FIRST RACE – Around 60 … Stretch headwind … PRO BEACH fought for the lead, was pushed by the pole horse who didn’t want a quarter-mover and thus winding up third, made the top at the ¼, rated the half, then reignited the jets quickly when the first-over came very fast down the back, could keep that rival outside, able to draw clear late after being used very hard in two separate spots. CAVIART SAGE wouldn’t yield easily when the above-described scenario looked to be coming, sat close in the pocket, perhaps bottomed a little as involved in the two sub-27 fractions, still enough inside to grab second over CAPTAIN ROMANCE. The latter moved out towards the ¼ but then retucked when the early lead did not change hands very quickly, came out on fire on the second turn and was at the leader coming off that bend, went his own third split in 25.4 while ahead most of the way but was just kept from crossing over, finally gave way a little late after bad luck. YUPPER stayed inside, wasn’t clear at the wire but not running over the ones in front of him. HARD ROCK HULK was third-over behind a bad gapper, three-wide far turn, gained as the pace slowed. SAMSON BLUE CHIP was no factor. JK MUSICMAN was second-over before the half but then gapped the entire last half.
SECOND RACE – CLOUSEAU HANOVER came out third-over to the half, quickly three-wide early on the backstretch to two-wide past the 5/8 to challenge and then clear early far turn, drew away. TRAY SURREAL had the pole inside three leavers, saw one break and one take cover, let the third one go and sat tight in the pocket, outside far turn behind the winner and a clear second. MISSILE SEELSTER was committed between horses to the lead, got there 3/16, had to deal with a parked horse, then had the winner come up to challenge, saw that one go by past the ¾, faded but still ahead of the rest. ROCK THREE TIMES moved out behind the parked horse before the half, was soon blindswitched then backed out to go three-wide around the two-wide fader, but not nearly with the speed of the winner. FOUR-STAR FLASH had to check 3/16 as the horse in front of him broke, inside, not a factor. CAPTAIN MALICIOUS was four-wide fully to the 1/8, took back to tuck but broke settling in 3/16. STELLA’S PHELLA was never prominent. STELLAR BB, not looking easy to steer, was three-wide to the 1/8, briefly behind cover then left out in the air 3/16, couldn’t clear, decelerated from the 5/8.
THIRD RACE – CANADIAN BALLET gapped much of the first half, sent up uncovered 5/8 to challenge, was clear of the far turn incident but looked rebuffed, ducked in then came out again in the stretch, gained enough to be along in time. HALLELUJAH HANOVER was immediately on top and operated on a clear lead much of the way including from mid-far turn to midstretch, but then got weary and was caught. RAVENOUS gapped second-over, pushed wide to be clear of the breaker far turn, OK for third. BLANK CHEEK was pushed very wide by the breaker. ILUVLOUCY was loose in the pocket at several points, made a break far turn scattering 60% of her opponents, placed. TALLCHIEF HANOVER spotted third, right behind the breaker and suffered an “ix,” going to the infield.
FOURTH RACE – STORM THE COURT left in tandem with MELANIE’S NICK then let that one go to sit in the two-hole, stayed close, pulled ¾ and went right by, won in fast time for maidens. BET ON ZETTE gapped much of the first half then got in gear into the backstretch, accelerated 5/8 to be just off the top two, tucked third midturn but back out again in the stretch, withstood STOMP for second. The latter sat in, backed outside ¾, came on well late. MELANIE’S NICK went to the lead and cut a fast quarter, rated quarter two then went fast again quarter three, was passed past that station, tired significantly midstretch. BEACH VIBES tucked, moved out turn two but went nowhere and went back in, not heard from again. KICK LIKE A MULE didn’t keep up the last half. TSM TRISTAN T ran up on a slow-moving horse near the half and broke. SMOKIN JOE HANOVER was last, checked slightly when a horse made a break at the half, rough while gapping.
