FIRST RACE – Mid to high 50s … Stretch headwind … LULU ROCKS gapped in the second quarter then got tighter as third-over, four-wide headstretch and had the most pace in a slowing last quarter. TEAM COLORS found an early spot, back on the attack raw at the half and battled the leader a long, long way without clearing, finally made the lead early stretch, went on gamely. TOTALLY RIGGED was three-wide early and on top at the 1/8 in the fast ¼, yielded for the pocket, crucially shuffled a bit headstretch, went out behind the leader then ducked inside to the Pocono Pike, couldn’t build up enough momentum. PARTY LOUNGE had a fine second-over trip, narrowed in on cover, three-wide to headstretch, a stop-and-a-half behind these. HAILEY’S SISTER, urged behind the gate, moved from third before the ¼ to the lead past the 5/16, had heavy-duty pressure from early in the backstretch, kept the first-over outside then tired in the lane. BLANK CHEEK was first on top then yielded, inside, not too much late. LADYZAR gapped down the backstretch. ILUVLOUCY moved outside, was far back when making a break early stretch.
SECOND RACE – PERFECT BET left well, yielded and enjoyed a perfect pocket trip, to the Pocono Pike, worked very hard to get by CALYPSO ROCK N. The latter took over at the 3/16, rated the half then sped up (both in keeping with the wind), was headed midstretch but fought on gamely. SEND IT JEROME was well-placed third-in, went right to the deep Pike, not far off at all. SPORTS BOX initially gapped second-over then got closer midbackstretch, three-wide late turn, missed less than a length. ROCK THREE TIMES spotted early, started the outer tier towards turn two, never got closer than the leader’s wheel, but held his ground well. BIG BOSS HILL was three-wide to the 1/8, was wrestled in fourth at the ¼, not prominent thereafter. BUTTER UP was never a factor from third-over. STARK HANOVER never surfaced.
THIRD RACE – Wind picking up … BUMPY JACK didn’t move until the 11/16 then grinded up, turned back the rest in a slow mile. F SCOTT’S MUSE moved out down the back but made no gain, suddenly in gear before mid-far turn and came home well. TOMMY BOY HANOVER yielded for the pocket, well-placed, Pocono Pike, a length shy. REDDY FOX went to the lead 3/16 and set walking-horse fractions, still came up short. STRONG BREW moved outside on the far turn, was blindswitched and blocked to the line. FAWN DE SIGN broke early, caught the back of the field. IMPERIAL ZETTE had little to offer. ROWDER was off the gate, was going forward early but jumped before the first turn.
FOURTH RACE – SOUTHWIND DREDGE went up early to spot midpack, moved second-over, three-wide late turn, had the most in the stretch. BLOW A CLOUD N, urged leaving, had to settle for the pocket, moved first-over 9/16 and grinded, no match for the winner’s late speed but went on gamely to take second. FRIDAY NIGHT BLUES quarter-moved and was used into the wind to clear, yielded off the second turn to sit the pocket, Pocono Pike, fair. TODDLER TANTRUM would not yield early, finally did give up the lead 3/8 but then quickly regained the top off the second turn, did hard work before giving way. PREMIER ROCKSTAR went evenly. THE OTHER TWO didn’t enter the main picture.
FIFTH RACE – BUDWEISER GIRL was three-wide past the 3/16 then two-wide to the front 5/16, set the pace, held nicely with a horse coming at her to both sides late. WAVERLY HANOVER pushed hard early then yielded, moved from third 11/16, made the pocket past midturn and went to the Pocono Pike, couldn’t quite reach. BINGO BRAIN gapped behind the early duel then tightened in, outside 5/8 and got cover 11/16, left uncovered late turn, finally kicked in towards midstretch and was moving well late. NINA HANOVER came all the way up the inside to be next. QUEEN OF THORNTON was outside on the far turn, a bit late. MERCURY LANE sat in, was stuck behind a tired one far turn, came out in a blindswitch, so-so late. MISCHIEVOUS G was between horses leaving to take the top 3/16, yielded 5/16, went loose late backstretch. VALENTINE BLESSING was off the gate, then broke just past the start.
SIXTH RACE – P L LEEROY was three-high early then two-deep to 3/16 command, strung the field out and was in control to the wire. LORD OF MISRULE was first to show on top, yielded for the two-hole, tried the Pocono Pike, not enough. PANTHEON HANOVER went wide with a bit late. HUDSEN A vacated third ¾ but his bid was short-lived. THE OTHER PAIR were always near the rear.
SEVENTH RACE – RIOT hustled up down the back to join a good flow, left uncovered far turn, kept on coming and was along in time. INTRIGUED AGAIN moved with cover but soon lost that 5/8, tucked in the pocket ¾, to the Pocono Pike, outkicked far to his outside. HOWTOTRAINURDRAGON was away well for the two-hole, outside into the backstretch and went right on to the lead, didn’t have quite enough late. PLAY THE ACE never factored. LUZIANA gapped. SETONCRUISECONTROL went right to the lead, offered little resistance when challenged before the 5/8 and fell back.
