FIRST RACE – 40 degrees … TODDLER TANTRUM left well, yielded then reclaimed the top spot, nudged along home to prevail over BRIGADOON. The latter was urged early and cleared at the 1/8, yielded for the pocket, outside early stretch and was gaining late but came up shy. SPINOUT was second-over, three-wide ¾, gained on the turn, then went evenly late while bearing out. DISMISSAL SLIP and SKYWAY BILLY both gapped along the inside. RUNWITHTHEBIGDOGS gapped in last. REDHOT ROMEO took back to tuck fourth, went uncovered at the half, gained a little then fell back more than a little in the last quarter.
SECOND RACE – ARGENTO went second-over from seventh early backstretch and went in 28.1 down the back to put in a bigtime challenge, got the job done with only mild hustling. TRICKY DICK left and made the top 3/16, saw two go by in quarter two, crucially blocked on the turn and into the stretch, angled wide midstretch and was flying late, unlucky. GINGERTREE STAKIAS had cover early, tucked third 3/16, then moved 5/16 to get the lead approaching turn two, had the winner reach him before the ¾, came up a bit shy. LADY’S IMAGE left, yielded, moved before the ¼ back to the top then yielded for the pocket, not all that much in the Pocono Pike. AMBERS CHAMPION was third-over well off the pace, fair late. HOT SUMMER KNIGHT got forward position early, backed outside 5/8 but couldn’t keep with the winner. RUFFLES N LACE gapped inside; JUSTIFY gapped outside.
THIRD RACE – REDBANK BLAZE A left, yielded, outside 3/16 to the lead 5/16, rolled home in 55.4 in q quick mile for this type. DECISION DAY went up to tuck third at the 1/8, moved uncovered 9/16, went steadily in the big last half in a fine effort. AFLAME HANOVER hustled to the top just past the 1/8, yielded for the two-hole, not enough speed in the latter stages. CURBSIDE PICKUP was third-over, three-wide from the ¾, fair. A STUD NAMED SAM did not factor. FRISKIE ALL NITE was at or near the back throughout. DONT JUDGE A BOOK was second-over but didn’t have enough here.
FOURTH RACE – PANTHEON HANOVER let the fast starters go, moved 3/16 to command 5/16, ran away from these in the last ¼. WESTERN THUNDER fit into the pocket at the 1/8, third-in, outside stretch and clearly the distant second. STONEBRIDGE NIKE sat in, to the Pocono Pike and just got third over SOHO WALLSTREET A. The latter dashed away to 1/8 command, yielded for the two-hole, gradually went loose in the last 1/4. BELIEVEINTHESPIRIT gapped backstretch cover, three-wide late turn, got the last check. HEAVEN’S SUPERSTAR went raw into turn two but never got close. RIPPLESONTHEBEACH made a break coming out of the first turn.
FIFTH RACE – PANETTONE HANOVER left sharply to make the top pretty easily, pushed the favorite before yielding 3/8 and sat in the two-hole until headstretch, drifted out through the lane but still had enough to get the job done in the good kicker. CONGRESSIONAL was looped leaving, refused a hole 3/16 and went on to take over 3/8 while a bit steppy, came home quickly but again steppy in the lane and couldn’t hold it together. AMERICAN ZESTAR had the early pocket then stayed third-in, off the 1-2 horses on the backstretch but did a little better in the lane. WARRAWEE XTREME was buried inside, angled out when getting room midstretch and finished well. AXION HANOVER did not factor. BULLVILLE STEPHANO went uncovered on turn two, made a good move down the back but couldn’t sustain it in the fourth stanza. FAST CHAT backed out to follow cover but could offer little. WOODMERE ANDRIOLI was second-over from last, gapped the last 3/8.
SIXTH RACE – CAVIART SKIPPER was looped, three-wide most of the 1/8, to the lead past a quick quarter, was passed midstretch but stayed game and came back to take the decision. PHILOSOPHIZER had the top early then yielded, stayed third-in until getting the pocket 5/8 as the two-holer went out, to the Pocono Pike, got a short lead midstretch but couldn’t quite deliver the knockout punch. BETTOR’S WESTERN moved with cover then went three-wide ¾ when his cover didn’t advanced, did well in the stretch. P H KENNY was urged leaving, got the top past the 1/8, yielded for the pocket, came out 5/8, didn’t threaten, but didn’t fall far behind either. CALVERY HILL was three-wide with cover on the far turn, couldn’t reach. ON THE TAKE trailed throughout.
