FIRST RACE – Warm day … Changeable wind, starting as a mild stretch tailwind … STOP STARING didn’t want to let anybody go on the first turn, did yield to the brusher in front of the stands to sit the pocket, to the Pocono Pike and got the lead midstretch, may’ve won a little more easily than the margin suggests. JACKIE MOON started on a long uncovered mission before the second turn, relentlessly gained and very game to continue on to the finish. DONTLIKEITLEAVE had great cover second-over, went three-wide, not too far off at the wire. TOPVILLE SOMROCKET tucked early, then quarter-moved and rolled on at a good clip, couldn’t make the lead last. TRUTHBTOLDBLUECHIP challenged hard early then backed off into the early pocket, then third-in, deep Pike, fair. JK OBJECTION was out with cover early, tucked fourth 3/16, shuffled back, so-so. YS DO IT RIGHT was in a good flow but not close to the lead, too much ground to make up. QUICK SNAP sat in, not clear in the stretch.
SECOND RACE – BOARDWALK BET yielded for the pocket, moved out late turn when clear and just paced away from these. SPRINGSTEEN came through at the start to take over before the 1/8, set the pace, got backstretch pressure, no match for the winner but held on to the distant second. MODERN ROCK was second-over, wide, OK. THIRD EDITION gapped for most of the first half then tightened, Pocono Pike, not enough. SHVAIKO was uncovered into the backstretch, went up in 27 to challenge, backed off far turn. SPRINGBRIDGE DUEL didn’t enter the main action from third-over. GRATIAN HANOVER gapped at the 5/8, didn’t factor, then not clear nearing the wire.
THIRD RACE – NO DRAMA PLEASE was looped and with cover to the 3/16, went on to the top 5/16, was in control to the wire. BY A HOFF HANOVER was first on top, yielded, came again raw 5/8 and challenged, lost ground in the lane but preserved second over PENCILS DOWN. The latter was part of the first turn two-wide tier, tucked fifth past the ¼, underway again early backstretch, got cover 5/8, gapped it, then did a little better late. CHUCKY DE VIE was wide early to 3/16 command, yielded to the winner 5/16 for the two-hole, no kick in the last 3/16. SECRET OR NOT tightened in on cover third-over, then was no late factor. ARCH CREDIT sat in, couldn’t keep up ¾. ZLATAN was far back throughout, as was LOUS LANCELOT.
FOURTH RACE – Now the wind is calm … GLOBALDOMINATION N went right down the road, rated quarter two, then was never threatened. AMERICA’S GUEST moved third-over nearing the half, three-wide 11/16 the duration, steadily for a good second. BLOW A CLOUD N went into the pocket towards the first turn, couldn’t keep up late. AWESOMENESS started uncovered just before the 3/8 but never reached the winner, held OK. REMEMBER THE BEACH was wide leaving, got in third 3/16, inside, to the Pocono Pike, not enough of a response. COWBOY COOL was out early to be second-over, blindswitched 11/16, didn’t factor. ER VEGAS stayed in, didn’t have too much late.
FIFTH RACE – AMERICAN CLASSIC moved out behind the parked horse at the half then soon was three-wide to get to first-over 5/8, able to drop into the pocket before the ¾, outside stretch and went by CAVIART ROCKLAND. The latter left strongly looping horses, set the pace, couldn’t stall the winner but was far ahead of the rest. LOUIE THE HORSE N was looped and three-wide to the 1/8, in fifth 3/16, stayed in, outside late turn after the top two were gone, next in line. CALYPSO ROCK N gapped early, stayed in, not prominent. MAJOR SHOW went wide to get around fading cover but didn’t enter the main picture. BIG BOSS HILL was always far back. BUTTER UP yielded for the pocket, came up empty 11/16. NO LAUGHINGSTOCK was looped, between horses, found no hole so continued two-wide, looped 5/8 and faded.
SIXTH RACE – KINDA LUCKY LINDY showed some speed, went uncovered early in the backstretch and one-geared inching forward, enough to go clear at the end. AP HALL OF TRIX let and secured the pocket, to the Pocono Pike and OK for the deuce. MACMORRIS HANOVER was very wide early but worked his way to the lead and the inside past the 1/8, rated quarter two, then faced increasing pressure from the winner, couldn’t make the lead stand up. ARCHIBALD moved outside early but picked up an excess of cover, three-wide far turn and closed well. DANDY was second-over but gapped. ONE AFTER NINE did not have good cover third-over, went inside his cover in the lane but didn’t gain. SORTIE was near the back throughout. WEATHER VANES was gapping inside far turn when going offstride.
SEVENTH RACE – GONNAHAVEONEMORE came through at the start, yielded, quarter-moved, shook off the first-over and kept the Pocono Piker at bay. PLAY THE FIELD was three-deep to turn one then went on to the lead just past the 1/8, yielded for the pocket, tried to catch the winner up the inside and raced well but had to settle for second. ODDS ON DELRAY tucked past the 1/8, got cover when he moved before the half, three-wide past the ¾ to two-wide later on the turn, third-best. CLASSIFIEDMATERIAL gapped from midbackstretch. GOOD DEAL made up a good deal of ground after being behind bad midrace gapper A FEARSOME HANOVER; HOT DEUCE did not make up much ground. SIMPLE KINDA PLAN left between horses to take the early pocket, moved uncovered near the half but was tiring by the ¾.
