FIRST RACE – Mid 40s through the low 50s today, with a moderate stretch headwind … NOPEWASNTME moved outside 5/8 in front of the recovering breaker, grinded, proved the best in this group. IDIOSYNCRATIC took back to third then advanced to the pocket at the ½ when the leader broke, sat a great trip, did not have the necessary late kick. FIREBALL FREDDY gapped much of the way, then did better between horses late. MAYWEATHER HANOVER went out to defend the pocket, found himself on the lead after the breaker on turn two, did not have enough. RUSTY BEACH came out from last late on the far turn and finished steadily. WOODROW F CALL was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-wide to the 3/16 to get control, made a break nearing the half, tried to recover and picked up cover but gapped then broke again far turn.
SECOND RACE – SPRINGBRIDGE DUEL sat off the two early fighters then quarter-moved, not challenged until MAKE MY DEO came at him up the inside late but was equal to that task. The latter left well, forced a tuck, then yielded to the winner, couldn’t quite get there inside while well clear of the rest. Y S MATHIS BRO left well, took the two-hole just past the 1/8, inside, evenly late. A FEARSOME HANOVER gapped inside much of the mile, did avoid the outer tier. DILLINGER went up raw into turn two but never got close, faded in the last ¼. I’LL TAKE THE BET was not a factor. ALWAYS BETTER was second-over but gapped cover; BRUMBY was right behind that one third-over, never entered the main picture.
THIRD RACE – The mild wind looked to be changing direction … JOEMIKIYOURSOFINE went out for the pocket, responded when shown ground in the Pocono Pike and was drawing away late. BULLVILLE STEPHANO started a long uncovered mission at the half, steadily made up ground, got the lead turning for home, good second after a hard trip. WE SHALL SEA was second-over, gapped far turn, was best in a tight photo among the remaining four. YANKEE CLOUT looked at leaving but took back, was shuffled then third-over and wide in the lane, OK late. HIGH VOLTAGE DEO left well for the lead, set the tempo, was asked for more when the first-over got to him ¾ but had no more left. HURRIKANE HUNTER sat third, suddenly left a gap at the half, got straightened away but was then caught in and never saw full clearance the rest of the way.
FOURTH RACE – Breeze had calmed … SPORTS SECRET made the top just past the 1/8, yielded just past the ¼ but retook 3/8, got no pressure on the lead, sprinted in 27.1 to withstand CAPTAIN COWBOY. The latter was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-deep past the ¼ to reach the front, yielded to the winner and stayed close all the way, including in the stretch in the Pocono Pike, but couldn’t pass him while well-clear of the rest. KATIES BET sat in, got through on the inside for the distant third. GROOVY MAN left and yielded, sat third, stayed connected until the stretch then had no more. HECANDANCENCRUISE stayed in at the back and got the last payday. BULLVILLE FRANK was third-over in a bad flow. MASTER MIKI showed some speed, then gapped, then got closer, kicked the plugs 5/8 moving outside, but had little. JACKIE MOON was out before the ½, got cover but couldn’t stay with it, faded further.
FIFTH RACE – BESTFRIEND VOLO left to be able to sit second, waited until late turn, then moved off and drew away from these. BATTIN A THOUSAND came off the rail ¾, got cover late turn, went along steadily for the distant second. I GOT THE TAB left well for the lead, backed off the half, then came up with empty pockets when the tab was due nearing headstretch. ACTION SHOT left three-wide into turn one then tucked third 3/16, struggled to stay close from the 3/8 onwards. CASHIER was bothered by the breaker before the half and never recovered. F SCOTT’S MUSE could not avoid the trouble going into the lower turn and made an “ix.” YO CARTER ran up on a foe into the second bend and made a break, went to the infield and galloped.
SIXTH RACE – SOMEWHERE ROCKIN was three-high to turn one, went on to the lead just past the 1/8, pushed a bit then yielded for the pocket 3/8, moved to the Pocono Pike and easily went by. CRUISE HANOVER was away OK, on the move 3/16 to take over the lead 3/8, had no pressure, proved to be second-best. SHADOWS SHADOW left between horses for positioning, was under a drive much of the last half to keep his mind to business, a distant third in a three-way picture. GATOR HANOVER struggled to keep close, outside headstretch but couldn’t get to third. PARK STREET BLUES had nonadvancing cover, then was pushed wide ¾, came back some late. TRIFECTA HANOVER was loose on the inside much of the first half, moved out 5/8, gained a little but then lost momentum ¾.
SEVENTH RACE – Now a stretch tailwind … BULLY BOY HILL left, yielded, moved again in front of CHAPHEART, made the lead again then yielded to that one and stalked him, inside stretch and just got by. The latter went up with cover early, lost cover 5/16 and made the lead before turn two, dealt with the first-over, held very gamely to the line. COLLEGE TUITION was three-wide to turn one then two-deep to the front past the 1/8, saw two go by, stayed connected and did well late. HEART MATTERS avoided the clogged outer tiers. ADORE ME came uncovered at the half and made a good backstretch move, couldn’t sustain the progress. ANDOVERTHEWINNINGS had good cover, wide in the stretch but had no gain. SCOTTISH was never close. BEER CHEESE left a bit, backed out to third-over but gapped out.
