FIRST RACE – Warm; stretch headwind … GREAT MAGIC left between horses and was looped, had to press on and finally got the lead into turn two, but then opened a big lead in fast fractions, tiring a bit late but still safely clear. MISS MUSCLE tucked fifth, came out from behind gappers and was very good in steadily closing, albeit into a slowing pace. GRAPPLE HANOVER was three-wide past the lead in pursuit of the lead, reluctant to yield but did in breakneck fractions, gapped most of the last half, held third. DIVINE SPIRIT followed the winner and gained important ground. SWIZZLE HANOVER yielded early and then was not heard from again. RED OVERBACH made the lead at the 1/8, yielded 3/16, chased the fast fractions then tried to gain uncovered down the back but was bottomed out. THE LAST TWO were not on the main radar.
SECOND RACE – ZEUS HANOVER protected the early pocket, stayed in and was shuffled a bit then backed out to third-over before the 11/16, four-wide late turn, just up on the money over HURRIKANE JONNYBOY. The latter was underway from fourth nearing the ¼ to take over 3/8, faced pressure on the lead, shook that one off but just failed to keep the winner at bay. HUMAN COCKTAIL was three-wide past the 1/8 to the front at the ¼, yielded to the brusher and stayed tight in the two-hole, outside early stretch, closed but not quite enough. TIDAL SHARK left a gap most of the way, gained inside and was a distant next. ALADDIN HANOVER was second-over advancing, three-wide late turn, came up empty in the stretch. PINK FLOYD HANOVER was between horses early and tucked third, uncovered into turn two and made a long move to go up and battle the pacesetter, paid the price late. THE LAST DUO didn’t do much.
THIRD RACE – THE GOOD BOOK made his way to the lead at the ¼, got pressure from a recovered breaker from the bottom of the second turn until that one broke again early on the far turn, went clear late. PRAIRIE FAMOUS came out 5/8 and gradually made up ground, finished steadily for the deuce. DANCEHALL KING got forward positioning, gapped slightly down the back, came between horses late to be third. TO MY CREDIT hung the winner to the ¼ and yielded, stayed close until not being able to gain any stretch ground inside. MONKS HOOD S was not prominent. FAIR KOUNTRY offered little. SEVEN OVER broke coming off the turn before the start, recovered to the point he was fourth and on the move at the ¼, challenged the winner a long way but then lost gait again at the ¾. ROWDER jumped right at the start.
FOURTH RACE – WILLING HANOVER moved uncovered from fifth into turn two, trotted up in 27.1 to clear to the lead ¾, drew clear in the lane for Matt Kakaley’s 6000th driving victory. HOLY BEING latched onto the winner’s cover and was towed up, left uncovered ¾, continued on well for second. MUSCLE HALL went to command 3/16, backed off quarter two but then did not have enough to keep the winner out ¾, was going keeping up OK behind the winner when breaking midstretch, placed for a double LOB. U BAKE THE CAKE came out third-over 5/8, couldn’t stay with the lively two-wide tier on the turn. LOUS LANCELOT yielded to sit in the two-hole, didn’t have too much in the last quarter. FORREST left and tucked third, started to gap out before the ¾. BAR COINS was wide early, went up to tuck fourth off the first turn, not heard from again.
FIFTH RACE – PACINO HANOVER, just off of the gate, moved early on the second turn, got cover at the half which he lost past the 5/8, went up to challenge the new leader, had an advantage on the turn but couldn’t cross over, still was able to go on to be clear late. GALLIE GETAWAY left, fit into the pocket 3/16, pulled from same at the ½ to take the lead past the 5/8, held the winner out on the turn, good race to be second. KID FROM THE BRONX had fine cover, finished steadily. UPALLNIGHTBLUECHIP had to circle struggling horses from the ¾, finished well. WATCH U R BACK used the pole to remain in control, got a slow Q2 but then yielded the lead past the 5/8, little left for the stretch. TRIFECTA HANOVER got early position, under a hold early, went loose down the backstretch. AIR RIDE was in a good outside flow but couldn’t take advantage. VORACIOUS was not in the picture.
SIXTH RACE – MANDRILL went to the early lead then yielded for the pocket, looked to be being left behind on the turn but got a new life as the leader broke late far turn, redeemed her second chance. MIDWIND SUCCESS came out uncovered 11/16 and did well far ahead of the others. RHIANNON HANOVER sat third, gapped much of the race but still was third. SWEET TACTICS moved outside late backstretch but didn’t threaten. ANOTHER LIKE ME made the lead at the 1/8 and set the pace, had drawn clear on the far turn but made a break late on the bend. BT BABE moved uncovered off turn two but soon was offstride. CRAZY FOR LOVE broke w-a-y before the start.