EIGHTH RACE – Mild stretch headwind … SPEED AWAY stayed close to the pace then went uncovered 5/8, grinded, found a little bit more in deep stretch and triumphed. DIEHARD SEELSTER was on top early, pushed the winner a little past the ¼ then yielded for the pocket, went to the Pocono Pike, good. COLLEGE TUITION made two speed moves to set a pretty quick pace, still had the lead past midstretch but couldn’t hold it. BULLY BOY HILL made up ground left by a backstretch breaker and did a good job to keep narrowing in; AGGIORNAMENTO did not make up near as much ground. FRANK THE ELDER broke just at the start. SHADOWFAX started to gap a little off the second turn and then broke.
NINTH RACE – HUNTANOVER was three-wide to the 3/16 then two-wide for command 5/16, kept going at a good clip, held off LAST MACH. The latter stayed close until moving out raw 5/8, inched up closer and closer, never gave up. CIGAR SMOKING TONY beat the field away, yielded to the winner 5/16, had his chance in the Pocono Pike but couldn’t produce enough. CURBSIDE PICKUP was outside early backstretch and picked up cover, went three-wide ¾, only gained a little then went back to the path behind the place horse, evenly. FENDI HANOVER gapped inside down the back, evenly. DIAMOND HEAD had little from third-over. THE LAST TWO were never factors.
TENTH RACE – BETTORS DONTTELL came uncovered at the half and speed-grinded, looked to bear in a trifle early stretch but straightened away, then showed rare courage to keep going on for the victory. TRACEUR HANOVER made the top into the first curve, yielded for the pocket, Pocono Pike, got a short lead for a couple of steps nearing deep stretch, raced well. RIP WHEELER was three-wide to turn one then two-wide to 3/16 command, tried hard and held on well but didn’t have enough to win. BACKSTREET SHADOW had a great trip second-over, three-wide late turn, was not at his best today. FEARFUL INTENT was away a little slow, gapped down the back, got the last check and wasn’t beaten by a great deal. ILIKEMEBETTOR A was in a very tough spot from third-over.
ELEVENTH RACE – STONE HANOVER started quickly, yielded for the pocket, gapped in the 26.1 third quarter then gradually drew tighter, to the Pocono Pike and snapped right on by. UNDRTHSOUTHRNSUN N was three-wide before the first turn and went up to take over just past the 1/8, tried to get away with a 26.1 third quarter, was caught up the inside but went on stubbornly even once passed. BUILDING BOOST was between horses to third at the 1/8, gapped frontstretch then closer and underway at the half, abreast of the winner behind the rampaging pacesetter down the back, flattened slightly but still a big race. REIGNING DEO made up a lot of ground. DIRT ON MY BOOTS gapped early backstretch then got closer, outside late turn, evenly. PARK OFFICIAL was far back, evenly late. DRUNKONAPLANE left a giant gap down the back. IDEAL BEACH trailed.
TWELFTH RACE – DONATO PATRIOT K was behind the early pace but then closer and underway raw into the backstretch, grinded steadily and along as the pace slowed. ROBBIE PEV spotted third then quarter-moved, kept up a quick pace, good in being second-best. DIVINE SPIRIT went right to the early lead, forced a tuck, then yielded past the ¼ for the pocket, Pocono Pike, not enough late. ILBENEEDINSTITCHES went second-over, gapped in the fast ¾ then closer on the turn, didn’t tip wide, flattened some. PAPI HANOVER left wide, tucked, stayed in, not too much punch in the lane. THE NEXT TWO didn’t have much chance after being far back since the start. BEER CHEESE gapped inside 11/16.
THIRTEENTH RACE—PEACE OUT POSSE sat the pocket in a lineup, to the Pocono Pike, got the lead midstretch and inched away thereafter in a fast back half. KASHED UP A came through at the start and headed a lineup, slowed quarter two then was urged to pick it up, came home in 55 -27.2 but still was caught, good try nonetheless. CAPTAIN FANCY pulled uncovered at the 5/8, inched up, flattened a little midstretch. THE WALL trailed IDIOSYNCRATIC off the top three, just got by that rival late while no factor.
FOURTEENTH RACE – GENTLE GIANT bypassed the pocket 3/16 and went to the top, had a clear lead from the 5/16, all alone in fast fractions to the end of a very fast mile. FOUR MORE YEARS pulled on the second turn, raced outside the very loose pocket horse past the 5/8, stayed trying for second. OUTWIT OUTRUN left well, yielded ¼ looking a little hard to handle, soon started leaving a gap that only got bigger, fought for second but was caught. BLOODHOUND came on with a little bit of belated pace. KB MAC got “position,” was gapping the gapping pocket horse from the ½. MUDVILLE was never close. DANCE PARTNER broke at the start, caught the field and moved two-wide to the half but then fell far back. TUGGIN ON MY HEART broke coming out of the turn before the start and again after the ¼, couldn’t recover.