FIRST RACE – The first nighttime card of the year … Yesterday’s high was 70; by the end of this card, it was 35 (Kakaley had abandoned his short sleeves for his regular colors) … Wind at the start the exact opposite of yesterday: a stretch tailwind, although diminishing through the card … ROMANTIC EVENING came uncovered from fourth at the half, went 27.2 into the wind to clear into the far turn, but had to stay good to defeat a resilient ON THE MONEY GB. The latter spotted third into turn one, quarter-moved, could not hold the winner out in the big backstretch fight, but never let her get away in a fine showing of her own. FOX VALLEY CACHET was second-over, tighter on cover late backstretch, uncovered far turn, gave way a little but saved third over a bunch. BLAZING RAMONA made the top 3/16, was shuffled due to lead changes, out in a blindswitch headstretch, had pace coming through a tiny hole late. BLANK CHEEK was forwardly-placed early, took the inside route including in the stretch, evenly. CATIE FAYE HANOVER gapped third-over, a little better in the latter stages. ST LADS BIJOU was too far back to enter contention. INTO THE UNKNOWN made a break going to turn two.
SECOND RACE – RUSTY BEACH was three-wide to the first turn then two-high to 3/16 command, rolled along, was passed just past midstretch but fought on and reclaimed the lead in the shadow of the wire. TRIFECTA HANOVER got early position, slightly loose midrace but closer on the turn, to the Pocono Pike and took the advantage midstretch, just lost the edge approaching the finish. THORN TOAD was between horses early to the front, yielded for the pocket, outside to headstretch, neither gained nor lost stretch ground. FUN MUNKY went uncovered off the second turn, didn’t reach the leaders but kept on going determinedly. PARK STREET BLUES wound up second-over, a bit on the end. CAPTAIN WHO could not enter contention from far back. BARNEY HANOVER trailed most of the way. ROCKWELL had problems staying tight most of the race.
THIRD RACE – TOPVILLE OLYMPIAN was third-over, four-wide and still sixth headstretch, but had a fine stretch kick and was along in time. KEPT UNDER WRAPS A made two speed moves, not under great pressure but still had some daylight at the 3/4, through the turn, and into the stretch, outblasted late. LORD OF MISRULE advanced inside, blocked far turn, to the Pocono Pike and was moving well late although not with the momentum of the winner. IT’SGOODTOBEDAKING was first-over at the half, one-geared well. PACK YOUR BAGS was second-over, a bit loose behind backstretch cover, three-wide to headstretch, evenly. PLAY THE ACE gapped at the back, then came on well in the stretch and was shut off at the wire. AIN’T IT FUN moved quickly to the top, yielded for the pocket, loose down the back, evenly late.
FOURTH RACE – MONEY BOOK secured the pocket early, waited, then snapped home and closed strongly looking all business in his debut. ACTION SHOT got the lead without much incident and set his own pace, outkicked home but far ahead of the rest. LEAST WEASEL gapped but stayed out of trouble and preserved third. HILLASVIVA gapped second-over after a foe broke to the 5/8, wide stretch, didn’t gain. BATTLESHIP LANDING was between horses early and tucked third at the 1/8, uncovered 5/8, tired far turn and broke midstretch, placed for LOB. FAWN DE SIGN got in fifth 3/16, broke just past the half, recovered and was outside, then ducked in, not much late. IMPERIAL ZETTE and FOX HOLE were never prominent.
FIFTH RACE – YOUNONOTHINJON left and sat third until coming raw 5/8, crucially got in the pocket ¾, out again late turn and wore down IMPRINCESSGEMMA A. The latter was three-wide leaving, made the top, yielded but retook, got a breather to the half, stayed clear until past midstretch, caught late. BETTE TINA left but took back, came out far turn then got cover as the winner moved back out, best of the rest. FOR CHIPS SAKE paced her last half in 55.2 from far back. VICIOUS CIRCLE was four-wide nearing the first turn, needed most of the ¼ to clear, yielded for the pocket, all done at the ¾. THE REST did not factor in this one.
SIXTH RACE – ILBENEEDINSTITCHES allowed an outside foe to grab the front early then worked on to 3/16 command, got a slow half, stayed in control throughout. HOT SUMMER KNIGHT left crisply to quickly get the top, yielded for the pocket, a bit loose through much of the mile though a bit closer on the turn, outside stretch but didn’t gain though clearly second. ALL CASHED OUT edged out to follow cover midbackstretch then went back in when that one didn’t advance, just along for third over TEDDY BROSEVELT. The latter ducked in fourth early, gapped the last 5/16. CRITICAL MASS and EVERYONE’S TALKIN were always far back. KEYSTONE SERGEANT broke just past the start, couldn’t recover. MANWILLING spotted third, uncovered of the second turn but did not take a forward step.
SEVENTH RACE – SPITTING IMAGE sat third early then quarter-moved to command, strong to the wire. THE GYPSY QUEEN IR forced all outside leavers to get in behind her, then yielded to the winner, had her chance and did well but couldn’t get threateningly close. A BETTER GAME checked briefly after the backstretch breaker, moved outside ¾, gapped a bit on the turn then did better late to get a DH3 with LOOKATMYART. The latter ducked in fourth, started uncovered off turn two, got to tuck third after the breaker, fair late. BALFAST N had cover but lost it, moved up well to challenge but flattened out. THE NEXT TWO were always near the back. SARA JANE left, took a tuck second, was sitting in third when making a bad break before the 5/8.
