FIRST RACE – Atypical stretch tailwind … MY WISH CAME TRUE showed some speed, yielded and gapped the next ¼ then closer, uncovered at the half, one-geared into the wind as the leader got away, but stayed to task and got to that one in the stretch. SILENT SPLENDOR was three-high early to the lead at the 1/8, went 27.2 down the back to open a big lead, but bore out badly while tiring in the stretch and was caught. ROPE THE MOON stayed in, gapped, went to the Pocono Pike and was along for the distant third. TEAM MAC moved second-over but couldn’t go enough. MIDNIGHT DAY took the early lead between horses then yielded for the pocket, unplugged from before the 5/8. CANDY TRADER was out at a distance down the backstretch, made up some ground. THE OTHER PAIR were at or near the rear throughout.
SECOND RACE – HORSE left sharply to the top, under pressure from both an early mover and the first-over, but withstood them both gamely. STELLAR YANKEE quarter-moved from third but was given the cold shoulder, squeezed into the pocket 3/8 and waited, up the Pocono Pike and just missed; an inquiry into this horse possibly causing interference when getting the pocket 3/8 revealed no reason for placing. ACTOR HANOVER was first-over at the half and put in a good challenge, held well. MISTER DAYTONA N left well from the rail, tried to defend the pocket but yielded it 3/8, stayed in, fair. BETTOR MEMORIES was not in a dynamic outer flow, moved three-wide then was pushed ay wide by a headstretch breaker, recovered sharply. PASSA-GRILLE BEACH couldn’t do much from third-over. KEY ADVISOR gapped inside. STRAIGHT UP COOL was second-over, struggled to stay with cover then got closer late backstretch, broke when tipping off cover headstretch.
THIRD RACE – PLAY THE FIELD was three-wide to the first turn then went on to secure the lead in a 26.3 opener, set the pace with pressure, proved equal to all challenges. SNOWBALL’S ROMEO used the rail very well and wound up in the pocket, took to the Pocono Pike but couldn’t reach. THE MOONSHADOW N took back early, then was first-over towards turn two, grinded, held decently. SHORE OF HIMSELF was between horses early then tucked third, stayed in and was surrounded by horses most of the last half, did not have stretch clearance. STAR MESSENGER raced in a blindswitch far turn, found room to move wide early stretch but didn’t gain much. ARTIFACT HANOVER spotted, then was second-over, blindswitched from late backstretch to early stretch, not too much once clear. BROTHER JAMES followed the sweeper’s move but didn’t get into the main action. ATOMIC BLAST N was third-over, started three-wide 11/16 and had a brief burst then was hanging and clogging that lane.
FOURTH RACE – ABRUZZO was three-wide nearing the 1/8 and looped, got the lead to the 5/16 then yielded early on turn two, waited in the pocket then moved out early stretch, by confidently midstretch. WHAT SHOULD I GOO moved at the ¼ behind the winner, uncovered 5/16 to the lead early on the clubhouse turn in a fast half, set the pace, bore out a little early stretch, clearly second. DAGON HANOVER stayed in far turn then came out late on the bend and was along for third; AP HALL OF TRIX followed the show horse and finished steadily. WORTHY OF HONOR rode the rail, Pocono Pike but not much. PRACTICAL CAT left four-wide and crossed over at the 1/8, yielded, unplugged in the 3-hole just past the 5/8. SPEED AWAY was behind dull cover, was circling it far turn then got in close quarters with RIPPLE OF HOPE, who was that dull cover, and caused interference, for which he was placed.
FIFTH RACE – EFFRONTE A left enough for the pocket, was content to sit in the two-hole, then outside headstretch and paced by confidently late. RYCROFT N left very strongly to take over early, rated the half, couldn’t handle the winner but was far clear of the others. SOUTHPORT BEACH came all the way up the inside, used the Pocono Pike to photo out CONCUR for third. The latter stayed in, empty midturn. KINGSTONS BAD BOY was second-over, badly blindswitched from past the 11/16 until midstretch, had pace late, unlucky. FRAZZLEBERRY tried going three-wide from fourth-over past the 5/8 but never got into it. NEWBIE went uncovered towards the half but didn’t make much of a dent. BOBBY K HILL gapped third-over.
SIXTH RACE – DEES RED DELICIOUS was three-wide to the 1/8 then outside past the fast quarter and worked to the lead 5/16, yielded into the second turn in a fast half, awaited the Pocono Pike keeping tight then got room and outtrotted P L NOTSONICE. The latter spotted, moved to the 3/8 and went with the wind to the lead into turn two in a quick half, raced gamely through the lane but could not stall the winner. GRAPPLE HANOVER left hard and pushed the winner a long way in quick time before yielding, wound up third-in, backed off slightly in the last ¼ but still held third. BANK BOX TREASURE was out second-over, gapped a bit, evenly late. SHIKANSEN started uncovered before the half, gained into the wind to challenge, but gave way the last 1/8. FOUR UNDER PAR stayed in and gapped. SILVERMASS VOLO could not stay with cover from third-over. MARION GONDOLIER trailed.
SEVENTH RACE – Five within a length at the wire … JIMS PERFECT TEN was last at the half then moved fourth-over, three-wide 5/8 the duration, gained steadily, got the lead only very late then held off INDIGO ART. The latter took a while to settle inside, was second-over, was blindswitched 11/16 until getting to the lane behind the winner headstretch, came on well late. HOT DEUCE was 4-wide early, took the pocket 3/16, went to the Pocono Pike and may have gotten a small lead midstretch, outkicked by the closers. MINDTRIP started grinding at the 3/8, challenged, held his ground very nicely. BRAVO TEX N stayed in, blocked through the stretch with pace. MAJOR BEAN went down the road at a hot clip, couldn’t sustain in the lane. LITTLEBITASWAGGER was third-over, was blindswitched, went wide but couldn’t enter the main picture. REGAL SUN took a tuck, stayed in and was shuffled back, not much.