EIGHTH RACE – PANETTONE HANOVER was outside with cover early, rejected tucking and carried on to the lead near the 3/8, appeared to have shaken off the righthand pressure headstretch when a new foe emerged to his left, paced home in 27.1 and gamely maintained the lead to the line. GHOST SHARK used the rail to great advantage, kept the winner out almost to the 3/8 before yielding, stayed close then went to the Pocono Pike, did very well but just couldn’t get by. I WAS TRICKED made a big uncovered move turning into the backstretch, challenged, appeared to be fading to headstretch but dug back in and went on nicely to the line. SIMPLY FAST backed out to follow cover 5/8, not enough late but well ahead of the rest. HUNTERS HERO gapped. ON DAYBOO offered little. TOMMY MANICOTTI left, tucked, started to gap early and faded more.
NINTH RACE – Wind had calmed … MONI BOOK went up steadily to get the lead at the ¼, had no problem at all thereafter. G LOAD left, yielded for the pocket, moved out near headstretch, didn’t gain but held second. CLYDEWEISER briefly considered a move outside to the ¾ before staying in, OK along the inside and way ahead of the others. KALEUN and SNOWMAN HANOVER did not make their presences felt. FOX HOLE bore out down the backstretch, stayed wide and broke far turn.
TENTH RACE – ALL CLASS had the early pocket then moved 3/16 to take over 5/16, unthreatened in the 27.2 last ¼. CONGRESSIONAL left well wide to make the lead to the first turn, yielded for the two-hole, not catching the winner but not to be caught for second. BINGE ON YANKEE stayed close until the latter stages. POSEIDON DEO came wide after a second-over trip and had some pace at the end. BULLVILLESPANDEMIC never was a factor. LUCKISONTHEWAY was wide early and took back, uncovered off turn two, faded from midturn.
ELEVENTH RACE — MYSTICAL WYNN set sail, made the lead 3/16 and kept going in fast fractions stringing out the field (half of which broke behind him), all alone in 1:53, the fastest trot mile of the year at Pocono. MISTER BOINGA kept his poise and was best of the rest. MARION GONDOLIER was cautious on the second turn as the three in front of him all broke, recovered pretty well. ONE AFTER NINE was three-wide past the 1/8, briefly had two-wide cover then was left raw, couldn’t clear the steaming leader, tucked in far turn. BEYOND ORDINARY yielded 3/16, kept up well until late on the backstretch, then broke on the far turn. THE OTHER THREE all made independent breaks on the second curve.
TWELFTH RACE – A ROCKNROLL STAR left well, made a brusher work hard for a quarter mile before yielding nearing turn two, came up the Pocono Pike and went by midstretch en route to equaling the fastest pace mile of the year here, 1:50.4. There was an inquiry as the winner went by just as the leader broke, but there was no reason for placing. KEYSTONE STEAM was second-over, gapped cover a little then was closer, three-wide late turn, just up for second over PHOENIX OF FLUZZY. The latter left between horses and tucked, came first-over and made a big move that saw him gain a short advantage late backstretch but not clear, held very well. CASUAL COOL left well, took the pocket 3/16, inside, had to check midstretch as the breaker appeared to shove him inside a bit. TRACEUR HANOVER never entered the main action. DONTPASSME HANOVER pulled from fourth 3/16 but had to work very hard to make the lead nearing turn two in a fast half, got pressure throughout the last half, was looking for more pace when breaking midstretch, placed. REBELLIOUS was inside, had to check behind the breaker. BULLVILLE TERROR was never prominent.
THIRTEENTH RACE – WESTERN JOE was very wide early and then three-wide to the 1/8 to two-wide in pursuit of the lead, which he got at the 5/16, continued on at a good clip, prevailed. RIFLEMAN left between horses and tucked, moved uncovered past the 5/8 and went on, grinded really well for a nice second. SHVAIKO went right to the lead, forced a tuck then yielded 5/16 for the two-hole, didn’t have the needed steps late. I’LL DRINK TO THAT was uncovered off the second turn, got cover an 1/8 later, never tipped wide until midstretch, not too much power today. SILAS SEELSTER sat in, gapped some as the pace picked up down the back, not prominent. TUGGIN ON MY HEART, last most of the way, swung widest and had some late pace. TRUFFLE DOG was in the outer flow but didn’t show much. KILOWATT KID N failed to shine today.
FOURTEENTH RACE – MACMORRIS HANOVER pushed the 1/8 then yielded for the good pocket trip, to the Pocono Pike and had a little more than DANDY. The latter was unhurried early then got in gear raw into turn two, kept grinding and gaining with every step (his own last half = 56), lost out to the pocket rocket. ROBBIE PEV sat in, then moved out late turn and wide for the drive, closed well. DEE’S RED DELICIOUS went to the front at the 1/8, set the pace, gave a bit of ground in the lane. MISS MCGEE trailed throughout but was able to stay close to this good group.
FIFTEENTH RACE – HIS BEATS HANOVER left and was looped, took the pocket before the fast ¼, moved 9/16 uncovered and pressured the pacesetter the rest of the way, game to prevail in the finale. IMAGINARY LINE stayed in, behind a slight gapper inside on the turn, angled out early stretch and hit high gear midstretch, couldn’t quite make it though good. ROCKIN THE ACES moved past the ¼ but needed the length of the frontstretch to get the top, under pressure from the winner before the 5/8 but wouldn’t let that one cross over, held on well. REDBANK BLAZE A gapped second-over, did a little better late. CAPTAIN ROMANCE sizzled to the lead in the 26.1 opener, pushed the chalk before yielding into turn two, OK but couldn’t stay close at crunch time. DASH OF DANGER never factored. PRAIRIE PANTHER was far back when shoved wide by a breaking CRUNCH HANOVER, who had gone three-wide from third-over 11/16 then broke before midturn.