Connors’ Comments for Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Oct 31, 2022 | Connors’ Comments

FIRST RACE – Warm day for this time of the year; some stretch headwind … DIVINE SPIRIT moved to the half and got a fine second-over trip, three-wide late turn, just up in the last couple of steps. ARCHIBALD started raw at the half, grinded hard battling the leader, may never have had his nose ahead but fought on gamely. AMADOR moved 5/16 to the lead nearing turn two, came under pressure, led until very late. BANZAI AS backed out to third-over but gapped. SMART AS HILL was the innermost of the leavers, had one rival jump, yielded for the pocket past the 3/8, tired in the stretch. JUMPSHOT was three-wide early going around a breaker, got to the early pocket at the ¼, not heard from again. MUSHANA was between horses early, made a break challenging to the 3/16.

SECOND RACE – PAPIAMENTO moved to follow the parked horse towards turn two, three-wide before the 5/8 and swept the field, drew off in the last ¼. BELIEVEINTHESPIRIT was three-wide to the 3/16 then spent a like distance two-wide to get the lead, under constant pressure, did well to defeat everybody but the sweeper. VILLAGE CHAMP left, briefly had the lead and yielded, was shuffled badly, came up the Pocono Pike to be third. LEGAL POWER was between horses to get the lead 3/16, yielded 3/8, also was shuffled back some on the turn but had little once clear in the stretch. BLOW A CLOUD N was four-wide early and three-wide 3/16 before falling in behind cover, left uncovered 3/8 and pressed the leader, fell back in the last quarter. JAMAICAN COWBOY was away last and never featured. CHANCELLORCULLEN N and EDEN PAIGE N started slowly then backed out to follow cover but couldn’t go with it.

THIRD RACE – CHUCKY DE VIE was in front from the first step to the last, cleared inside at the 1/8, lost the pocket horse down the back in the fast pace, tiring but too far ahead to be caught. MANOFMANYMUSCLES yielded and stayed close to the winner until the backstretch, OK for second. JUSTIFY broke at the half, made a big recovery around stragglers to be third. FRAC left and tucked third, gapped from the 3/8 and the gap was more severe the further they went. BLAZING TRAIL bore out on the far turn. GREEK LEGEND also was already struggling in front of the stands. FIRST RESPONSE broke before the ½.

FOURTH RACE – MRS TAYLOR tucked mid-far turn, moved uncovered past the half and quickly swept by the field, had enough to keep the resurgent ALDEBARAN ACRUX at bay. The latter  was looped leaving, finally made the top 5/16, yielded before the second turn, was able to back out behind the winner late backstretch and retuck in the pocket midturn, good. THEWALLOFLOVE AS gathered some momentum on the turn and swung three-wide, closed some while bearing out to almost the outside fence near the finish. CANTERAWISHING had the cover of the winner but couldn’t go with it, got new cover but couldn’t go with that, evenly. SANTA MONICA AS was shuffled out of contention. QUINNPATRICKSHEA never was near the front. SWEET EMMY LOU looped the field before the first turn, yielded 5/16, stayed in, shuffled out of it, not much once free. JESSICA K S made a break before the start and was last at the start, went up three-wide to the 3/16, then cover to the 5/16, then up to the lead nearing turn two, had nothing left to answer the challenge of the winner.

FIFTH RACE – HOOSIER SHARK left and sit a good pocket trip, outside headstretch and was along in time over ROCK THREE TIMES. The latter was in front at the 1/8, rolled on the lead, just failed to turn back the winner. DREAM OF LUCK tucked third, started to move out 5/16 but rethought the strategy and tucked back in, third-best. CAPTAIN MALICIOUS was uncovered just past the half, never got close to the lead, held his ground decently. WESTERN WALTZ could not keep up second-over. ZEUS HANOVER offered little. IAMMRBRIGHTSIDE N gapped.

SIXTH RACE – ULI BLUE CHIP sat third until the ¾, rushed up to challenge and took over into the lane, drew away. BRAVO ANGEL S sat in the pocket, moved out behind the winner headstretch, not catching that one but not to be caught for second. ON THE HOUSE went right to the lead and rolled along, but had nothing left in the tank when challenged late turn. NINA HANOVER gapped early, next. BROADWAY SENSATION, slow starting, was never a factor. TWISTED PROMISE was tucking fourth at the 1/8 when going offstride.