SEVENTH RACE – CREEMORE was three-wide just past the 1/8 and soon thereafter made the lead, yielded for the pocket, outside early stretch and just up on the money. PAULIE WALNUTS was four-wide to the 1/8, then ducked behind cover, left raw 3/16 and continued up to get the lead 3/8, fought off the parked horse, just caught in the last jump. STEEL SCHOONER went out for early position, third-in, Pocono Pike, OK but outtrotted. UPFRONT STONE let the outside horses go early, shuffled back, had to swing four-wide late turn, finished steadily. AWSOME PAUL came out behind the parked horse, gapped early backstretch then got closer, three-wide midturn, didn’t gain late. KEYSTONE SERGEANT was third-over, blindswitched late turn, not a threat. GREEK LEGEND gapped most of the way. HAMMER CREEK was very wide early then backed off to follow cover, left raw 3/8 and challenged, tired in the last ¼ from his exertions.
EIGHTH RACE – LINCOLNJAMES went into the top spot at the 1/8, had a hard challenge from first-over WHERES MY MONEY from the 5/8 around the turn, looked to have shaken that one off headstretch, but saw that resilient foe come back for more, held. The latter was uncovered from the 3/8, advanced steadily as described, looked to be tiring headstretch but was coming back late. THOR sat in, blocked badly far turn, to the inside and a distant third. IMIDEAL HANOVER backed out to second-over off the second turn, gapped. FRITZIE PIC UP MAN showed speed, yielded for the pocket, not enough in the last ¼. I SOAR HIM FIRST never entered the picture.
NINTH RACE – KNIGHTS GUARD left and took a tuck, moved off the first turn to get the lead, had the pocket horse the only one close to him in the last half, held off that one. An inquiry on the winner concerning the start of the race gave no reason for action to be taken. UNCLE NINO showed quick opening speed, yielded to the winner and stayed close, couldn’t quite get there. DINKY WINKY was way back with the disconnected ones, four-wide ¾ then three-wide later on the turn, made up a lot of ground. SHARP CURVE had faltering cover, three-wide ¾ to two-wide later on the turn, also made a good recovery. WINE BAR got a forward spot, then just couldn’t go enough from just past the half onward. FOX HOLE and BULLVILLE REGGIE never were on the radar. TEST MY WILL was outside 3/16 looking to duck in the pocket when breaking, recovered and was two-wide raw but just clogged that tier thereafter.
TENTH RACE – TNT BLUE CHIP let outside leaders go then moved to control in front of the stands, had this field strung out most of the way and won in an impressive time. BRIGHT SIDE UP was three-high to bend one, went on two-wide to 3/16 command, yielded for the pocket, struggled to keep close most of the rest of the way and ultimately couldn’t, still clearly second after a good race. MISS PRINCIPLE used speed, was forwardly-placed, outside headstretch, maintained third over BAR COINS. The latter tucked fourth, moved outside on the turn then back inside stretch, evenly. MR CRIMSON and PHANNYS MATTER were in a bit over their heads. ZETTE FLAME broke late first turn and went to the centerfield.
ELEVENTH RACE – COWBOY COOL tucked, went 27.2 down the back uncovered to sail right by ¾, named his margin of victory. CAVIART SAGE made two speed moves, couldn’t keep the winner out ¾, just did hold on to second. MR CENSI sat last, blocked inside far turn, found room between horses midstretch and closed well. SPORTY DRAGON spotted third, sat in and also blocked far turn, outside headstretch, evenly. BUTTER UP was third-over, three-wide midturn, not able to rally. LUZIANA moved second-over but soon was not able to go with cover. ALWAYS A LOOK circled the field early, yielded for the pocket, dropped back sharply in the last split. SKY CAPTAIN broke on the turn before the start, recovered and spotted the field five lengths, then broke again at the ¼ and went to the centerfield.
