FIRST RACE – Stretch headwind … LYONS KING was parked with cover until the 3/8, then was left uncovered, grabbed a small advantage 5/8 but never could cross over to the pegs, stayed on remarkably to win after a rough journey. MAJOR SHOW had cover behind the winner, moved three-wide before the ¾ and was wide the duration, closed steadily to just miss. FRISKIE ALL NITE was outside in a blindswitch behind the winner, in tight quarters between horses through the lane while pacing well. BIG BOSS HILL kept the pocket, was shuffled far turn, had to weave a couple of times in the stretch while having pace on the end. SEAL O’NEILL was third-over, followed cover wide far turn, couldn’t gain enough. TREY SURREAL left four-wide and circled to the lead before the 1/8, hung a foe to the 3/8 then yielded, had to wait on the Pocono Pike but didn’t show too much once free. BELL FAMILY was looped early and was parked until the 3/8 to clear, under pressure from the 5/8, didn’t let the winner cross over, but the effort saw him tiring the last 1/8.
SECOND RACE – CERTIFIABLE pulled behind a horse going nowhere, moved three-wide before the 5/8 and was left three-wide late backstretch when a foe pulled, dropped down to two-wide, briefly to the rail, then two-wide again, then three-wide for the stretch and closed after the hot pace to be just along. OLLIE’S ZTAM took the pocket 3/16, a bit loose early backstretch then closer, to the Pocono Pike and to the lead midstretch, just failed to hold on. VANILLA MALTED was in the two-wide lane then ducked in, came between horses as the pace slowed down. CAVIART ROCKLAND went on a speed mission with hot odd-numbered quarters, couldn’t hold on midstretch. TONY TOO TALL moved off the rail past the 5/8 before the winner could get to that spot, evenly. TAM MAJOR A sat in, had some pace on the end. AFLAME HANOVER didn’t reach contention. CARLAS MACH A rode half and half in a “tuck” on turn one, moved out uncovered before the 3/8, but developed a problem past the half, was way back.
THIRD RACE — GANGSTER HANOVER left from the first step to the last, cleared to the inside at the 1/8, seemed to have a lot left in the tank. BLENHEIM was second-over, three-wide late turn after the winner had gotten away, won a three-way picture for second. BALDAQUIN followed wide cover and swung wider, steadily to the line. P L NOTSONICE tucked, came uncovered 5/8 but never threatened in this fast race. MISS MCKEE never entered the picture. RICH AND MISERABLE yielded at the 1/8 for the two-hole, looked all-out to stay close most of the last half, then fell back.
FOURTH RACE – JIVE DANCING A was on an open lead virtually the whole way, lengthening it most of the last half. BROOKDALE JESSIE moved off the rail from third at the ¾, held off CULINARY ARTIST for second; the latter followed the place horse and almost caught her. TIGERS WATCHING N left enough to protect the pocket but then had difficulty keeping up from the ¼. NONE OF THE OTHERS was in the main picture.
FIFTH RACE – SPEED AWAY left behind cover, uncovered at the 1/8 to the lead nearing the ¼, yielded 3/8 but moved right back out and retook command at the half, continued at a very fast clip and held off ESPLOSIONE confidently. The latter was three-wide to the 1/8 then behind cover to the ¼, went up and took over 3/8 only to yield at the half, stayed tight in the pocket and gained in latter stretch but didn’t go by. DAGON HANOVER got the front at the 1/8 and surrendered it at the ¼, couldn’t keep tight from late backstretch, maintained third. HURRIKANE WILLIE G went evenly in the fast mile. THE OTHERS trailed in the strung-out mile, not a threat.
SIXTH RACE – ROBBIE PEV tucked third then was quarter-mover #2 to the lead just past the 3/8, rolled along, won easily. CHAPOLIER was uncovered before the 5/8 and trotted a third panel of 27.2 to reach the leader, couldn’t get to that one but was second-best. The others dueled for the minor spoils: KINDA LUCKY LINDY was on top and yielded, was a “hidden” quarter-mover #1 and yielded again, a bit loose in the two-hole in the last half, still held third. ONE AFTER NINE was on top to the 3/16 then soon saw two brush past, inside and blocked in late far turn, then Pocono Pike but not a big response. MUSHANA gapped cover. TOKYO SEELSTER was a little off the gate and trailed, fair late while wide.
SEVENTH RACE – BETTORS HEART N left and secured the pocket, shuffled slightly headstretch then outside behind the new leader, then ducked inside that one midstretch and had enough pace to go by. THEREWASTHISGIRL had early speed, pulled from third past the 5/8 to challenge, went by into the stretch, caught to her inside. A CRAFTY LADY moved late backstretch, finished well. CRUSH ME sat in in the strong-out field then moved out far turn, not enough to contend. ANOTHER BEACH DAY gapped. SHES A SASSY BEACH made the lead without paying too high a price then was in control to the ¾, was challenged far turn, nothing left for the drive. THE OTHER PAIR were always near the back.
