FIRST RACE – 82 degrees through the twilight card … ANDRA DAY was three-high to the first bend and on top 3/16, slowed the half, then came home in 55.4 to keep THE STUNNING NUN N at bay. The latter was third-over, followed the early backstretch sweeper and got back to second-over, three-wide midturn, finished sharply but had too far to come to get to the winner. TALL POPPY N left between horses to 1/8 command then yielded 3/16 for the pocket, outside headstretch but gave some ground. CONTINUALOU was second-over, had to go three-wide early backstretch as cover faltered, got to first-over, couldn’t sustain that move. THEREWASTHISGIRL had some early speed, inside, not all that much late. UPTOWN LADY N moved outside before the ¾ and followed wide cover on the turn, couldn’t reach. DELISHKA N moved uncovered 3/8 but already was spent not far off the second turn.
SECOND RACE – DELIGHTFUL SUMMER, fresh off her win at the Honesdale Fair, left fastest of all, yielded to sit the pocket, pulled before the 5/8 to go by shortly after that point, opened a clear lead, then was tiring a bit late but held together to defeat MILLENIUMS GIRL. The latter improved positioning early, followed the winner out down the back and retucked at a distance in the pocket, came outside for the drive and narrowed in, didn’t quite make it. NIMAH FRANCO N went up to the stick 3/16, moderated the half, was passed by the top two down the back but still held together for third. DIRTYLITTLELIES gapped inside, a little better late. ABUELITA HANOVER was outside midpack the mile, not bad after covering a lot of ground. THE REMAINING THREE were never on the main radar.
THIRD RACE – LOOKINTOGETLUCKY was on top before turn one, pushed a foe well past the ¼, sat third until pulling out ¾, battled the leader on the turn and into the stretch before emerging as the dominant force. FASHION PRESIDENTE moved in front of the stands to get the lead, had only a 1:00.2 back half to cope with but still gave way, just preserved second. VENDETTA KEMP gapped at a couple of points, then had better trot late. BAR KEEP DE VIE was off the gate and no factor. FOX HOLE was out well past the ¼ to make the top, yielded for the pocket, fell back in the lane. DINKY WINKY broke nearing the ¼.
FOURTH RACE – MILADY DENVER A waited in third, backed out midturn and swung wide, had by far the best finishing kick. BE BEST took the pocket just past the 1/8, came out nearing headstretch, might never have gotten the lead but steady to be second-best. CHIPPER DAISY controlled the throttle after a 26.3 opener, not pressured, still gave way. RELLA TIVITY stayed in and got her share of the pie. KNOW YOUR ROLL gapped second-over. ELLEOFADELI was near the back throughout. TAKEN CONTROL tucked fourth past the 1/8, came first-up towards turn two, never really got close to the leader, tired significantly.
FIFTH RACE – Stretch headwind picking up mildly… ALONSO was away second then outside off turn one to the lead before the 3/8, went along at a good clip, held off the field. DANCEHALL KING gapped off the second turn then got closer down the back, stayed in on the turn, then angled wide before midstretch, gaining as the pace slowed down. JOLLY RANCHER sat in third, Pocono Pike, almost second. ENZO AQUELLO left well for early command, yielded for the pocket, outside past midturn but tired. TIMES LIKE THESE was outside at the back end of the pack throughout. PAUC HANOVER didn’t enter contention.
SIXTH RACE – WHO’S SMOKIN N was three-wide early then tucked third, came on the quarter-move, kept going on the lead, dug in and gamely held off SHEZAFREAKLIKEME. The latter was innermost of the three early fast ones, yielded to the winner to sit the two-hole, Pocono Pike, tried very hard and came up just shy. LA ALWAYS AMARTINI went away well and took the pocket past the 1/8, pulled out again from third 5/8, challenged, just off the top two and well ahead of the others. ANOTHER BEACH DAY gapped inside, best of the rest. THE FUN MARSHALL was third-over but never got into contention. A CRAFTY LADY moved out off the second turn and got cover 5/8, not enough late. SUNRISE HANOVER never entered the picture. CAY’S BLESSING gapped at the back.
SEVENTH RACE – TAILGATE BUZZ was in front early, yielded, came out of third 5/8 and moved up, fought head-to-head with SIR FRANK the entire last ¼ and got the nod late. The latter moved 5/16 to the front just past the 3/8, went along at a good clip for these, fought tooth-and-nail the last 1/4, just shy. DRAKE HANOVER was last in the main pack, outside on the turn, made up ground rapidly late. MUCHO MACHO went to the lead 3/16, yielded a like distance later for the two-hole, faded in the last panel. GRIZZ WYLLIE gapped early, tightened, out second-over, gapped and was ducking in late turn when going to a break and into the centerfield. BIG BOY ERNEST jumped at the 1/8.
