FIRST RACE – Mid 70s … PURE COTTON left well to defend the two-hole, came out headstretch and sailed right on by WHO’S SMOKIN N. The latter was out most of the fast quarter to get the lead, slowed the half then took off again, powerless to stall the winner but did hold second. DELIGHTFUL SUMMER was three-wide to turn one then backed off to tuck third near the 1/8, outside behind the winner, couldn’t quite reach place. SHADOW ONE stayed in, Pocono Pike, evenly. CRUISIN THRU TIME did not have lively cover, three-wide far turn, did get the last check. TSM PRINCESS TEDDI gapped much of the way. VEL DONNA spotted midpack, uncovered early on turn two but never got close before fading.
SECOND RACE – WINNING IS SWEET used the rail to perfection, forcing tucks then hanging a foe who never got close, drew clear to the ¾, had only one foe get near, and he was handled easily. OWEN moved out from last, had stalled tiers two- and three-wide in front of him so four-wide 11/16 to two-wide ¾ to the pocket on the turn, tried hard, far ahead of the others. PREMIER ROCKSTAR was three- then two-wide with cover to the ¼, then left out in the air, didn’t get close, but one-geared it steadily to take the distant third in a photo. ROLLINWITHAMBITION took back early, shuffled in the second quarter, outside, blindswitched by the sweeper but couldn’t follow him upon backing out, three-wide late turn, fair. DREAM OF LUCK was last and behind a wall until the top two were long gone, finished with pace. AMERICA’S GUEST moved out at the ¼, followed the parked horse, tried going three-wide 5/8 but just stalled movement in that lane, dropped back. WELL DONE SUN went away to defend the two-hole, unplugged before the ¾. HOPETOBEFIRST left but then decided to go in third at the ¼, gapped midbackstretch then was stuck behind the tired pocketsitter, broke in the lane.
THIRD RACE – MON CHEVAL yielded for the pocket, came out 11/16 and battled the pacesetter from that point, took the lead for good early stretch. EBBIES LADY was on top before the 1/8, cut her own pace until challenged by the winner, clearly second-best. HODA HANOVER started gapping in third off the second turn but still hung on for show. SILENT NIGHT went evenly. WOMAN OF POWER was away last and never entered the big picture.
FOURTH RACE – SUNRISE HANOVER left well and settled in the pocket, enjoyed a good trip until going to the Pocono Pike, collared LA ALWAYS AMARTINI midstretch. The latter was quickest away and had command into turn one, rated the second split then soon got hard pressure, shook that one off, fought hard with the winner. UPTOWN LADY N got in fifth 3/16, then moved second-over, went three-wide midturn when cover faltered, finished well. RIGGINSWIND was uncovered into turn two and was hounding the leader soon into the backstretch, fell back some on the turn but continued on nicely. SWEET ROCKIN GIA moved wide from last and gained in the lane. SHELLIE DE VIE was initially fourth-over but ducked back in, not a late presence. ELLEOFADELI gapped third-over down the back. SPEAKING OF COFFEE was three-wide to turn one, settled third at the 1/8, went to the deep Pocono Pike but had little to give.
FIFTH RACE – TSM WESTERN SOUL was second-over, three-wide late turn to two-wide headstretch, broke early stretch, regained stride and got the advantage late, but was placed for two violations: of the breaking rule, and of causing interference. LIGHTNING LEIA was outside early, went in third 3/16, first-over at the half, challenged hard but couldn’t clear until late on the turn, paced on pretty well, placed first. CAVIART CARMEL left and took until near the 3/16 to clear, yielded to a brusher just past the 3/8 and went to the pocket, shuffled a little midturn then outside in a blindswitch late turn, had to hesitate when a foe broke, then regathered midstretch and did well. BROOKDALE JESSIE gapped third-over on the turn. GRAY SKIES was far back, gained some as the late pace slowed. BYGONE HANOVER sat in, had traffic issues in the stretch. LOVELY LADY MAY pushed to the 3/16 and yielded, came back out 5/16 and went on to the lead just past the 3/8, under heavy pressure, tired in the last 1/8.
SIXTH RACE – PLAY THE ACE was between horses to the lead 3/16, relinquished, sat third-in until the 11/16 then went up to challenge, had solid late pace for the victory. ARMED BANDIT was three-wide 3/16 then two-wide until taking over at the ¼, yielded for the pocket, Pocono Pike, good but second-best. BEST BETTOR went in front early, pushed the early action, yielded, quarter-moved to 3/8 command, didn’t get pressure until nearing the ¾, faded a little late. BUCHANNON HANOVER moved uncovered early backstretch, slowly made progress then got cover late backstretch, not as much as the top three but next in line. BACK IN MY DAY had early speed, sat in, evenly. BRYCE gapped cover. THE OTHER TWO didn’t have a major say in this one.
SEVENTH RACE – BAPTISM was fastest away, yielded just past the ¼, pulled from third 5/8 and went right up to challenge, went by midturn, much the best of these in 1:52.2, only a fifth off the 2022 Pocono record (with Svanstedt in Diamond Creek’s colors). SAMOSA made a briefly-delayed rush up to the 1/8, followed cover until off the first turn, went on to lead 3/8, pressured by the winner and couldn’t answer that one, held OK. ADORE ME was third-over, shoved wide around the midturn breaker, had a good recovery. VOGUE sat in, was not prominent. MONEY MATTERS was far back, also pushed wide by the midturn breaker. DREAMONHIGH was looped, used in a 26.3 quarter to make the lead, yielded, had no more left midturn. DANZNQUEEN HANOVER was second-over, trying to keep up when making a break mid-far turn.