EIGHTH RACE – NUTTINBUTHEBEST was three-wide leaving then two-wide to 3/16 command, yielded before the 3/8, waited in the pocket then used the Pocono Pike, gradually worked by A GIRL THAT TWIRLS. The latter went frontward a bit belatedly, had cover to the 3/16 then progressed to the front 5/16, could handle all but the winner. HEAVENISSOFARAWAY must have thought the front was so far away when uncovered into the second turn, but never got cover and moved on up, held her ground well late. TALK SHOW CHICA yielded 3/16, stayed in, was in between horses finishing in what looked like tight quarters. MILIEU HANOVER was third-over, three-wide midturn and was doing well late. HP XANADU stayed in, gapped, not too much late. SLY ELEANOR N got rank in the hole at the ¼ and didn’t look comfortable thereafter, backed out to second-over but could make no late impression.
NINTH RACE – MARION GONDOLIER moved uncovered at the half and grinded against the wind, had a small edge on the far turn, moved off in the slowing last quarter. THE LIONKING AS would not yield in a 27 opener, then did so to a persistent sort 3/8 for the pocket, a bit loose far turn, but went on steadily in the Pocono Pike and claimed second very late. MAJOR BOINGA sat in, nowhere to go far turn, angled out early stretch and finished OK. DELTASUN A was rebuffed in his first try for the lead but was successful in his second, came under pressure, tired gradually in the last 3/16. SWEET HEART AS gained some late as the pace slowed. SORTIE was on the move early, got cover but gapped it 5/8. NEWSBOY miscued 5/16.
TENTH RACE – BETTORS DONTTELL tucked in third at the 3/16, started grinding at the 5/8, went to the lead midstretch and had enough to keep the closers at bay. CHATELROLL tucked early, then had great cover second-over, wide in the lane, did well but couldn’t get by the winner. TOWN GOSSIP gapped some midrace, angled out in the stretch then wider, finished with a very fast charge. HICKFROMFRENCHLICK put everybody in behind early, then yielded for the pocket, out behind the winner early stretch, evenly. PARMESAN N set the pace with two moves and got a slowed second split, had hard pressure to deal with and couldn’t sustain the lead. INDICTABLE HANOVER was outside with little; STRAIGHT UP COOL was inside with little. I’M A BIG DEAL was way off the gate and never showed much.
ELEVENTH RACE – VILLAGE JADE moved from third before the ¼ and was quickly on top, got a helpful breather in the second panel, under grinding pressure, stole back clear early stretch and proved best. NEED UR OPINION went on to take the front early, forced a tuck, then yielded to sit behind the winner, stayed on evenly. THE STUNNING NUN N and FAST MACHINE were second- and third-over, three- and four-wide turn, did their best into a fast last quarter. BEACH CRAZY was four-wide nearing the first turn, onward to two-wide and the early pocket 3/16, stayed in, so-so late. WHO’S SMOKIN N was not a major danger. TALL POPPY N moved from midpack raw toward turn two, challenged well in the third quarter, but expended all of her energy there. JUXTA COWGIRL was never a presence.
TWELFTH RACE – BULLVILLE TERROR moved sharply nearing the ¾ after the hot pace and quickly went to the lead far turn, held off a pair of good closing threats. BRONX SEELSTER was outside but gapped, didn’t get underway until midturn then three-wide, making up ground rapidly late. MAXIMUM RED A stayed in then followed the place horse and swung four-wide into the lane, moving very nicely if a bit too belatedly. THE DARK SHADOW left well, yielded 3/16 for the pocket, moved outside late turn when the leader started to give way, didn’t refire up too much. DINA BOLT N was wide early, didn’t have enough speed to go frontward and found no hole until past the half, actually had a bit of pace on the end. THE WALL stayed in, had room in the Pocono Pike but couldn’t gain. IDEAL STAR N headed down the road and set a fast pace, empty the last 1/8.
THIRTEENTH RACE – JUST DIVINE grinded up from the second turn, got a small advantage approaching headstretch, held on to it for the decision although perhaps not as easily as a classic 1-20 horse “should.” DELISHKA N was three-wide to the 1/8, outside just past the 25.4 opener then tucked third, came out in a blindswitch behind the winner nearing the stretch, angled inside that one midstretch, not quite enough but a deceptively good mile. SHEZAFREAKLIKEME had excellent cover, three-wide midturn, flattened slightly late. STELLENBOSCH defended the pocket in the wild quarter, stayed in the two-hole, Pocono Pike, didn’t have too much on the rerally. JACANA was third-over, wide with cover on the turn, tough spot. BRING ME DIAMONDS sat in and was shuffled to last, had late pace (in a slowing quarter) on the extreme outside. FREE FLYIN TICKET paid 25.4 for her ticket to the lead at the ¼, moderated the half then had to pick it up as a strong outer tier came on, gave way in the stretch.