SEVENTH RACE – ICARUS FALLS N was five-wide going to turn one, three-wide 3/16 then two-wide to the lead past the ¼, slowed the half then picked it up as the favorite moved up, was in the process of being passed by that foe when she broke and thus was given a second life, held off a furious late charge by JAGGED LITTLE PILL. The latter left and yielded, was stuck in, eased out before midstretch, found room via a slinky move after the chalk broke, almost got there. RUMORED was two-wide 3/16 for the lead, yielded for the two-hole, was inside in the stretch and not affected by the breaker, not too much. SPLIT POT was second-over, gapped 5/8, then was severely bothered by the midstretch breaker, recovered well. MAKO ME RICH was wide far turn and pushed wider by the stretch incident while gaining. LULU ROCKS started uncovered on turn two and gradually gained uncovered, was going by the leader midstretch but made a break, placed for causing interference. SWEET GADGETS was also bothered. PJS FANCY DANCER had lost contact early and was pulled up.

EIGHTH RACE – STAR TRACK HANOVER showed on top immediately, yielded before the 3/8 but was soon on the retake, had the first-over get to his sulky wheel ¾ but no closer, drew off. SUNDANCEDIAMOND was outside but gapped while one-gearing it, along for second late. MY BOY CHRISTIAN was in a dull outer tier, circled wide and did well for third. NICE STUFF led the outer tier going to the half, got to about a length of the winner but no closer, then faded in the last ¼. TUIS SHADOW went up to challenge but needed until the 3/8 to clear, yielded for the pocket, faded in the latter stages. MANWILLING looked to leave but took back, was then second-over but gapped down the backstretch. THE OTHER PAIR were at the back throughout.

NINTH RACE – SHARKY BEAR left some, then was underway before the ¼ to brush to the lead, opened up a big lead down the backstretch, coasted home. I’LL TAKE THE BET was behind dull cover, made a sharp move three-wide midturn, and gained a lot of ground behind the winner. A SHORE LEGACY had some late foot for the distant third. LATEST ATTRACTION, wide early, was out much of the ¼ before taking the pocket, was shuffled badly behind the pocket horse but didn’t have a strong response once clear. KINGOFMYHEART left between horses to take early control, yielded to sit the pocket, lost ground throughout the last half. THE NEXT DUO were always well behind. BOLTMAN made a weak uncovered bid that didn’t last long before he fell way back.

TENTH RACE – DISTANCE LEARNING left, was looking to tuck but saw a hole close, so went on to get the lead 3/8, had pressure much of the last half, but proved the strongest of these late. STREET SMARTS stayed closely-placed early, went uncovered before the ½ and put in a big bid from late backstretch onward, but didn’t quite have enough. HAND DOVER DAN was wide early, then with cover and slid in the three-hole, came back out second-over, three-wide late turn but couldn’t gain enough late. HOLY BEING gapped his cover, came between horses in the stretch instead of tipping wide, had trot in tight quarters. AWSOME PAUL left strongly, finally yielded in front of the stands for the pocket, struggled to keep tight a good portion of the last half. THE OTHER PAIR gapped along the inside.

ELEVENTH RACE – MAXIMUS MIKI came uncovered on turn two, went 26.4 down the back to challenge and got a short lead but couldn’t clear, finally passed the pacesetter for good before midstretch then held off the closing WARRAWEE XTREME. The latter gapped second-over then got closer, gained through the stretch while going a little wide, didn’t miss by much. C-BET HANOVER was away quickly for the top, yielded to an early mover but came back for the retake, under bigtime pressure from the winner and fought him off for a long while, then gave way some. TREVOR’S HUNT moved outside headstretch and was moving well in the latter stages. CAPTAIN MAP raced up into the pocket past the 1/8, didn’t have enough late pace. GASCOIGNE ROCKS moved at the ¼ to the lead 3/8 but then immediately yielded to the retaker, gapped from the 5/8. THE REMAINING PAIR were never on the main radar.

