FIRST RACE – The 2023 racing season kicked off under sunny skies and temperatures a bit over the freezing level … Stretch headwind … MAC’S MARVEL was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-wide until taking over off the first turn, got a second quarter breather, then had successive 27.3 quarters home to be in charge of these. PATERNITY SUIT A was hustled early to maintain position, yielded at the ¼ for the pocket, couldn’t quite stay with the winner midturn, paced on solidly late. VIRGIN STORM took back nearing the 1/8, stayed third-in, clearly third. CAPTAIN CASH did not have good cover, wide in the lane and a distant fourth. HEARTBEAT HILL stayed in, gapped out ¾. IM A GIGOLO N moved uncovered at the half but never got close. SNAP CALL moved outside but couldn’t keep up and went back in down the back. ROYHILL fell back in the last quarter.
SECOND RACE – MUDVILLE moved uncovered going into the second turn, grinded up, had the lead far turn but couldn’t clear, raced well to get this decision. HIGH IMPRESSION left OK, quarter-moved to the lead 3/8, was pressured by the winner and kept that one outside on the turn, persevered second as others narrowed in late. OHOKA JOHNNY N went to the lead at the 1/8, forced a tuck, yielded 3/8 for the pocket, evenly late. BUSBOY HANOVER backed out to third-over off turn two, came on well in the stretch. P L LEEROY was four-wide to the first turn and three-wide just past to the 1/8, to two-wide and then the pocket 3/16, locked in on the turn, couldn’t find room along the inside early stretch, angled out past midstretch and gained. SHANGHAI BOBBY had great cover but didn’t stay with it, came back with “b.e.” AIN’T IT FUN was last at every station.
THIRD RACE – BROTHER JAMES eased back into third 3/16, was tight on the pocket horse then moved out at the ½, went his own third quarter with the wind in 26.3 to clear before the ¾, drew away as much the best. LORD OF MISRULE forced an early lineup, made the winner work for the lead but couldn’t hold him out, a bit tired late but could preserve second over CENTURY ENFORCER. The latter moved behind the winner but couldn’t stay with him in the wicked third split, got to the rail third midturn, finished steadily. BLACKLIGHT gapped cover, best of the far-behind rest. HOLY MOMENT defended the pocket, gave ground most of the last half. THE OTHERS were far behind.
FOURTH RACE – IDEAL BEACH moved out at the ¼ and gained the length of the frontstretch to get the lead, was not under a threat most of the rest of the way. AMP IT UP N left but couldn’t get around the rail horse, stayed in then moved out 11/16 after a two-wide horse broke, wide late turn and closed well. DROPTHERAKEFREDDY used the rail well for positioning, shuffled a little far turn, outside early stretch and got to second but surrendered that spot late. SLICK RICHARD backed out behind the winner to the 3/8, was left raw before the half, didn’t threaten but held OK. SWEET SHUNEY MOON was four-wide to the 1/8, three-wide to the 3/16, then two-wide to command off turn one after hard usage, yielded into turn two, couldn’t go with the winner the last ¼, finished with “b.e.” ALWAYS A LOOK grabbed an early 4-tuck, stayed in, evenly along the rail late. TSM TRISTAN T never factored. LATEST ATTRACTION came out from last and was moving well gaining to catch cover when taking a bad step and breaking 11/16.
FIFTH RACE – DASH OF DANGER was left out three-wide to the contentious ¼, finally made the top 3/8, yielded at the half and stayed close in the pocket, to the Pocono Pike, just held off the amazing DILLINGER. The latter was out on the limb the whole way, grinded uncovered from the half and gained, had no quit in him and was unlucky to lose after a giant effort at 38-1. IDEAL STAR N pushed away hard from the rail, moved out 3/8 after the early fireworks had cleared and went by at the half, went a fast ¾, held well in the stretch. CAPOZZO backed out to follow cover, gapped ¾, best of the rest. BOBBY K HILL moved outside but never got close; DERECHO also did not make his presence felt. HASH-TAG SWAG let well to clear at the 1/8, was under pressure and yielded at the ¼, shuffled inside but couldn’t keep up far turn. HEARTLANDBANYSBRO was left out in no-man’s land early, cleared past the ¼ then yielded, inside, couldn’t keep going ¾.
SIXTH RACE – CRUNCH HANOVER had early positioning, moved 5/16 to the lead into turn two during a speedy half, kept up the quick tempo and had the fastest time of the day in a bottom-level conditioned pace. BULLVILLE TERROR passed a gapping foe to the 3/8, inside then two- and then three-wide on the turn, finished steadily. DON’T JUDGE A BOOK left, yielded, came back out raw into the fast ¾, didn’t do badly at all. STELLAR BB was three-wide to bend one and two-wide 3/16 to get the top in a fast ¼, yielded for the pocket, got a little loose at the 5/8. COCOSFELLA A tucked fourth at the 1/8, no more left to offer 5/8. THE LAST THREE were far away from the main action.
SEVENTH RACE – EL TORO LOCO was forwardly-placed early, moved 5/16 to take the lead under the line the first time, looked to be in control to the wire. BULLY BOY HILL was third-over, three-wide midturn, raced nicely but had too far to come. TORRONE was looped leaving and tucked fourth 3/16, uncovered at the half and challenged hard, held well. AP HALL OF TRIX was second-over, only evenly the last quarter. CRESCENT BEAUTY swung four-wide headstretch and finished alertly. CREATE MYSTIQUE was four-wide to turn one, three-wide to before the 1/8, took back for the pocket 3/16, shuffled inside far turn, but had little once free. TITANS HOPE drove on to the lead and forced a tuck, yielded for the two-hole, struggled from the ¾. K J DIAMOND never gained contention.