EIGHTH RACE — EXTREME Z TAM was out fourth-over, behind a gapper so three-wide ¾, then angled all the way down into the Pocono Pike into the stretch and had strong pace to get the decision. SQUARE DEAL made the top 3/16, pushed then yielded for the pocket, vacated same 11/16 and challenged through the turn, got the lead again early stretch but was outkicked to her inside. SWEET PHENOMENA spotted early, moved out to the 5/8 then got cover, went three-wide headstretch, fair. EA AUDIT was buried inside on the far turn, angled widest early stretch and finished with pace. B ON THE HUNT was three-wide 3/16 then two-wide to the 5/16 to get the lead, came under pressure late backstretch, not too much left late. KALYPSO was first on top then relinquished, stayed close until the 11/16. PEMBROKE SOUTHIE moved outside but didn’t gain. BRAINIAC was away last, never got into contention.
NINTH RACE – MADDOX HANOVER moved out behind an advancing first-over nearing turn two, three-wide 5/8 and went his third split in 26.4 to clear at the ¾, all by himself. APPLE VALLEY ART made the lead relatively easily, slowed things down in turn two then had to pick it up as a first-over horse made a bold bid, kept that one out but could not respond to the sweeper, still a good second far ahead of the rest. KIMANI moved before the 3/8 and went right up to the leader to battle, fell back through the last ¼, just got third. KEPT UNDER WRAPS left well then yielded for the two-hole, gapped out 11/16. CAVIART SKIPPER moved out down the back but couldn’t go enough to reach contention. BASS PLAYER gapped at the back.
TENTH RACE – C IS FOR COOKIE had cover to the 3/16, then went on to take over just before the 3/8, popped the plugs and was mildly urged early stretch and responded by again drawing clear. AMERICAN CRISPIN was three-high to the 1/8 en route to the front 3/16, yielded just about a like distance later for the pocket, not quite as much as the top one but still good. HUNGRY FOR KISSES got underway at the half and made a bold move in 27 down the back first-over, went right at the leader, couldn’t quite sustain but another with a good mile in defeat. CARIS was first to show, yielded, gapped at the ¾. EAZY HUNTING had a touch of belated pace wide. PERFECT BLOOM came outside on the turn but could make no headway. HURRIKANE LADY LOU gapped at the back. BEAUTIFUL AMERICA suffered an “ex” 3/16 and was pulled up.
ELEVENTH RACE – GLOBALDOMINATION N was right in front, yielded to the 3/8, pushed the button before the ¾ and went right by, leaving these far behind. PAPIAMENTO stayed connected, left outside raw on the turn, not in the league of the winner but enough for the distant second. BEACH BLANKET BOOK was at the back behind gappers, came a long way to be third while finishing wide. SAULSBOOK RAPTOR did not leave quickly but gradually worked his way up to take over near the 3/8, tired throughout the last ¼. SPORTS TELLER spotted, then was gapping early in the backstretch. SCRAPPIN GOLD was not heard from. CAPOZZO moved outside at the half but went nowhere.
TWELFTH RACE – RELENTLESS JULIE moved outside down the back, three-wide around the breaker, uncovered then had cover on the far turn, proved the best in the late battle. DANCE NUMBER pressed on to 3/16 command, yielded in front of the stands for the two-hole, came out midturn, second-best. BAMA BREEZE had cover to the 3/16, then went up and cleared with mild urging 5/16, set the pace, couldn’t hold on. NAKED TRUTH also was shoved wide down the back, flattened out in the stretch. ALL YOU CAN EAT got through inside the backstretch breaker, fell back late. LAZ-A-FAIRE was far back; HUNGRY FOR MONEY was further back. SWEET HOME made the lead, yielded, gapped a little off turn two then found a better gear 5/8 and was just moving outside when making a break.
THIRTEENTH RACE – TOPVILLE OLYMPIAN spotted, moved uncovered at the half and duked it out with the leader from before the 5/8, gamely to just be along in a three-horse late battle. ADRENALINE RUSH sat the pocket, a trifle loose on the turn, clear sailing in the Pocono Pike, just came up a little shy. VINOVIO was quickly on top, strung the field in Q2 despite a moderate pace, then was under heat from the winner from midbackstretch, held on well. SHARP RAZOR was second-over, a step behind the top three. THE NEXT TWO gapped. LOTTERY WINNER lost contact down the back.
FOURTEENTH RACE – GREAT MAGIC was in control every step. BROOKROAD MASTER maintained the pocket from very early until the very end. WILLIE B WORTHY dropped in third at the 3/16, went evenly late. MAKIN MAGIC TONITE pulled at the ¼ to follow the parked horse, three-wide 5/8 to two-wide uncovered and advanced on the turn, then flattened a little. JUSTIFY sat in, a bit steppy on the far turn, outside late turn, evenly. GREEK LEGEND gapped at the back. SANTA MONICA AS had a touch of trot on the extreme outside late. A MILLION CHUCKLES was caught four-wide outside of horses backing off at the 1/8, went up gradually two-wide until nearing the 5/8, then dropped back.