TWELFTH RACE – THE WORLD OWES ME was looped leaving, had cover to the 3/16 then went on to take the lead 3/8, disposed of the first-over and drew clear late turn, very good in a fast mile for this type. ZEBULON was second-over, finally moved three-wide midturn after the winner had gotten away, showed good speed in the last 1/8. FRANKIE HILL sat in, found room between horses in the stretch and was a distant third. A ONE A was parked 3/16 to make the lead, yielded to the winner 3/8, didn’t have much late punch. CIRCUIT PARTY and DONATELLO HANOVER never made progress off of cover. SOUTH FOR WINTER never featured. MR FIREWORKS left for the early lead, saw two go by then started first-over on the second turn, challenged in the third quarter, but then the tough trip in a fast mile caught up to him.

THIRTEENTH RACE – LENDA HAND MAN did not get away well, but followed very useful cover, four-wide midturn back to three-wide late turn, proved to have the most of these with the top six separated by only two lengths. PBR STREET GANG moved second-over, three-wide 11/16, back to two-wide late turn, outblasted by the winner late. COWBOY COOL was four-wide into turn one, continued on to the lead at a 26.1 quarter, got a breather in quarter two then had to pick it up, no match for the two on the far outside but held well in his own right. MY BOY JACK pushed then raced in the pocket, to the Pocono Pike, couldn’t summon enough. BARRYWHITE HANOVER stayed in third, looked to have clearance deep in the Pike but not quite enough pace. ALWAYS BETTER moved uncovered towards turn two, was urged while first-over down the back, looked disposed of headstretch but was running over horses with a resurgence near the wire. MICHAEL’S MONSTER, three-wide early, fell far back.

FOURTEENTH RACE – MISS MUSCLE yielded nearing a fast quarter but quickly regained control, a control he maintained easily to the wire. TRAIN found a good forward spot, came along the inside and was along for second. HALL IT IN was three-wide towards turn one, then two-wide through almost all of a fast ¼ to get the top, yielded for the pocket, not too much left in the lane. PHANTOM RUSTY stayed in until the stretch, finished OK. PADRE was second-over from last but it was in a very sluggish flow, three-wide late turn and finished with trot. BILLY RAY HANOVER never factored. BRIGITTE BI was uncovered nearing the half but never got into the first half of the field. MARQUIS VOLO was outside when making the first of two breaks at the half.

Connors’ Comments for Monday, October 24, 2022

Oct 29, 2022 | Connors’ Comments

FIRST RACE – Track was very sloppy “sy +3,” in 58-degree temperatures; slight stretch tailwind … CRESCENT BEAUTY was three-wide leaving, made the top 3/16, yielded to a challenger 5/16 and was the only one who could stay close despite moderate fractions, outside stretch and drew away. PHANNYS MATTER went to the top then yielded, gapped the top two big time from the half, then found a little more late and caught a tiring THESUNRISESAGAIN for second. The latter was out very wide taking back early and then decided to go on, three-wide past the 1/8 to two-wide until gaining the top 5/16, set the pace, still had very little left late and lost second. DOWN THE PIKE MIKE had some speed, then went evenly along the inside. U BAKE THE CAKE was gapping well before the half. MALONE moved outside but didn’t gain. AMBERS CHAMPION never got a call. INFANTA DEO went outside on the second turn but then went on the run past the half.

SECOND RACE – ONE HAND KEG STAND got into third before the 1/8, stayed semiconnected to the front ones down the backstretch then was closer on the turn, wide headstretch and found the best steps late. RHYME N ROLL sat in the pocket, gapped a little late backstretch, came up the Pocono Pike in the stretch and didn’t miss by too much. GRANT ME THIS moved uncovered into the second turn and made a protracted challenge, faded a bit very late. COLORFUL VIRGIN was far back entering the backstretch, circled horses to get to fifth, then still showed vigor with a stretch charge. HURRIKANEMYSHANNON set the pace, didn’t have enough in the stretch. JERICHO DIVA circled laboring horses but couldn’t get close enough for a check. THE OTHER TWO had little to offer in the last half.

After the second race, it was determined that in the adverse conditions the track surface could not be maintained to ensure safety for the drivers and horses involved, and the rest of the card was CANCELED.