SEVENTH RACE – TOWN VICTOR left very well to circle a group early, rated the half, had off the inside bid of SYLVESTERAMERICAIT. The latter raced into the pocket at the 1/8, stayed close then went to the Pocono Pike, did well but had to settle for second. SMART AS HILL went three-wide from third-over 11/16, trotted steadily. DART GUY sat third-in, gapped a little at points, so-so late. CRAZYCAT was second-over, was blindswitched 11/16, had to back out widest in the lane and was gaining late. TRUMAN JR HANOVER never featured. LEVITATION was wide early and took back, came uncovered towards turn two, didn’t reach the leader, then gave way.
EIGHTH RACE — CAPTAIN CHESLEY came raw before the 5/8 then got cover 11/16, three-wide late turn, finished with a big surge that got his nose to the wire first. LIKE A WARRIOR rushed up early to get into the pocket just past the 1/8, went to the Pocono Pike, got the lead past midstretch, almost held on. YOUCOMEHEREOFTEN left sharply for command, rated the half, didn’t get much pressure, outtrotted late. MONI’S HEAVEN CENT vacated third 11/16, fair. WENTWORTH HANOVER was behind a breaker past the ¼ and never did fully tighten in, evenly. OPTRIX and LOOKINTOGETLUCKY had no say in the outcome of this race. FRANKIE HILL broke coming off turn one.
NINTH RACE – BRAVO ANGEL S went right down the road from the rail, got an insurmountable lead when the pocket horse broke midturn, good maiden win. MELODRAMA sat in, backed out late turn, went wide midstretch and finished the best of the others. DEFACEMENT was uncovered 11/16, got to second in the lane but couldn’t retain the deuce. KT DOUBLE DEUCE started to gap early in the backstretch, not too much. MEADOWBROOK ROSE went into the pocket at the 1/8, stayed close to the winner, was looking for more past the ¾ when she ran. ULURU broke 3/16 and went to the infield. FOXY JOYCE was looped and left on the outside, broke going to the 3/8.
TENTH RACE – LADY’S IMAGE stayed connected third-in, up the Pocono Pike to the lead just past midstretch, just held off the late burst of UNRESOLVED DEBT. The latter was the first to move outside 11/16, cover late turn then wide, finished very well in just missing. DIEHARD SEELSTER grabbed the racetrack quickly then pushed a foe most of the ¼ before yielding for the two-hole, outside late turn, not very far off at all. NASEY needed most of the fast ¼ to clear, backed off Q2 then sped up in Q3, came up shy late. NICE STUFF started gapping at the half. CHING CHING LUCKY was offering little before breaking.
ELEVENTH RACE – MALTA MAGIC left between horses, went into third before the 3/16, came again raw 5/8 and grinded up, got to JK A E ONE late. The latter defended the pocket early then quarter-moved, set the pace, couldn’t hold the advantage to the wire. ESPERANZA HANOVER was last, found room between horses early stretch after horses fanned wide late turn, then ducked inside and gained rapidly late. EVERDEEN was second-over, gapped some to the far turn, went three-wide late turn, flattened out. WILD BLUE WONDER was third-over, gapped a gapper, four-wide, little. PRIDEFUL was three-wide early to the top at the 1/8, yielded for the two-hole, fell back in the stretch. ADULT SWIM started to gap shortly after entering the backstretch.
TWELFTH RACE – MUSHANA was second-over before the 5/8, edged out to three-wide late turn, fought most of the stretch with CAN’T SAY NO before just edging that one out. CAN’T SAY NO had speed, went uncovered 5/8 and challenged the leader, got a short advantage early stretch then was in a long fight with the winner, just shy. LEXUS RANGER yielded for the pocket, shuffled a little late turn waiting for the Pocono Pike, then along for a distant third. SIMON GOT LUCKY was last, went three- and four-wide around the final turn but flattened out early stretch. CREEMORE was inside, didn’t have much late. STICK WITH ME KID was three-wide to the 1/8 then to the top 3/16 in a fast quarter, came under pressure late backstretch, nothing left for the stretch. DAZZLNDASH HANOVER stayed in and never was a factor.
THIRTEENTH RACE – FULL SUPPORT drifted out early, then in gear and up to take over 5/16, got pressure nearing the far turn, shook that one off and stayed clear. ERINWOOD YVES made the lead at the 1/8, yielded for the pocket, pulled out late backstretch and challenged hard, not as much as the winner but held onto second. TO THE HUNT yielded early, inside, didn’t go up to get tight in the pocket far turn, fair late. VARNEY gapped at points then better late backstretch, widest and with some pace. DELESTON moved uncovered 9/16, got cover late backstretch but didn’t keep tight on it far turn, fair between horses late. THANOS gapped early, never really a threat. BOSTON BOUND fell far back in the second half.