leaving a gap by the 3/8.
FIFTH RACE – I’M VERY SPECIAL was in front just past the 1/8, went fast- slow (vs. the wind) – fast (to open a big lead) – fast (to maintain that big advantage). PRAIRIE WESTERNGAL was the first to show, yielded for the two-hole, started gapping off turn two, did last for second. GEORGIE MARTIN N gapped a gapper down the back, got closer and went to the Pocono Pike but couldn’t reach second. TRAFFIC JAM and MOTU MOONBEAM N offered little. ROLLING GOING GONE moved out down the back but came up empty.
SIXTH RACE – BRINGITONHOME N raced third-in, aided when the pocketsitter pulled, then went to the Pocono Pike and lived up to his name for the victory. FATHER FRED came through at the start, parked past the 3/16 before taking over, had some pressure down the back but shook that one off, couldn’t hold his advantage to the line. SPORTSMANSHIP pushed a foe most of the ¼, yielded for the two-hole, outside in the stretch, just edged for second. MEADOWBROOK FLASH had dull cover, three-wide at the ¾, outfinished the others. CODE MEISTER gapped in last, clear but not much to offer late. DARTH FADER tucked fourth at the 1/8, started first-over into turn two, got as close as the leader’s hindquarters but no closer, faded. MAJOR SUGAR RUSH was second-over, rough-gaited on the turns, blindswitched to the ¾, couldn’t get close.
SEVENTH RACE – Wind has died down … PANSY’S IMAGE was in front heading to the first bend, discouraged an early mover, had TURNTHEFROWNAROUND come up to her by the 11/16, and those two went at it to the wire, with “PANSY” gamely prevailing. The latter came uncovered approaching the 5/8 and reached the winner by the 11/16, slugged it out with that one, stayed very game to the line. AMERICAN DELIGHT N moved out from last 9/16, got cover 5/8 but gapped it, was moving well at the wire. CAVIART CHERIE yielded early, seemed to contemplate a quarter-move but rethought that strategy and stayed in the two-hole close-up, to the Pocono Pike but with little to offer. SOMEBEACHSOMEFRA never factored here.
EIGHTH RACE – QUEEN KENDALL quarter-moved and got a rest to the half, held off the first-over and drew away in the last 1/8. SWEETONTHEBEACH made the lead and forced a tuck in a quick opener, sat close in the pocket most of the way, didn’t have enough for the winner late but held second over the closing TSM ARTEMIS T. The latter stayed in until the far turn, three-wide in the lane and gained some. MORE THAN KUTE was not a factor. THE BOSS’ WIFE took the pocket early, came raw off turn two and gained down the back, but her bid stalled on the far turn. RHYME N ROLL pulled out from last at the half but couldn’t advance.
NINTH RACE – APRIL AVA got to the top, did not encounter pressure until SURREAL FEELING came on midstretch, then was hustled home to stay safe. The latter left, yielded for the pocket, and stayed inside almost to midstretch, where she moved out and uncorked a solid burst. BYE BYE FELICIA moved uncovered past the 5/8 but never reached the top two, went on to take a three-way picture for show. MAN DONTFORGET ME got a slow start and was last inside, slow to clear between horses in a tight spot, had pace at the end. CRAZY CUTE was second-over but her cover didn’t advance as much as she might have liked, three-wide headstretch and moving well late. DELISHKA N didn’t have much kick tonight.
TENTH RACE – A CRAFTY LADY was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-high to take the point 3/16, got a bit of a breather in Q2, then paced successive 27.4 quarters to win easily. WINNING WORDS took over at the 1/8 then yielded to sit the two-hole, not threatening the winner but not being caught for second. CLASSY CHAPEL N left for forward position, moved outside 5/8 but never reached the winner, held pretty well. RAPUNZEL BLUE CHIP came out with cover late backstretch, couldn’t have much impact. CHECKERED PAST moved out from last and passed tired foes for the last check. THE OTHER PAIR had little to offer.