Connors’ Comments for Saturday, October 22, 2022

Oct 29, 2022 | Connors’ Comments

FIRST RACE – A warm day in the mountains for late October; not much wind to start … R MADDY BLUE CHIP yielded the lead to sit the good pocket trip, moved out to headstretch and easily paced away from this crew. IC A FREE SPIRIT slotted in third at the 1/8, moved uncovered before the ¼, never got close than the saddle pad of the pocket horse in challenging, but showed his usual gameness to take second away from BABES DIG ME. The latter made the lead at the 3/16, slowed the half, picked it up down the back but still wasn’t under the gun, didn’t have the stretch steps. PANTHEON HANOVER had troubling steering on the second turn and went inside several pylons, not too much kick late, then placed sixth for the pylons violation. MANNY was last, came up the far inside with some pace. SPORTSMANSHIP was no factor after staying inside. TRY LINE wasn’t in a great outer flow, three-wide late turn but didn’t gain. BLACKLIGHT was uncovered going to turn two but then picked up cover on that curve, gapped out far turn.

SECOND RACE – SOUTHPORT BEACH went on top before the 1/8, pushed a rival to a hard quarter then relinquished to sit in the two-hole behind a late-developing front-end fight, to the Pocono Pike and right on by embattled leaders. KINGSTONS BAD BOY stayed connected inside, used the deep Pike and finished nicely. UNDERTAKER moved into turn two and soon thereafter got cover, gapped it a bit and was blindswitched, cleared the blindswitch early stretch and made up ground well late. EFFRONTE A left and yielded, uncovered at the half and went up later in the backstretch to duel with the pacesetter from there, around the turn, and into the stretch, held pretty well. AIN’T IT FUN moved outside late backstretch, was in a blindswitch far turn and early stretch, finally came clear and had some at the end. RYCROFT N was three-wide early then two-wide to get the lead before a fast quarter, had intense pressure from just past the 5/8 all the rest of the way, not equal to this challenge. GOOD ROCKIN was third-over then moved three-wide past the 5/8, gained some but flattened in the last 1/8.

THIRD RACE – THE WALL was close-up early, moved uncovered 5/8 and put heavy pressure on the leader, opened a clear lead midstretch then held off the closers. FATHER NUNO gapped gapping cover third-over, widest and outkicked BAY MEADOWS for second late. The latter was second-over but wasn’t tight on cover down the back, wide in the stretch, caught from behind for second. J B MAUNEY N left well and took early command, yielded for the pocket, came out behind the winner headstretch but couldn’t offer too much late. PATRIOT NATION took the inner route, may have been in tight quarters deep in the Pocono Pike midstretch. ACTOR HANOVER was not prominent. EAST BEACH defended the pocket early, then quarter-moved, set pretty good fractions, a tired horse in the last 1/8. STELLAR YANKEE was not in a dynamic flow and didn’t get into the race.

FOURTH RACE – MARION GONDOLIER was two-wide in the early fight for the front, went on to secure the top at the ¼ and got some respite to the half, saw off the first-over and then stayed clear of the inner closers while drifting out some. KINDA LUCKY LINDY was three-wide leaving, slid into a 3-tuck, stayed in, had room in the Pocono Pike and outclosed BLOGMASTER for place. The latter used the rail to advantage and came out of the early scramble with the pocket, not a sharp response late. ALTUS HANOVER was four-wide to the first turn, backed off to tuck, backed out second-over 5/8, three-wide late turn, perhaps a better mile than it appears on paper. CHIPLOSIVE angled a midpack tuck, started uncovered on the second turn and made a long advancing move, couldn’t sustain it. NANCY BAR was not in contention. ANDOVER CONTESSA was behind the cover of MUSCLES JARED, who moved second-over but didn’t stay with his cover.

FIFTH RACE – IDEAL WHEEL was uncovered approaching turn two and was right at the leader by the end of that turn, had a very long battle with that one until finally clearing and crossing over late turn, a very impressive mile. IDEAL STAR N had the winner’s cover, couldn’t quite go with it late backstretch and through the turn, continued on steadily to be a clear second. A BETTOR BEACH was third-over, had some late foot to grab third. BRAVO TEX N sat in and was shuffled back, found room between horses in the lane and had finishing foot. PLAY THE FIELD was very fast away, pressured on the lead by the winner from early backstretch, gave up the lead late far turn. TONY TOO TALL left well from PP8 for the pocket, shuffled some as the leader tired on the turn, not much once clear. THE OTHER PAIR never factored.

