FIRST RACE – Temperature up to 44 degrees, but still a stretch headwind-windy, brutish day (though the times were on average a bit faster) … LINCOLNJAMES raced away to get the pocket, gapped a bit at a couple of points, surged midstretch and was just along over a game CLASSIC PRO. The latter left sharply to the lead before the 1/8, rolled on the lead, faltered only slightly in the last 50 yards. BRANDON HANOVER left and tucked third, inside until out late turn and wide headstretch, steadily. AMERICA’S GUEST started uncovered at the 3/8, gradually advanced, held very well. ST LADS NEPTUNE backed out behind the dull cover of the gapping ARTISTS RUFFLES, best of the rest. DREAM OF LUCK tucked fourth, couldn’t keep up the last 5/16.
SECOND RACE – AFLAME HANOVER gapped early, then went first-over 5/8, couldn’t reach the leader in the fast third panel but kept on grinding and got the nod after a tough effort. CURIOUS CORTEZ was quarter-mover #2 after a fast opener, set the pace, did OK but worn down late. DOUBLEORNOTHING N was second-over, finished steadily. HOT DEUCE made two early moves and yielded to sit the pocket, gapped down the backstretch, evenly late. SNOWBALL’S ROMEO left for the lead into turn one, saw two go by, had clearance in the Pocono Pike but couldn’t make any gain. FRISKIE ALL NITE went evenly late from third-over. CIGAR SMOKING TONY had little to offer. SHEIKH YABOOTY A was off the gate and never in the hunt.
THIRD RACE – CYRUS PEAK went right to the lead, yielded to the chalk to sit in the two-hole, snapped out of the pocket headstretch and quickly drew clear. FATHER SARDUCCI was away second, quarter-moved, controlled the tempo, no match for the winner did hold place over SPORTY DRAGON. The latter went around a gapper then retucked, outside stretch and finished alertly. YANKEE KEELER didn’t get into the 3-hole until the ¼, not much late. MR RIGHT HANOVER went uncovered but never got close. AMERICAN COLT N backed out to get around a gapper, had cover, offered little. BUFFALO HEART couldn’t keep up the last half. CAVIART STETSON started losing contact 3/8 and was pulled up.
FOURTH RACE – BOBBY K HILL used track geometry to force tucks early, rated quarter two, sped up in the third panel and opened a clear lead on the turn, tired and was passed by BLOW A CLOUD N midstretch but showed grit to fight back for the decision. The latter rode a golden trip, didn’t keep up on the turn but closed in headstretch, to the Pocono Pike and got a small lead midstretch, but couldn’t hold on to it. BAMSKI went in fourth at the 1/8, came raw at the ½ and went his third quarter in 27 to challenge, looked shaken off midturn but battled on with great gameness. KEYSTONE TENACIOUS tucked third, stayed in, had no clearance in the stretch with horse. THISJETSABOOKIN was rank the first half, went second-over, three-wide headstretch, OK. DENALI SEELSTER sat in, not too much late. A BETTOR BEACH was third-over past the 5/8 when making a break.
FIFTH RACE – BASS PLAYER was in front before the 1/8, yielded to the favorite, briefly in close quarters in the headstretch incident, then clear and drew away. CASINO BAGS ANSO started uncovered early on turn two, never got close to the lead but finished steadily. PREMIER ROCKSTAR was hard to steer coming off the first turn, then was second-over, fair. LITTLEBITASWAGGER defended the pocket early, then quarter-moved, was still going well when he tried to jump a pylon that had been knocked out right in his path headstretch, lost all momentum. SKYWAY BILLY raced inside, had to check slightly headstretch but had little to offer late. CARRACCI HANOVER was not heard from. IC A FREE SPIRIT was wide taking back early, then trailed.
SIXTH RACE – WESTERN TYRANT sat in, moved out late turn and wide in the stretch, just up in the last step over BROTHER JAMES. The latter gapped cover down the back but got closer on the turn, made the lead four steps from the wire and just missed. MARCO BEACH got the early pocket, pulled raw just past the 5/8, was better ¾, grinded to the front midstretch, just missed holding on. LORD OF MISRULE took over early, yielded for the pocket, Pocono Pike, not all that much. CAVIART MAX left and tucked third, brushed at the quarter and went his own middle half in 55.3 on the engine, gave way. IDEAL STAR N was away last from the rail and fell further and further back.
SEVENTH RACE – LEGAL POWER was three-wide early to two-wide to the front just past the 1/8, went fast odd-numbered quarters and was in control against the late challenge of DREAMS ARE TRUE. The latter yielded for the pocket, pulled out and took his shot but had to settle for second. AIN’T IT FUN stayed connected until nearing headstretch, third-best. URBAN RENEWAL considered leaving but took back, couldn’t keep up around the far turn. SPANISH ART was third-over in a nonflow, three-wide 11/16, a bit rough on the turn, made up some ground. RYCROFT N moved uncovered on turn two but never got close. ROCK KING DEO gapped second-over.
EIGHTH RACE – ROLLIN IN NEW YORK rolled to the ¼ in 26.4, got a breather, sped up to meet a backstretch challenge, then was in hand through the lane. CAPTAIN MULZAC was briefly three-wide leaving, got the two-hole, not getting to the winner late. CAPTAIN DISOMMA was second-over, three-wide late turn, fair late kick. SUPER PAC HANOVER improved position early, went raw 9/16 and challenged, couldn’t sustain the bid. THE NEXT PAIR were near the back throughout. GILLYS BOY came up empty at the ¾.