EIGHTH RACE – KEYSTONE SWEETPEA was three-wide early en route to command, set a fast pace and opened a huge lead down the backstretch, tiring and chased after late but having too much of an advantage to overcome. WAVERLY HANOVER gapped in third much of midrace, outside to the 11/16, retucked in the pocket, gradually ate into the winner’s margin. I CANT REFUSE tucked, followed cover then left raw far turn, far ahead of the others. FASHION’S WAY and RAVIOLI were behind the first turn breaker, never got close. MY BELFAST ANGEL left well and yielded for the pocket, started to fall further and further back most of the last half. EVER HOPEFUL G broke 3/16.
NINTH RACE – COMET CRUSADER N went out well, pushed a foe almost to the ¼ before yielding for the two-hole, stayed connected, to the Pocono Pike and gained into the 55 back half for a nice victory. IDIOSYNCRATIC was out most of the initial panel to get the lead, rated the half, then stepped it up as a serious challenger was coming on, held her ground well in losing to a trip horse. COALFORD BET ALINE backed off early to tuck third, tried to gain between horses but was shut off with horse nearing the wire. ERINWOOD YVES went 26.4 down the back without cover to pose a serious threat, stayed in the thick of it to the line. BAY CITY stayed in, was doing well late while having too far to come. BUILDING BOOST wasn’t prominent. SLICK RICHARD gapped second-over. DANCING JOE was on the move early but couldn’t enter the main action.
TENTH RACE – Wind had calmed down … PRAIRIE WESTERNGAL started quickly, yielded to the favorite to sit the pocket, went to the Pocono Pike and outbattled that one in a good contest. FRANTASY HANOVER went on to 3/16 command, challenged by the tough first-over from the 11/16, held that foe to her right off but couldn’t withstand the foe to her left. CRAZY CUTE made a very fast uncovered bid from far back, reached the leader 11/16, battled into the final steps before tiring after a big effort. THE STUNNING NUN N sat in and gapped down the back, evenly inside late. NEWSY N stayed in third, moved out headstretch but could only hold her position. PEARL HARBOUR N was not prominent. REACHTHRUTHESKY AS followed the dull cover of BRILLIANT BEAUTY, with neither threatening.
ELEVENTH RACE – MOLLY MCARDLE made two speed moves, slowed the half, then had twin 28.2s coming home which was more than enough for these. LADY’S CHOICE K was out to the ¼ to take over, yielded for the two-hole, not a threat to the winenr but did hold second. ALEXA’S SUNSHINE stayed connected in third. SUMMER DREAMS vacated fourth 11/16 but never went forward. ADULT SWIM went evenly. THE OTHER DUO disconnected soon after and at the half, respectively.
TWELFTH RACE – ZETTE FLAME moved with cover then lost it as it ducked back in, kicked into gear to the ¾ and gradually ate into the big margin of BRIGHT SIDE UP, going by that one confidently late at 35-1. The latter was three-wide leaving, made the lead 3/16, yielded off the first turn but came back to regain by the half, opened a big lead late backstretch hitting the ¾ in a good time for these, but didn’t have enough to resist the winner while far head of the others. U BAKE THE CAKE came off the rail in the lane and was the distant third. BY A HOFF HANOVER left and yielded, moved uncovered down the back but didn’t gain and ducked back inside. GINA’S ON FIRE left very wide, three-wide past the 1/8 then two-wide to command past the ¼, yielded to the half, was tired before the ¾. SKYWAY PROFESSOR was never heard from. SAULSGOOD made a break ducking inside of a breaking LOU’S LANCELOT at the 1/8.
THIRTEENTH RACE – REGAL ESCAPE was underway raw from midpack into turn two, brushed in 27.2 down the back and went right by ¾, drew far clear of these. NOTA REPLICA A stayed in until midturn, moved out then wide and had some late pace to just get second ahead of SPORTS BOX. The latter was away third, initially wanted to challenge for the lead 3/16 but then took back to tuck third, moved out behind the winner 11/16 and soon was left raw as that one went by, evenly. THE COOKIE MONSTER left for the pocket, shuffled back behind the tired pacesetter far turn, to the Pocono Pike but not a great recovering response. HOT DEUCE made the lead at the 1/8, slowed the half, but was not prepared for the winner and faded after being passed. THE LAST THREE never got into the main action.
FOURTEENTH RACE – SOME KINDA ANGEL sat third-in, got Pocono Pike clearance as the pocket horse moved out headstretch, responded well to take the finale. ROCKNROLL NELLA left well three-wide to claim the top by the 1/8, yielded past the ¼, moved outside headstretch, never was in front but had steady pace. SHADOW ONE was third-over, three-wide with cover then four-wide far turn, came on OK. CRUSH ME was second-over, three-wide late turn, fair. ROSEY TIME was blocked last-in, gained stretch ground while in tight quarters. BETTOR B SAWYER left between horses and was looped, went on to the lead past the ¼, rated the half, was faced with pressure, wilted in the lane. DIAMONDTOOTHGERTIE spotted fourth just past the 1/8, then was raw going into the club turn, challenged, stalled midturn. NARINA HANOVER gapped in last.