SIXTH RACE – B A SUPERHERO was well off the three early fighters, made a quarter-move and rook control, easily defeated SHIKANSEN with a couple of reminders. The latter was three-wide past the 1/8 and two-wide to the lead at the ¼, let the winner go, stayed right behind him and held his ground well but wasn’t getting to him. DAGON HANOVER left between horses to the lead just past the 1/8, yielded at the ¼, sat third, trotted evenly late. HOOFBEATS DE VIE was the first on top as the innermost of three leavers, yielded past the 1/8, gapped far turn. PRACTICAL CAT was gapping before the ¾. THE OTHER TWO started to gap out past the half.

SEVENTH RACE – HUNDIE N moved at the ¼ and was out the length of the frontstretch as the leader was reluctant to yield with a parked horse behind, himself had to fight with that parked horse from there through the far turn, then got too far away from two horses who cleared late. ROLLINWITHAMBITION was last and inside, got access to the Pocono Pike and was gaining swiftly late. SHORE OF HIMSELF looked at leaving but kept the pocket filled early, stayed third-in, edged out headstretch but was badly blocked under a hold until midstretch, then squeezed through full of pace. GONNAHAVEONEMORE tucked fourth, then moved into the outer tier on turn two, three-wide far turn, evenly. MINDTRIP could find no early hole so went frontward before the quarter, had cover most of quarter two then was left raw, challenged the winner hard, faded gradually. ARTIFACT HANOVER took early control from the rail, yielded to the winner at the end of the frontstretch, had little from the pocket late. MY WISH CAME TRUE gapped down the back, moved three-wide with cover far turn, not a late factor.

EIGHTH RACE – MACMORRIS HANOVER left and went on to 3/16 command, set a good pace, in control of these to the line. THE LIONKING AS started quickest of all, yielded 3/16 for the two-hole, kept up well. GRAPPLE HANOVER was three-wide to the first turn, got a 4-tuck, stayed in and came up the inside to win a photo for third. MEADOWBRANCH RICKY was second-over, gapped down the backstretch then got closer, three-wide near headstretch, had some late foot. LADY’S IMAGE stayed in third, gapped much of the second half, on a line entering the stretch, no gain late. SWEET HEART AS was uncovered a long way without reaching the front ones. EXPLOSIVEBREAKAWAY was not a factor. SAY YOU DO was off the gate a little, away last, never improved position.

NINTH RACE – THE DARK SHADOW tucked fifth towards turn one, came in high gear before the half and paced his third quarter in 27 to easily go past a stopping leader and open a huge lead, the easiest of winners. MONTY MONO was second-over, couldn’t stay with the winner but did get to retuck in the pocket 11/16, clearly second in a pretty good mile of his own. HOT DEUCE was in the outer flow, briefly pushed three-wide past the 5/8 as horses sought to escape from behind the spent leader, back to two-wide ¾, did OK. THE THUNDER ROLLS (as opposed to AN THE THUNDEROLLS) left quickly and forced a tuck in the 26 opener, strung a challenger out most of the frontstretch before yielding, then for his trouble was shuffled, eased out past the 5/8 and retucked, really not that bad. SILENT SPLENDOR left hard but had to take the pocket, then was shuffled down the back, came out in a blindswitch, got the last check. SNOWBALL’S ROMEO was also shuffled down the back, never a late major player. BROTHER JAMES was at the back throughout. JIMS PERFECT TEN tucked third in the 26 opener then made a quarter-move, looked laboring to clear past the 3/8, stopped as soon as when challenged down the back.

TENTH RACE – CASUAL COOL easily looped the field early, continued at a good clip, was under bigtime pressure from BETTOR MEMORIES soon off the second turn and was behind the outside horse from the 11/16 through the far turn but would not let him clear and cross over, briefly drew clear in the stretch but saw his pesky rival cause him trouble to the line. The latter was looped and took fourth past the 1/8, came with a roar just past the half and as noted had the lead for almost a quarter-mile, looked to be giving way early stretch but then was resurgent in a terrific performance. CRUNCH HANOVER was second-over, gapped a little in the major duel, came on with good pace late. HAMMERING HANK sat in, responded well up the Pocono Pike. CONTROL HEAVEN defended the pocket early, couldn’t stay tight as the top two dueled, held decently. PARMESAN N tucked early, backed out to third-over 5/8, three-wide late turn, OK. TOWN GOSSIP was never a factor. ONTO EL DORADO N made a break while last past the half, came back with “b.e.”