FIFTH RACE – Slowing last quarters often lead to blanket finishes … SHANGHAI BOBBY was fourth-in, gained upper stretch while blocked then found a seam midstretch and gained “rapidly” (30 last quarter) to take it all. JUST N ACE gapped a little most of the first half then got in gear and went uncovered, applied constant pressure, held gamely as usual for the DH2 with SAFENSOUND HANOVER. The latter was third-over, stacked four-wide headstretch and narrowed in steadily. SPINOUT was wide early, took the pocket 3/16, to the Pocono Pike and appeared to have a short brief lead just past midstretch, was not far off. ARTACHE HANOVER was second-over, three-wide far turn, not quite enough to get the big prize. BNGS EXPRESS was last fourth-over, five-wide in the stretch, finished going forwardly. CASINO BAGS ANSO went away with purpose and forced a tuck in the 26.4 opener, backed it off a bit then had to regear upward when the first-over came, tired in the stretch. SPORTSMANSHIP was third-in, not much at crunch time.
SIXTH RACE – Official fractions not displayed during race; they were 28, 58.2, 1:25.4, 1:53.2 … CRAZY CUTE left strongly, crossed over at the 1/8, got a cheap half, then looked much better sprinting home in 55 in control. HEAVENISSOFARAWAY left between horses for the pocket, vacated same midturn and did draw closer, but then couldn’t match the winner’s strides, did outfoot SUMMER RAE for second. The latter showed some speed, sat third-in, OK late. DANDY IDEA was best of the distant rest. TURNTHEFROWNAROUND sat in and was last then backed out to follow cover which proved useless, never a factor. RAISE THE ANTE was first-over from last into turn two, did pace a 26.4 third quarter but it never got her close, fell back.
SEVENTH RACE – BULLVILLEKARLA was innermost of three strong leavers, pushed a foe to the ¼ and yielded, backed out again to the 5/8 and paced right on by ¾, won in a romp. NARINA HANOVER angled clear early stretch, was still sixth deep stretch but had a good rush to take the deuce in a photo. GREENHILL HANOVER did not have good cover, finished OK wide. SHELLIE DE VIE was three-deep early, refused a 3-tuck and pressed on, onward to the lead 3/8 and had a clear advantage to the 5/8 during a hot tempo, then the winner came calling, tired. RHYME N ROLL was between horses early, in front at the ¼, yielded 3/8, not much. EDEN PAIGE N gapped much of the first half, couldn’t go with the winner’s cover past the 5/8. GLORY GHOST trailed.
EIGHTH RACE – Again, the posted fractions during the race were revised, to 29, 1:00.2, 1:29.4, 1:59.4 … ZETTE FLAME was able to sit until the 5/8 and then move outside, grinded up to the leader, on even terms through the turn into the stretch, got the outright lead midstretch, and then just held it over CS EXPLOSIVE CHIP. The latter, looking rank and a handful to drive throughout the mile, finally got in late on the first turn, came out second-over, crucially couldn’t stay with the winner upper stretch, then showed speed when finally straightened away midstretch. WINE BAR maintained the pocket, stayed close behind the leader from past the 3/8 until late on the far turn, went to the Pocono Pike and made some late progress in the slow mile. KOLB HANOVER went to the front, walked the half, still tired late even though this wasn’t a quick mile. COOL TRIXTER gapped inside late backstretch, deep Pike, so-so. INVISIBLE TOUCH never factored. ROJO MAN gapped third-over. DRINK UP DRINK UP broke nearing the backstretch before the start.
NINTH RACE – TALK SHOW CHICA left, took back to tuck as the innermost leaver was insistent on having the top early, then quarter-moved to the lead 3/8, just had too much for this collection. BROOKDALE JESSIE used her inside starting slot well to force wholesale tucks, yielded to follow the winner, all-out to hold second over A CRAFTY LADY. The latter was uncovered 9/16, got to retuck third on the turn, continued up the inside and almost made second. ANNE BONNEY N was third-over behind a dull one, three-wide far turn, some. ONE HAND KEG STAND showed some late speed. DELISHKA N was three-wide early, got in the pocket 3/16, inside, started gapping 11/16. HURRIKANEMYSHANNON was four-wide early and three-wide past the 1/8, took back to get in fourth, little in the stretch. SO SUPREME gapped out second-over.