EIGHTH RACE – JOSSIE JAMES showed good speed in the odd-numbered quarters to control the throttle, tiring late but had enough to last to the line. DC BATGIRL left between horses and got to the pocket 3/16, stayed close, to the Pocono Pike, almost. DONEGALARTCHOKIN N was second-over, gapped in the fast third split then got closer, three-wide midturn, made up late ground as the pace slowed. BRONZE OVER N was last, five-wide in the stretch and went a huge last 1/16 to be right there. CASIE’S BELIEVER stayed in, weaved between horses upper stretch and was gaining at the end. CHIPPER DAISY was third-over, four-wide late turn but couldn’t reach. JERICHO DIVA gapped the early three-way fight, then was first-up towards turn two, never threatened but didn’t fade too badly. BEACH BOUTIQUE showed early speed, sat third, came up empty past the ¾.
NINTH RACE—NARINA HANOVER got an early spot, moved out and soon thereafter three-wide 5/8 to loop the parked horse, got to two-wide 11/16 and challenged, took the lead late on the turn and drew away. LADY WARRIOR kept the pocket shut late on the first turn, was stuck behind the tired pacesetter as the winner circled by, came clear in the Pocono Pike and recovered for second. GODIVA MACKIAVELYC stayed in, OK inside late. TSM ARTEMIS T wanted control from the pole, didn’t get a breather, left behind in the last 1/8. DW’SBLISSFULTHINKN tried to follow the path of the winner but could not keep up. RELLA TIVITY left, had to spend life on the rim, looped late backstretch. WHERE ANGELS FLY lost contact past the half.
TENTH RACE – MANON was three-wide to the first turn and two-wide just past a fast ¼, slowed the half, had the first-over get only to her rump ¾ then took into the pocket, drew clear easily. ETERNAL LEE got a good trip second-over, left uncovered mid-far turn, finished steadily to catch DESIGN FASHION for second. The latter was first-over nearing the half, aflank of the leader down the back, went into the pocket midturn, just got caught for the deuce late. VIRGIN MARY S left to command past the 1/8, pushed the leader past the ¼ and yielded, couldn’t keep the two-hole closed ¾. PALERMO HANOVER was third-over, did not show much spark. GUMDROP HANOVER gapped early, fell way back late.TIE ONE ON pushed the early pace and yielded, gapped from third from the 5/8.
ELEVENTH RACE – MAJOR SHOW sat fourth-in, had room to move out late turn, wide and exploded in the stretch to be along at a $93 mutuel. GONE BEFORE DAWN sat in until moving raw just past midturn, took a slight lead before midstretch, outblasted late but good for the deuce. EMBLAZE HANOVER sat in like most of the field, out in a blindswitch late turn, ducked between horses and closed well. GROOVY MAN kept a hole closed early and sat in the pocket, empty in the Pocono Pike. LETMECALLYOUBACK never factored. LOUIE THE LOOPER set a fairly quick pace, had little left for the stretch. DIVINE RIGHT was last, tried to gain three-wide around the parked horse but flattened. CAPTAIN KEEN was three-wide to the 1/8, then was left out two-wide the rest of the way, backed off.
TWELFTH RACE – STELLENBOSCH got a dream trip second-over, left uncovered midturn, methodically wore down TALL POPPY N. The latter tucked third, narrowed the gap to the two early battlers then was raw on turn two, applied pressure, went by and to the rail midturn, just missed in a good outing. SHECANDANCE N was third-over, not quite in the league of the top two but a clear third. TRAFFIC JAM gapped cover, finished strongly from way back. GEORGIE MARTIN N sat in and was shuffled, up for the last payday. WESTBEACH gapped down the back. PRAIRIE WESTERNGAL pushed a foe, yielded, thought about retaking but changed her mind, sat in the pocket, shuffled badly on the far turn, but no recovery once in the Pocono Pike. ANNE BONNEY N fought to get the lead in a 26.3 opener, made a rival rethink an early move, rated the half, came under pressure, tired.
THIRTEENTH RACE – TRAY SURREAL led from the first step to the last, rated quarter two then met the serious challenge over FLIP MY CHIP and held him at bay. The latter accelerated quickly when moved outside into the backstretch and went up in 27.1 to contest the leader, dropped back into the pocket on the far turn then took another shot late, good but second-best. THANOS struggled to stay close most of the last half, just up for third in the shadow of the wire. AQUAMAN HANOVER left and went into the pocket past the 1/8, had trouble keeping up starting near the ¾. MOVE THE LINE had poor cover, ducked in, got the last check. PHILOSOPHIZER was the first to move outside, but never could come closer to being tight on cover. GOTAFOOLISHDESIRE was outside with little to offer. FESTIVE JOE was already starting to gap out by the ¼.
FOURTEENTH RACE – DOUBLE METAL was looped early, finally cleared 3/16, let a foe go 3/8 but came right back to reclaim the top, won easily. RISKY MILLION was uncovered nearing the half, advanced, dropped in the pocket far turn, out again in the stretch but couldn’t make any progress. BAY MEADOWS raced with cover, lost cover far turn, steadily for third. REDBANK BLAZE A was underway from fourth before the ¼, went to the lead 3/8 then yielded near the half, was loose in the pocket from before the 5/8. STARVIN MARVIN was quickest of all away, shuffled a bit with lead changes then behind the fading pocketsitter, didn’t recover any ground. SCOTT ONTHE ROCKS backed out to third-over 11/16 but couldn’t offer much. LOVE THE ACTION was always far off the action. KEYSTONE STEAM ran out of steam off the second turn.