FIRST RACE – Temperature drop from 52 to 45 degrees … Strong stretch headwind; seven races didn’t beat 30 home, and three didn’t beat 31 … “Fast +0” through nine races, and then moisture came through, causing a rerating to “sloppy +1” … STEALING was moved out into turn two, gained very little down the back and through most of the turn, but did reel in a tiring leader to get the victory. ARGENTO gapped down the backstretch, then was pinned in on the turn, to the Pocono Pike and along for second. STEEL SCHOONER was far back behind cover, advanced as the pace slowed; the last part can also be said of ALL CASHED OUT. CHUCKY DE VIE was looped, made the lead just past the 5/16, drew clear early backstretch and was alone until nearing headstretch, tired. TUIS SHADOW circled opposition for the early lead, yielded in front of the stands, gapped out through the second half. FAMOUS DAN was moving behind cover when he ran early backstretch. MASSIVE OPULENCE vacated third 11/16, gained some but then broke looking at tucking in the pocket past midturn.
SECOND RACE – GIRLDAD was three-wide 3/16 then was yanked back into a hole, kept that hole (which turned into the pocket) closed, to the Pocono Pike, held off HEISONTHEHUNT. The latter stayed connected to the battle for command, deep Pike, loomed midstretch but got outstepped late. FIREBALL FREDDY moved behind the parked horse at the half, gapped then closer, three-wide 11/16, made a quick break midturn but quickly was uprighted, OK; an inquiry into the far turn break showed no reason for placing. TRIFECTA HANOVER left strongly from the pole and was under tremendous pressure keeping the lead in fast fractions, tired and bore out. KING KONG KALIBRE followed cover, went four-wide when a rival got rough midturn, not bad. WATCH U R BACK left between horses, was left out in no-man’s-land and took all the air in crisp numbers, held until early stretch. SLICK FELLA had little late.
THIRD RACE – MAD MONI was second-over, gained on the turn then ducked in to the Pocono Pike, just along in a 32 kicker. CS EXPLOSIVE CHIP was uncovered 5/8, grinded up narrowing the leader’s advantage, couldn’t quite take it all. ACCELERATE took his time early then gradually accelerated up to 3/8 command, opened a big lead, but tired. FINEST MOMENT gained on the outside, briefly blocked mid-far turn, swung outside, narrowed in with the downturn in tempo. DANCEHALL KING got a check. TOMMY BOY HANOVER was on top at the 3/16, yielded 3/8, went loose early in the backstretch. PRAIRIE FAMOUS was not in contention when making a far turn break. SEVEN BEADS left, yielded, started gapping at the half and broke ¾.
FOURTH RACE – SHARKY BEAR moved off the first turn to get the lead before the second turn, went clear 5/8 and was never threatened. FRIDAY NIGHT BLUES was five-wide past the start and three-wide early first turn, then two-wide to third at the 1/8, retucked around the tired pocketsitter going towards the 3/4, held for second. TOPVILLE OLYMPIAN went up with cover, tucked third midturn, evenly. PLAY THE ACE pulled raw on turn two but didn’t gain and was looped, one-geared onward to be not far off second. ER VEGAS was shuffled to last, in a blindswitch ¾, never on the main radar. ROYHILL was very wide early, took a midpack tuck, then was shuffled when the pocketsitter gave way. PANTHEON HANOVER went three-wide from last but didn’t gain. FOUR-STAR FLASH went 26.1 to the quarter forcing a tuck, yielded to the winner, all done at the 11/16.
FIFTH RACE – FLYINGDRUMSTICKS S was three-wide early to the front before the 1/8, yielded, inside and was blocked far turn but then immeasurably aided by breakers, up the inside and along. BUDWEISER GIRL showed speed, yielded, shuffled ¾ but then could get out after many foes ran, outkicked to the inside. RUFFLES N LACE was looped leaving, went on 3/16 to the lead 5/16, yielded ¾ but got a new life as the new leader broke, still tired. GADOT HANOVER stayed flat. BROADWAY SENSATION, off the gate, pulled out down the back but went nowhere. TOTALLY RELENTLESS followed a brusher, had just been left uncovered ¾ when breaking. MANDRILL tucked at the ¼, went uncovered down the back and went by near the ¾, got fumbly past midturn and lost gait. MIDWIND SUCCESS followed the winner, was left uncovered midturn but then ruined her chances with bad behavior.
SIXTH RACE – LODESTAR was three-wide to the first turn to the lead 3/16, slowed the half, had to fight off a persistent challenge from HUNGRY FOR KISSES. The latter got forward positioning, moved uncovered in 27.1, never really got in her face but was a dogged rival at her wheel to the line. B ON THE HUNT stayed close, outside far turn and three-wide in the stretch, good outing. BAMA BREEZE was way back, had a very good last 1/8 into the stretch wind. LAZ-A-FAIRE yielded for the two-hole 3/16, not enough at crunch time. PARTY LOUNGE gapped at the back. LULU ROCKS also gapped out.
SEVENTH RACE – SWANKY HANOVER got the lead at the 1/8, surrendered it just past the 5/16 for the two-hole journey, outside early stretch and summoned enough forward gear to get by PERFECT PASSION late. The latter left well, had cover to the 1/8 then gradually worked up to the lead just past the 5/16, held onto the lead until very late. CUTIECUMBER couldn’t keep with backstretch cover, then swung three-wide as that cover tired, next in line. WAVERLY HANOVER was forwardly-placed, not too much late. U GURL followed the cover of the show horse, so-so. QUIETLY BRILLIANT went uncovered early backstretch and made up a lot of ground, but then stopped gaining early on the turn. QUEEN OF THORNTON never featured. TSM EMILIA T never surfaced.