EIGHTH RACE – SOUTHWIND DISTILLD went on to take over 3/16, had an open lead while trotting his back half in a sharp 57. SPITFIRE OVERSEAS was first in front, yielded for the two-spot, went looser in the pocket the further they went but did hold second over SINATRA DE VIE. The latter had some gate speed, sat third, came on some late and almost reached second. HERODOTUS tucked fourth, outside at the ¾ but did not gain. FATHER STOSH never contended. SNOWMAN HANOVER fell back most of the last half.
NINTH RACE – MISS HELEN HANOVER edged out raw 9/16, got cover near the 5/8 but didn’t stay with it, ducked in and was half-and-half on the turn, went to the Pocono Pike and found a higher gear to just catch ODDS ON GAMMA. The latter quarter-moved to 3/8 command, kept the first-over at bay, drew clear before midstretch, then had the winner come with the big late burst. SHE’S MAGICAL was away quickly, yielded, in the two-hole, outpaced. SUGAR BOWL went into the pocket at the 1/8, came out from third just past the 5/8 and challenged, OK mile. CATIE FAYE HANOVER got to third-over, did get the last check. THE OTHERS raced near the back throughout.
TENTH RACE – ONCE IN A LIFETIME moved uncovered from fourth before the 5/8, broke away from the pack alongside the leader far turn, had a 28.1 last quarter in her and drew off confidently late. CRANTINI moved out from third 3/16 and made the lead 5/16, set the pace, couldn’t match the speed of the winner. KOBE B was looped, onward to the lead 3/16, yielded for the pocket, a little loose for much of the last half, did well to finish as closely as he did. DESIGNER DRINK gapped last, passed a tired horse and a breaking horse. BIG BALLER BEANE quickly looped the field leaving, saw two go by, gapped out at the ¾. COMMANDER FRANK was second-over, gapping when breaking headstretch.
ELEVENTH RACE – SCARLETT HANOVER was three-wide early, then two-wide to get the front at the 1/8, rated the half then had a pair of 27.3s in her to win easily. TALK SHOW CHICA was away swiftly, forced a tuck, yielded to the winner and trailed her, held for second. BEACH CRAZY tucked at the 1/8, came out uncovered late backstretch, went along OK. BETTORS HEART N got away last, moved third-over then ducked back in midturn, came OK between horses late. SILENT CROSSING had little to offer. PLZDONTLIETOME N moved out raw 5/8, got cover before the 3/4, wide, did not gain.
TWELFTH RACE – Wind calm … AUSTRAL HANOVER got command 3/16, yielded 3/8 for the pocket, outside late turn, pulled away. OPEN BAR pushed the 3/16 then yielded, stayed in third, to the Pocono Pike and along for second over EXPRESS MAN. The latter was outside early, had a chance to tuck third 3/16 but went on to get the lead 3/8, a bit tired late. PRINCE HOWARD gapped at a couple of points, finished well. DWIGHT HANOVER was uncovered at the 5/8 but never got close. ALLMONI moved at the half, picked up cover 5/8, not too much. DARK MIND left a gap from the 3/8.
THIRTEENTH RACE – NAUTICAL HANOVER moved second-over behind the parked horse, three-wide ¾, got to two-wide when the parked horse got to the pocket on the turn, drew off. BAY CITY followed the winner’s cover, along for second late. BOARDWALK BET was gapping ¾ when he moved outside foreseeing a shuffle, just along for third. BAY BRUTE was looped leaving, shut out of a hole 3/16 and spent life on the rim the mile until tucking in the pocket on the turn, then actually was blocked near the wire as the two around him were not moving as fast as he wanted to move. DIVINE RIGHT was very wide leaving, got to the front in a 26.3 opener, had pressure throughout, caved in in the lane. ZEUS HANOVER and TSM BATMAN never factored. ONE OF THE GUYS hustled early to keep the pocket closed, started to unplug 11/16.
FOURTEENTH RACE – FREE FLYIN TICKET was on top early, yielded to the chalk in front of the stands to sit the two-hole, to the Pocono Pike and proved the best in the finale. BRILLIANT BEAUTY was between horses, tucked fourth 3/16, then uncovered before the 5/8, one-geared it home steadily. TEMPURA HANOVER was three-wide to the 3/16 then two-wide a like distance before making the lead, went on with it, tired. UPTOWN CALLIE never was a major player. SURE R LOOKIN GOOD gapped from second-over midturn. SOMTHNGABOUTMARY N left well and was forwardly-placed, but offered little in the lane.