ELEVENTH RACE – SAMSON BLUE CHIP yielded at the 1/8, came uncovered before the half, went 26.3 down the back to clear to the lead 11/16 and drew off. THIRD POWER had an excess of cover, swung four-wide into the stretch and picked up all the others. FRAZZLEBERRY was wide early then dropped behind cover, left raw to the 5/16 and went on to command 3/8, fought with the winner before yielding late backstretch, held OK. LATEST ERA took the top at the 1/8, yielded past the ¼, sat in, badly shuffled behind a tired one on the turn and blocked most of the stretch, gained once clear. INCREDIBLE BADGER was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-high to command past the 1/8, yielded, gapped out far turn. NO BETTOR JOY didn’t have great cover but didn’t gain much either. BUTTER UP moved with cover but couldn’t stay with it and was left raw late backstretch, faded. BET EIGHTHIRTYONE gapped at the back.

TWELFTH RACE – FOCUS POCUS was three-wide to the first turn and went on to the lead 3/16, continued at a hot clip the rest of the way, with two stretch challengers coming up just shy. WESLYNN QUEST left, yielded, rethought a move from the pocket 3/8, did come out of the two-hole and challenged ¾, just shy. EUROBOND gapped early backstretch, finally underway 5/8 then got cover ¾ but couldn’t stay with it, wide and gaining with every late stride but just a bit shot. MISTER BOINGA was four-wide to the first turn, took a tuck third, stayed in, could have advanced to the pocket around the turn but didn’t have enough speed. ONE AFTER NINE was close-up early, stayed in, didn’t get into the contest. RICH AND MISERABLE trailed most of the way. MEMO moved out but didn’t move up.

THIRTEENTH RACE – A bit of a stretch headwind for the last two events … IM A GIGOLO N stayed in the whole way, got access to the Pocono Pike as the pocketsitter pulled headstretch, went by pacesetting VETTEL N midstretch but did not draw away. The latter gapped to the ¼ but then was outside off the first turn brushing to the lead, went on down the road in fast fractions, was clear through the turn, was passed midstretch but dug in and fought to the line. LYONS PEGASUS also took the inside route and had some late kick to edge HUGHIE JUNIOR N for third. The latter went by everybody early, yielded for the pocket, went loose in same ¾, couldn’t hold third late. RIFLEMAN had an excess of nonflowing cover, finished with speed. CALIBER started uncovered before the half, got cover at that point but was not a factor. BRONX SEELSTER was looped leaving and made the pocket, pulled from third at the half but could not reach the leader in the fast pace. SWEET TRUTH had broken equipment entering turn two and was pulled up.

FOURTEENTH RACE – CAPTAIN FANCY made a quarter-move, set an even pace, stayed clear. BULLVILLE TERROR went up second-over, swung wide in the lane and closed well while going close to the outside fence late. BIG BOSS HILL was uncovered going to the half and went in 27 (with the wind) to make a big challenge, flattened just a little in the last 1/8, just missed second. HARD ROCK HULK was last, gapped down the back, then weaved for stretch clearance and gained. MR DS ROCK was parked past the 1/8 for the lead, pushed the winner a ways before yielding for the pocket, didn’t show too much in the last ¼. MISTER DAYTONA N went right to the lead, yielded, in, had stretch clearance but no response. CAPTAIN CASH stayed in, gapped the last half.

Connors’ Comments for Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Oct 24, 2022 | Connors’ Comments

FIRST RACE – A chilly day, making the stretch headwind feel even more draining … GET LIT defended the pocket, moved in the stretch and drew away easily. CAVIART SAGE got an early tuck, sat in, angled to widest early stretch and closed for the distant second. MACH WEST was three-wide leaving, then two-wide until getting in third at the quarter, just missed getting second late. TRAY SURREAL worked out a second-over trip, three-wide late on the far turn, OK. SPRINGSTEEN started uncovered into the second turn, paced 26.3 with the wind down the back but only got to the pocketsitter’s saddle pad, still didn’t fade too badly considering the trip. ROLLWITHPAPAJOE was intent on keeping the lead, rated the second quarter vs. the wind then picked it up, nothing left for the stretch. ATTA BOY DAN stayed in, blocked in the stretch. STATEMENT MADE A went to the two-wide tier but was not a factor.