EIGHTH RACE – CAVIART MAX was away well for the pocket then quarter-moved, went a big third panel and maintained a safe lead to the finish. YS DO IT RIGHT was looped leaving and settled third at the 3/16, moved uncovered 9/16, not quite in the league of the winner, tucked in the pocket far turn, photoed out KEYSTONE STEAM for second. The latter was wide early, tucked fourth 3/16, then moved with cover, kept going forward. SIMPLE KINDA MAN was inside, didn’t offer much the last 3/8. MEADOWBROOK FLASH never factored. JD’S NOAH was three-wide early, on top to the 1/8, yielded for the two-hole, backed up steadily the last 3/16.
NINTH RACE – SHVAIKO left very hard to defend position from the rail, finally yielded before the 3/8 to sit the pocket trip, outside before late turn, gradually got by HIGH BALLER. The latter was out three-high most of a quick quarter, got the top before the 3/8, went on at a good clip, held stubbornly. BECKHAMS Z TAM stayed in, finally angled clear early stretch and finished very strongly. CALYPSO ROCK N left, was forced to take the pocket before the ¼, stayed third-in until getting the pocket after its former occupant pulled, didn’t have that much in the last 1/16. MAJOR FERNCO N was parked behind cover until dropping in past the ¼, out to follow a two-wider before the ½, three-wide around the parked horse down the back, got new cover midturn, couldn’t offer much more of a forward gear after a hard trip. CAPTAIN COOK was not heard from. NORTHERN REIN was slightly off the gate then broke early. DECOY was very wide early and took back, was still stuck on the outside and coverless before the 3/8, looped down the back and faded.
TENTH RACE – ELWELL moved at the 1/8 to quarter command, slowed the half, then withstood the persistent challenge of INDIGO ART. The latter edged out raw at the half and went 26.4 down the back to pressure the winner, couldn’t go as much as that one but clearly second-best after a good race. MINDTRIP followed lively cover, couldn’t stay with it ¾, held for third. BELLOWS BINGE was buried inside, angled way out to widest headstretch and finished strongly. DARK ENERGY N stayed in, not all that much. ASTON HILL DAVE showed some speed, stayed in until coming out with cover midturn, not a stretch factor. PLAY THE FIELD grabbed the top right away then yielded to the winner, done at the ¾. BIG BOSS HILL was outside early but never reached cover.
ELEVENTH RACE – MIND HUNTER was three-wide to the first bend and on top at the 1/8, rated the half then picked up the pace stringing out pursuers, challenged by PHOENIX OF FLUZZY to his inside in the stretch but proved strongest. The latter went to command nearing turn one and yielded for the pocket, went to the Pocono Pike and loomed, but flattened slightly very late. DRAGON CITY improved position early, looked all-out late backstretch to stay tight, came outside late turn, paced stoutly just to the right of the two battlers. FOUR MORE YEARS was looped, tucked past mid-first turn, up the inside late, did OK+. THE OTHERS did not leave and did not get into the main picture.
TWELFTH RACE – MR DS ROCK kept control from the pole in a fast quarter then rated the half, picked up the pace to keep pressure at bay, won solidly. PRINCE OF TIDES was three-high most of the ¼ before taking a 3-tuck, inside, to the Pocono Pike and finished well. CAVIART LUCA was two-wide most of the ¼ before tucking, evenly late. B STONEY sat in, went to the deep Pike, gained then flattened slightly while possibly approaching tight quarters. RIFLEMAN moved out third-over, gapped letting a horse out, went three-wide ¾ and was four-wide nearing headstretch, beat out the others in the outer tier. TJ’S INDY PACER was uncovered into turn two, went up in 27 to challenge down the back and held well until early stretch, then showed the effects of his trip. SOMETHING BETTOR A sat in then moved out into a blindswitch past the 5/8, not prominent late. WATER SPORTS TEEN went up well second-over, three-wide nearing headstretch, little late.
THIRTEENTH RACE – URBAN RENEWAL had some speed, was third-in and looked hopelessly boxed, came out into a blindswitch headstretch then angled inside of the pacesetter/first-over combo into the Pocono Pike and finished with a rush to get the nod. LOVE THE BLUES N came first-over from the second turn, fought hard with the leader, just got second on the money. THANOS was wide leaving then two-wide to command 5/16, had hard pressure, held nicely. SAMSON BLUE CHIP got towed up nicely second-over, wide late turn, couldn’t quite close enough. DRAGON ROARS AGAIN backed out to third-over, widest headstretch, did well from a tough spot. SNOWBALL’S ROMEO led before the 1/8, yielded 5/16 for the two-hole, not quite enough the last 3/16.
FOURTEENTH RACE – THE WALL was four-wide fully to the 1/8, three-wide most of the ¼, then two-wide to the front to the 5/16, set the pace, got pressure late backstretch, shook that one off, won handily. ARTIST BEST went to the front at the 1/8, yielded past the first turn for the pocket, held second over a fast-closing DO WORK SON. The latter had dull cover third-over, went inside in the stretch and made up good ground. REAGAN BLUE CHIP showed speed, stayed in, angled out headstretch and finally found clearance to midstretch, fair; there was an inquiry as to whether he impeded the breaker, but no placing was made. SPORTY DRAGON stayed in, not prominent in the last ¼. REVELRY was second-over but gapped cover, pushed wide in the stretch. GLOBALDOMINATION N was three-wide to the 1/8, tucked just past the 3/16, was uncovered into turn two, hit a higher gear late backstretch and pressed the leader hard, but then fell back in the last 3/16, got in close quarters and made a break.