TENTH RACE – VILLAGE JADE made the top, yielded, retook before the 1/8-mover reached her, yielded again for the pocket, came out for the stretch and just did run down BETTOR WATCH IT. The latter did not leave but moved at the 1/8, waited on the winner’s regaining move then herself went up to take over at the 3/8, went a big third quarter, almost lasted in a good showing. LIGHTNING LEIA stuck to the inside and narrowed in. SHEZAFREAKLIKEME was a bit off the gate, had to circle laboring foes far turn, finished with speed. NITE TIME DEAL was not much of a factor. BYGONE HANOVER gapped second-over. ALWAYS B FIRST was three-wide early and was first by the 3/16, saw two foes go by shortly thereafter, back out again down the backstretch but could not threaten.
ELEVENTH RACE – NINETEEN CRIMES was parked to the ¼ for the lead, got the next challenger to tuck in behind him, then battled another until yielding early backstretch, waited then into the Pocono Pike, just up in a 30.4 last quarter. SCOTTISH was buried last inside, but found room in the deep Pike and made up a lot of ground (again, in a slow kicker). HIGHGATE remained outside in the early flow like a European horse, left uncovered nearing the 3/8 and pressed on past a fast half to get the lead, was under pressure to a quick ¾, held well while caught only by the two inside him. FRANK THE ELDER had cover to the ¼, then was left raw, got into the pocket before the 3/8, inside, evenly late. AWSOME PAUL worked to the early lead, yielded, gave the pocket before the 3/8, moved out into turn two then lost his cover soon out of that bend, challenged in fast time, understandably tired after hard usage. DOWN THE PIKE MIKE made the top at the 1/8, yielded, came back out second-over down the backstretch, three-wide far turn but couldn’t gain. BY A HOFF HANOVER was fourth-over and four-wide in the stretch, no real shot. SLAVE LABOUR was not prominent from third-over.
TWELFTH RACE – MIKI MINAJ used the rail well, yielded 5/16 for the pocket and stayed right up on the leader, outside midstretch and finished sharply going right by. UNSUNG HERO was four-wide early then went on as rivals took back, took over the engine 5/16 and continued at a fast clip, had no answer for the winner. AMP IT UP N finally settled in at the ¼, gapped throughout the last ¼ but still held third. CHUCK THE CHEESE was out second-over but didn’t reach his cover, wide stretch and next. CRACK A SMILE never surfaced. PICK A GENRE took back early, moved uncovered at the half, gained while going a 26.4 third quarter, but then could offer no more. MASK ON MASK OFF stayed in, blocked on the turn but little once free. ZEUS HANOVER gapped in last, then was blocked at the wire behind tired rivals.
THIRTEENTH RACE – CALYPSO ROCK N got a great trip up second-over although slightly off his cover late backstretch, in gear three-wide mid-far turn, along to overhaul CAVIART MAX. The latter was three-wide to the first bend and then on top 3/16, cut a good pace without much pressure, just failed to hold off the winner. BUTTER UP was quickly in front, yielded for the pocket, loomed in the Pocono Pike, not far off. I’VE GOT HOOTSPA went uncovered from sixth towards turn two, kept grinding and held with great courage. DANCE IT OUT gained some late on the far outside. STARVIN MARVIN sat in third, blocked through the stretch. FRISKIE ALL NITE also sat in, to the deep Pike, couldn’t gain enough. HEARTBEAT HILL struggled to keep up from the 3/8.
FOURTEENTH RACE – ROCKNROLL NELLA came out at the half and was quickly three-wide to challenge first-over, remained limbed while pacing her own third quarter in 27 and continued parked and challenging the rest of the way, but was up to the assignment. CATIE FAYE HANOVER followed the winner’s path while slightly off of it, kicked in late. BETTE TINA made the front before the ¼, got a breather to the half but then had a rival coming at her, faded late. CAPTAIN’S STAR cleared at the 1/8, yielded and sat the pocket, had a clear shot up the Pocono Pike but came up shy. BLAZING RAMONA came on a little late. TWENTY GRAND was looped, had cover then was left raw to the ¼, challenged but couldn’t go by, was looped early in the backstretch and fell way back.