NINTH RACE – CLASSIFIEDMATERIAL was three-wide to the 1/8, went on to get the front off turn one, set the pace without too much pressure, sustained the lead in a 30.1 kicker. NEEDLESS TO SAY made the top fairly easily, pushed then yielded for the pocket, had his chance in the Pocono Pike, couldn’t quite get there. KILLER MARTINI was third-over in a mediocre flow, four-wide late turn and finished with a rush. DO YA THINK stayed in, not all that much. BUSH MAN N got a forward spot early, then was raw past the 3/8, never was at the leader’s throat, backed off. WELL DONE SON was second-over, three-wide midturn, not enough. HAPPY CAMPER gapped at the back.
TENTH RACE – SULLIVAN took back early, was on the move quickly after the hard-fought action to the half, challenged, went by the leader to midstretch then withstood LYONS AMUSEMENTS. The latter was three-deep to the 1/8, then two-wide and looped before the ¼, went on to the lead, yielded again past the half, moved outside with cover far turn, kept on going in a gritty display. THE BUS A retucked around a gapper early backstretch, moved back outside and was four-wide headstretch, good race. GUINNESS PANIC was four-wide to the first turn and three-wide to the 3/16, then two-wide to command past the ¼, yielded but retook past the half, met with stern pressure, got a bit weary midstretch after using much energy. TULLOW N got around laggards, inside, evenly. LITTLE TORO never entered the picture. BOUNDING DRAGON was very far back. WINDSUN GOTHAM left hard from the rail, yielded, slowed to a walk the last half.
ELEVENTH RACE – DERECHO was uncovered down the back and went up in 27.3 to challenge, went to the front early stretch and drew clear. HOPETOBEFIRST was out behind the winner but gapped early backstretch letting one out, three-wide early far turn, good second. POINTSMAN backed out of third 5/8 to follow the winner, couldn’t quite go that much. BEACH FIRE K was midpack outside early then pressed on, finally made the lead 3/8, continued on at a hot clip, was tiring in the lane. MONEYORROSES had little to offer. HASH-TAG SWAG was in front 3/16 and pushed a foe a like distance before yielding the lead, couldn’t keep the pocket filled 5/8. EGOMANIA was already gapping badly by the 3/8.
TWELFTH RACE – CINNABAR DRAGON was looped, pressed on to take the point before the ¼, then hung out the quarter-mover, much the best. MAJOR DESIRE got an early spot, then started a quarter-move but the leader was having none of that, remained in first-over position, was passed for second towards midstretch but fought gamely to regain the deuce. SHAMMA LAMMA lagged until the ¾, three-wide with cover on the turn then four-wide in the lane, still last midstretch but kept gaining. LEAR SEELSTER was second-over, three-wide midturn, not enough. GO WEST GO FAST went to the lead nicely, yielded for the pocket, loose off the leader 5/8, came back to second past early stretch but then had no more to give. CAROLINA MAGIC stayed in, didn’t have a clear stretch path. SO SO DE VIE never entered the picture.
THIRTEENTH RACE – PARKLANE JET was out a good bit of a fast quarter before making the lead, then pushed his main foe before surrendering for the pocket, bided his time then had a good response when shown the Pocono Pike and drew off. MY FRISKIE BOY was three-wide to the 1/8 and parked well past a fast opener before making the lead, slowed the half but then had to rev up again down the back, no match for the winner but gamely held second. WINNING IS SWEET stayed in, some pace late deep in the Pike. HEARTLANDBANYSBRO started uncovered approaching turn two and quickly went up to the winner, fought that one, gave a little ground late. JUMPIN JAKE FLASH stayed in, got to second-over midturn, wide to headstretch but didn’t gain. NIALL HANOVER and VAGANOVA were never in it. JANAID moved out 3/8 and soon got cover, gapped that cover 11/16.
FOURTEENTH RACE – COALITION HANOVER moved uncovered from before the half and grinded in a personal 56 back half to wear down the favorite and then stay clear of EXPLOIT. The last came from last to get into a wonderful flow third-over, wide in the stretch and thundering home late. LINE EM UP was on top at the 1/8, saw two go by in quarter two, was locked in, out in a blindswitch headstretch and in traffic to the line, gaining in the winner’s path late. CAPTIVATE HANOVER had a great second-over journey, only evenly in the last quarter. ROGERS IMAGE left, tucked fifth, then was quarter-mover #2, left raw before the 3/8 and made the lead before the second turn, under intense pressure from the winner, was still second past midstretch but then tired from his efforts. MAJOR BEAN quarter-moved from fourth, then let the favorite go, Pocono Pike but not that much. CHAMP CHARBEL pushed early then yielded, stayed in, not that much late. TERRY A HANOVER was three-wide to the 1/8, tucked third 3/16, shuffled, outside on the turn but couldn’t make up ground.
FIFTEENTH RACE – SOUTHWIND OZZI went in front 3/16, had only PARMESAN N stay close, then had more than enough to stave off that one’s Pocono Pike challenge. The latter protected the pocket and as noted was right on the leader, good but second-best. ORILLIA JOE was three-wide going to turn one, soon tucked third, gapped to the 3/8, closer, then gapped from the 5/8 on. REIGNING DEO left a big gap midrace, moved outside, evenly at best. BULLVILLE TERROR was stymied by traffic, found room between horses midstretch and finished well. WAR-N-MUNN had bad cover. SEE YA WRITE N was never close. MR PROFETA trailed.