EIGHTH RACE – SAYING GRACE N took the early lead then was content to follow in the pocket, used the Pocono Pike to overhaul THE WALL while going her own last half in 55. The latter blasted away to command, slowed the second ¼ with the wind then sped up against it, couldn’t hang on to the lead late but a good race. CAPTAIN ROMANCE gapped slightly second-over, three-wide to headstretch and next in line. GUINESS PANIC was uncovered from seventh before the 3/8, made a long, steady grind, understandably backed off some in the latter stages. DOUBLEORNOTHING N stayed in, not tight on the far turn’ same story with TAM MAJOR A. DO WORK SON moved out third-over far turn but never entered the picture. KING JAMES EXPRESS developed a problem after the ¼ and was pulled up.
NINTH RACE – AIN’T IT FUN was third-over, gained in a blindswitch on the turn then was able to slide wide early stretch, had the most late. BIZYS BEATLE was looped early and spent the mile on the rim, challenged a very long way, held with fine courage. UNDERTAKER circled four-wide headstretch and had a big last 1/8. REYS N A RUCKUS left between horses to take the lead early, yielded for the pocket, slightly shuffled headstretch but had chance to rally in the Pocono Pike out didn’t have much more to give. HEARTBEAT HILL sat in, found stretch clearance and gained some; returned with “b.e.” DREAM OF LUCK was second-over at the half, three-wide headstretch but flagging his tail and did not gain late. TUXEDO BAY was three-wide to the first curve and on top 3/16, was under pressure from the tough parked challenger, backed off. SOUTHWIND DREDGE had “b.e.” early and was far back.
TENTH RACE – RUTHLESS HANOVER made the lead 3/16, got a cakewalk to the half, then came home in 54.4-26.4 as far the best of these. CARLISIMO was up raw in a grind 5/8, did very well to take second over CASUAL COOL. The latter yielded for the pocket, started to gap to the ¾, just failed to hold the deuce. BETTORS DONTTELL went in third past the 1/8, Pocono Pike, not quite enough for a major minor honor. CALIBER was second-over, wide but couldn’t gain in the rapid last quarter. PARMESAN N had a headpole dangling from past the half, fair from far back. IMAGINARY LINE never got into the race from last.
ELEVENTH RACE – IDEAL WHEEL left but took back, went from fourth into the pocket down the backstretch, continued inside in the Pocono Pike and got the decision. PURPLE POET was last and wheeling three-wide at the ¾, ducked between horses in the stretch and closed furiously. IDEAL STAR N was wide early then between horses to 3/16 command, yielded 5/16, back out to challenge early backstretch but could not clear the leader, raced on gamely. LYONS NIGHT HAWK was in the early mix, moved out as the pocket horse challenged from early backstretch, wide, not enough late. ROLLINWITHAMBITION was briefly four-wide early, hard-used to get in front 5/16, would soon have pressure the rest of the way, held well. MONTY MONO moved outside but was gapping not long thereafter. DONE WELL was behind dull cover but didn’t show much late. BLACKLIGHT was never prominent.
TWELFTH RACE – Rain started during this race … ILIKEMEBETTOR A left between horses with cover, tucked in past the ¼, stayed in, angled out two- and three-wide near headstretch and finished with strong strides in an impressive debut. ONE EIGHT HUNDRED was parked to the ¼ for the lead, yielded for the pocket, outside late turn, steadily to be a good second. MARK WITHA K pushed the ¼ and yielded, made a quick move 3/8 to regain the lead, didn’t have pressure, still didn’t have enough sprint late. STONE HANOVER sat in, blocked far turn, to the Pocono Pike and best of the others. THE DARK SHADOW fell back in the latter stages. CHATELROLL never entered the main picture. WALKNAFTER MIDNITE was three-wide early, tucked fifth 3/16, uncovered past the 3/8, never reached the leader then fell back. PRAIRIE PANTHER had cover but never made a threatening move.
THIRTEENTH RACE – SPINOUT left well to the front at the 1/8, yielded 3/16 to sit the pocket, outside early stretch and ground down SAFENSOUND HANOVER. The latter was three-deep to turn one, got command 3/16, didn’t have a horse breathing down his neck until the winner emerged, game but couldn’t quite hold the lead. SHANGHAI BOBBY left, sat third, gained some late. BNGS EXPRESS moved out second-over 11/16, three-wide headstretch, found his best strides belatedly. CASINO BAGS ANSO gapped inside, got the final payday. SPORTSMANSHIP started the outer tier towards the half but never got very close. ARTACHE HANOVER was behind gapping cover, went three-wide around it but then gapped himself. HOPETOBEFIRST moved second-over but had nothing to offer.
FOURTEENTH RACE – Track downgraded to “good +1”; virtually no wind … LITERL LAD HANOVER pushed then yielded at the ¼ for the pocket, used the Pocono Pike and was along. YS DO IT RIGHT was second-over, gapped his cover slightly on the turn, then finished very well to just make second. JIM BLUE was out most of the ¼ to take control of the pace, got a big rest in quarter two then picked it up, couldn’t sustain to the finish. SOUTHWIND SANDOR began uncovered before the half, advanced well down the back, held right in there in the battle to the line. CERTIFIABLE had to come from third-over, which proved to be a little too much. CAVIART EDEN was under a hold through the stretch with nowhere to go for clearance. BEACH TOWN BOY was not a factor. SIX DEGREES gapped to a degree through much of the race.