EIGHTH RACE – KENOBI was uncovered from far back, went 27.4 down the back to get into contention, took the lead in the lane, kept to mild pressure to hold off SCOTTY DEO. The latter spotted third, gapped much of the middle part of the mile, outside stretch, gained (as the pace did slow). GAME BUSTER took the top before the ¼ then yielded to the brusher for the pocket, stayed tight, rallied in the Pocono Pike. DINKY WINKY gapped, beat out the others. KNIGHTS GUARD left, yielded, retook, got pressure from the winner ¾ through the turn, didn’t have much to offer late. YO CARTER didn’t enter the picture. FOX HOLE fell back badly. BUMPY JACK broke midpack 3/16 and was taken to the infield.
NINTH RACE – BENICIO was on top early and avoided the first turn mess, yielded and was well-placed behind a bitter third quarter battle, moved out late turn, took the lead midstretch but did not draw away. MALTA MAGIC had to go wide around the early breaker, went on to the lead 3/8, slowed the half then had to accelerate to meet the backstretch challenger, held very well late. EDEN HANOVER was shoved very wide past the ¼, moved uncovered before the half and challenged very hard in a fast third quarter, but then she tired not much past that point. CUTTING HUMOR was between horses early, had to circle the breaker then went into the pocket, started gapping before the half. TRULY and HUNGRY LIZZO had nowhere to go when a horse made a break past the 1/8 and suffered “ix”s.. ESPERANZA HANOVER left three-wide, was dropping down to two-wide in a bid for the lead when making a nasty break, placed.
TENTH RACE – C IS FOR COOKIE was away second, moved 5/16 to the lead 3/8, in control the rest of the way in sweeping the series. CARIS moved uncovered 5/8, got cover 11/16, wide, up for second late. AMERICAN CRISPIN took back early, pulled raw from third 11/16, just missed place. SQUARE DEAL grabbed early command in a 27 opener, yielded for the two-hole, was hard to hold in the pocket down the backstretch, faded a bit late. RELENTLESS JULIE came from Parts Unknown to get the last check. EXTREME Z TAM moved three-wide on the turn but couldn’t get into the action. DANCE NUMBER stayed close but had little late. SWEET HOME left a gap early, no factor.
ELEVENTH RACE – TOMBSTONE left, looked like he wanted o go on then took the pocket to the ¼ after that space’s former occupant broke, came out midturn and went right on by, won easily. PRAIRIE NUGGET was a little bit loose in third down the back, gained and was clearly second. UNCLE NINO came through at the start, set the pace and backed off the half, but had no response when challenged midturn. FAIR KOUNTRY at least stayed flat although gapping much of the last ½. TO MY CREDIT made the early pocket but broke 3/16, came back to get a check. HEZA SCOUNDREL broke going to turn one. STRONG BREW jumped early.
TWELFTH RACE – BT BABE left and yielded, moved from third 5/8 and went right by past the ¾, opened up a big lead even though the last quarter was only 31. MERCURY LANE was between horses early and wound up in the pocket, backed out as the winner went by and retucked in the two-hole, just held off BINGO BRAIN for second. The latter made a short run at the start, settled, raced behind cover, three-wide headstretch, was moving well late; an inquiry into the break showed no reason for placing. MELODRAMA never featured. TSM LOYAL T was not in the picture. KT DOUBLE DEUCE moved out but couldn’t keep up. MISCHIEVOUS G gapped at the back. WINNIN WINDS K, a bit rough early, was three-wide most of the 1/8 then two-wide to the lead 3/16, strung the field out until the winner moved up, had no fight left in the last ¼.
THIRTEENTH RACE – APPLE VALLEY ART had the lead in a matter of steps, in charge throughout. HOWTOTRAINURDRAGON defended the pocket, couldn’t keep up on the far turn, held second. SAFENSOUND HANOVER moved outside on turn two, gapped and ducked back in down the back, evenly. WOODMERE ANDRIOLI came out for the drive but bore way out. ARTACHE HANOVER had dull cover, three-wide before the ¾, lost some ground turning for home, got the final payday. CAVIART SKIPPER had little to offer. PAPIAMENTO was last most of the way. ADRENALINE RUSH tucked in fifth at the 1/8, then moved first-over on turn two, advanced a little then fell back a lot.
FOURTEENTH RACE – KASEVILLE went immediately to the top, rated quarter two, stole clear nearing the ¾, then had enough left to hold off RED OVERBACH. The latter tucked third, was pinned in much of the far turn, got out nearing headstretch, ducked inside the winner and made up ground with every stride. TEDDY BROSEVELT worked out the pocket trip, went loose before the ¾, held for third. TRICKY DICK was wide around the early breaker, gapped down the back, evenly late. MUSCLES JARED was outside until tucking 3/16 in the hole left by the breaker, never got close. SANTA MONICA AS was slightly bothered early, had cover but couldn’t gain. K J DIAMOND was wide around trouble, lost contact with the main group down the back. ASKMELATER HANOVER made a break 3/16.