SECOND RACE – STREET SMARTS was parked until just past the ¼, set the pace, held off a rival to each side. AWSOME PAUL left but took back, sat in third, got closer on the turn then outside midturn, game to be up for second in the last step. HEART MATTERS left strongly, yielded at the ¼, gapped in quarter two but then got closer, Pocono Pike, tried hard. GINGER TREE BRAD stayed connected, moved out midstretch and had finishing trot. THE REST did not ever enter contention.

THIRD RACE – TALLCHIEF HANOVER left, had cover to the 3/16, went up but didn’t have enough speed and took back to third near the 3/8, sat in third, got access to the Pocono Pike and had enough as the pace was slowing late. RUMORED was first on top, yielded and kept the pocket, outside headstretch, never ahead but not far away. ZIRA was parked 3/16 for the lead, held the lead until midstretch, then gave way. SWEET GADGETS went evenly. SPLIT POT moved out on the turn but didn’t fire. LIZZIANA came outside but never gained. THE OTHER TWO lost contact before the half.

FOURTH RACE – PARK SLOPE got early positioning, came uncovered 5/8, grinded up to the leader, worked by her approaching deep stretch. ULI BLUE CHIP was three-wide to turn one and on top before the 3/16, rated the half, raced very well but just didn’t have enough sprint at the end. ANGELINA HANOVER came out with cover, couldn’t go with it late turn, best of the others. HOLD ME CLOSER took the top early then yielded for the two-hole, unplugging from the 11/16. NETWORK EXTENDER was third-over but didn’t have much late. THE OTHER DUO were never in the picture.

FIFTH RACE – MAXIMUS MIKI made the top then pushed most of the ¼ before yielding, sat tight in the pocket, to the Pocono Pike and got by KING KONG KALIBRE. The latter was out most of the ¼ before getting control, rated the half, had pressure from the first-over, shook that one off, just failed to hold on. BET ON ZETTE came raw 5/8 and made a stiff challenge, tired early stretch, far ahead of the others. SMOKIN JOE HANOVER lagged the top three from shortly off the second turn. DARIO HANOVER retucked around a gapper, so-so in the Pocono Pike. BRYCE never entered the picture; nor did WHISKEYANDRAIN. ALABAMAJAMMA was away third then broke 3/16.

SIXTH RACE – QUAINT was three-high to curve one, went on to the front past the ¼, set the pace as she pleased, had enough to withstand a late bid from MRS TAYLOR. The latter took charge from the rail, yielded past the ¼ for the two-hole, came out soon into the stretch, couldn’t quite get by. SWEET EMMY LOU was between horses early, tucked in, started to fade from the top two on the turn. QUINNPATRICKSHEA also had trouble keeping up in the last ¼. ALDEBARAN ACRUX looked at leaving then backed off, started uncovered near the half, never got close. CANTERAWISHING was last, in tight quarters nearing the line. JAKARTA PARTYGIRL offered little. BANK BREAKS moved with cover but had little to offer.

SEVENTH RACE – BELIEVEINTHESPIRIT was urged leaving from the pole and controlled the pace, handled all challenges. EDEN PAIGE N left and settled into the pocket, had a chance in the Pocono Pike but couldn’t gain enough. BETTOR’S WESTERN went uncovered off the second turn, made progress in quarter three and on the turn, then backed off gradually. ER VEGAS sat in, evenly late. SOMWHERENBROOKLN N was second-over but couldn’t off much off cover; the same could be said of SAMMY THE BULL N from third-over. THE OTHER TWO gapped at the back.

EIGHTH RACE – JAGEN H’GHAR  left and was three-wide past the 1/8, fell in behind the cover of an early mover then was left uncovered past the ¼, went on to the lead past the 3/8, had no serious late opposition. SECRET RULE was uncovered at the 5/8, retucked in the pocket ¾, came out in the lane but couldn’t cut into the winner’s margin. CIRCUIT PARTY moved behind cover, was left uncovered far turn, next in line. A ONE A went right out to command, yielded past the ¼, shuffled when the pocketsitter gave way, came clear and ducked back inside, evenly. ZETTE FLAME did get a check. PUB HOPPING was away second, moved nearing the ¼ in front of the winner, claimed the top then yielded to the challenger, started gapping more and more from past the half. DONATELLO HANOVER miscued shortly before the start. EMBRACE THE STONE broke nearing turn two.