TWELFTH RACE – SOMWHERENBROOKLN N sat in then backed out to second-over 11/16, wide headstretch, finished steadily as the pace softened and just decisioned SAMMY THE BULL N. The latter was shuffled to last, behind the winner then wider in the lane, edged out. POINTSMAN left well to the lead, yielded to the favorite but seemed anxious and moved again before the ½ to get the lead 5/8, quickly had open lengths that had been eaten up by midturn, held past the pylon before the finish. MAYBE NED moved outside at the half, was left uncovered, gave a solid effort. BLACKTREE sat in and was shuffled, couldn’t rerally. PACK YOUR BAGS moved out 3/16 to the top 3/8 with some rocking, was challenged and yielded 5/8, left a gap late backstretch, narrowed back in, but then had no late gain.
THIRTEENTH RACE – ONE AFTER NINE was three-wide and made the early lead, pushed a rival past a fast ¼ before yielding 3/8, moved again ¾ and went by into the stretch, drew away. MISTER BOINGA was three-wide with cover early, down to two-wide without cover past the 1/8, was pushed to clear 3/8 in a fast quarter and half, was challenged ¾, no match for the winner but remained game to edge ARCH CREDIT for second. The latter was well-placed throughout the mile, outside behind the winner late turn, just edged for place and well ahead of the rest. WILLIE B WORTHY and KEYSTONE THUNDER were outside midpack down the back, got the last checks. TEDDY BROSEVELT was not heard from. EVERYONE’S TALKIN checked slightly when a foe broke at the half but never was in contention before or after. MANWILLING went offstride just before the half.
FOURTEENTH RACE – COALFORD BET ALINE moved outside off the first turn, briefly three-wide to the 3/8 then two-wide to gain control mid-second turn, looked to have a potential Pocono Pike challenger, but when that one went offstride he won relatively easily. MIGHT BE RIGHT accepted that pocket at the 1/8, came back out to challenge raw early backstretch, appeared shaken off past midturn but plugged on steadily in a big race. PERFECT PROMISES was slightly off his cover, OK. CAVIART SCOTLAND hung outside in place early then was in gear to the 1/8 to get the front 3/8, soon yielded for the pocket, moved to the Pocono Pike, loomed but appeared to take a bad step midstretch, went offstride and to the infield; placed last. TRIFECTA HANOVER left and forced a tuck, made the favorites work early then yielded, inside, gapped turn, was exploring the deep Pocono Pike when a foe broke shutting off that avenue. RUSTY BEACH never got into the main action.
FIFTEENTH RACE – SHORE OF HIMSELF left, tucked just past the 1/8, then decided to take control and did so, had only the pocket horse stay with him from the 5/8 and drew off from that one in a very fast mile on this day. NO QUARTER left and put a foe in behind early, then yielded when that one decided to try his luck again, stayed right with the winner until the stretch, couldn’t gain but way ahead of the others. WAIMAC ATTACK N backed out to second-over 3/8, left uncovered 11/16 way off the front pair, just held third. CAPTAIN CASH went three-wide 11/16 and was out wide the duration, just missed third. BIG BOSS HILL was not prominent throughout. GOOD DEAL came with a rush 5/16 and paced a second quarter of 27.1 to challenge, but then stopped gaining before the 5/8, eventually dropping inside and fading. ASTON HILL DAVE sat third, then gave ground the entire last half.
SIXTEENTH RACE – ALWAYS B NAUGHTY went on to take over just past the 1/8, called her own margin with a 55.4 back half. HAILEY’S SISTER was hustled a bit early to secure the early pocket, stayed close most of the way, clearly second in here. ALEXA’S SUNSHINE was uncovered 11/16, didn’t gain and went back in, then came out again early stretch and was able to take the very distant third. LADY’S CHOICE K left well, stayed connected in third until late backstretch, tiring late. IDEAL ALEXA broke at the half but regained composure fairly quickly, got the last check. MOLLY MCARDLE gapped at the 5/8, broke far turn. THE OTHER DUO couldn’t keep up most of the race.