NINTH RACE – SPINOUT showed good gate speed to emerge with the early lead, rated the half, then was just plain faster than these in the last half. SAFENSOUND HANOVER was three-wide to the first turn, worked up into the pocket 3/16 and had a fine journey, did OK but had to settle for second. ARTACHE HANOVER sat in, had some late gain in the Pocono Pike. SPORTSMANSHIP left, wound up third, moved outside midturn but had no forward gear. DREAM OF LUCK was not heard from. BLOW A CLOUD N gapped nonadvancing cover. DARTH FADER moved nearing turn two, advanced but could only get to the wheel of the pocket horse before fading. SCRAPPIN GOLD had some early speed wide, took all the way back to last early and never reemerged.

TENTH RACE – KEN’S WALNER went right out to command, finally got a challenge from HAND DOVER DAN late backstretch, was fighting with that one midstretch when his rival lost stride. The latter settled in third early, came out 5/8 and took it to the leader, searching for more when breaking midstretch and ran home, placed third for LOB. TNT BLUE CHIP stuck to the rail, then moved out early stretch and gained. COMPLETE LIFE sat the two-hole trip, began to unplug from past the 5/8. DISTANCE LEARNING also sat in, also had trot late. SCOTTISH was not heard from. HOLY BEING moved out behind gapping cover, never entered the main picture. FRANK THE ELDER moved second-over but immediately gapped.

ELEVENTH RACE – LET’S GET ROCKED was wide early then got in fourth to the ¼ ahead of trouble, gapped much of the middle half then was out behind cover late backstretch, wide in the stretch and just had enough to catch RESTAURANT BULLY at the very end. The latter was looped early, powered on up to the lead at the ¼, was challenged before the ¾ and was noticeably a bit rough in the last stanza, still only was caught in the shadow of the wire. WARRAWEE XTREME slid into a tuck third 3/16, came uncovered 11/16 and made a good challenge, not far off at the wire. C-BET HANOVER bolted away to a big early lead, yielded at the ¼ to sit second, started to get a little loose on the far turn. TREVOR’S HUNT was leaving when making a break before the first turn, caught right back on and avoided an incident later before the ¼, did OK in recovery. CAPTAIN MAP and BLAZING BLACK were right behind BEACHY BOY HILL when he broke 3/16; none of the three ever got back into it.

TWELFTH RACE – MUSHANA moved just before the quarter, needed the entire second panel to reach the top, but kept control from that point. DIVINE SPIRIT came uncovered 5/8 and picked up cover on the turn, soon wider and closed very well to wrest second from CHUCKY DE VIE. The latter left and put opponents in behind, made the winner work very hard to get to the front then sat the pocket, neither gained nor lost ground in the stretch. MISS MUSCLE raced into the pocket past the 1/8, stayed in until midturn, couldn’t advance. BRIGITTE BI left into a 3-spot, couldn’t gain in the lane. JUSTIFY and PHANTOM RUSTY gapped near the back; CHOCOTURE also never was a major danger.

THIRTEENTH RACE – GREYSTONE WATCHMAN took immediate control from the pole, rated the half, then turned it up to a higher gear and never was in danger. LETMECALLYOUBACK took the pocket early, moved out late on the turn but lost ground, still staying second. KEYSTONEFIGHTNIGHT grabbed position out of the gate, stayed third-in, little late. ALWAYS BETTER sat midpack, to the Pocono Pike but couldn’t get there for third. LATEST ATTRACTION got the last check. MICHAEL’S MONSTER moved out 11/16 but never advanced. GRATEFUL KISS was hard to settle back early, lost contact in the last half.

FOURTEENTH RACE – CAPTAIN COOK defended the pocket early and waited, went to the Pocono Pike and proved to have the most of these. BARRYWHITE HANOVER took back to slot third, stayed in, went to the deep Pike and was gaining pretty well late. PBR STREET GANG tucked in fourth at the 1/8, moved uncovered at the half and challenged, was caught only by the inside horses. MY BOY JACK used the pole to establish control, came under pressure, didn’t fade all that badly. LENDA HAND MAN looked at leaving but then took back sharply, moved uncovered towards turn two then picked up cover at the half, gradually tightened in on it, missed second by only a neck. I’LL TAKE THE BET was third-over, OK. CENTURY HEFNER stayed in and didn’t keep up.