Oct 6, 2022 | Entertainment, Food & Beverage, General News, Holiday, Travel & Leisure
The all-new Hive Taphouse will host NEPA’s top Halloween Party on Saturday, October 29th starting at 8:00pm
Guests are in for a treat when a new Halloween bash hits Mohegan Sun
Pocono (MSP) on Saturday, October 29th from 8:00pm – 10:00pm inside The Hive Taphouse. The Haunt at the Hive will have its own Halloween costume party set to award cash prizes for the best costumes in different categories. The Haunt in the Hive will also feature the popular band, Screaming Broccolli, on the music stage.
For entry into the costume party, guests must be 21+ and register on the Sky Bridge outside of The Hive Taphouse during the event. Contest winners will be announced at 11:00pm. There will be three categories; Scariest, Most Original and new this year, Best Couple or Group costume! The top prize for each category will check in at $300 in cash. From there, 2nd and 3rd place in each category will be awarded $200 and $100 respectively. It’s time for the most enthusiastic Halloween partiers in northeast PA to bring their A-game! The Haunt in the Hive will also feature a drink special, The Zombie – made with Vodka, Midori Lime, Blue Curacao and RumChata.
In addition to a killer costume contest, the rockers by way of Staten Island, NY, Screaming Broccolli, will be on-hand providing live entertainment. Led by long-time front man Michael Laughlin, Screaming Broccolli has played across the northeast and east coast, and was named by SiLive.com “Best of Staten Island” for being the region’s best cover band. The band is known for having an incredible song catalog, playing everything from ‘The Chain Gang’ to The Chainsmokers. Visit facebook.com/screamingbroccolli for more info.
The Hive Taphouse is MSPs new bar, grill and live entertainment venue serving the likes of Stouts, IPAs, Stouts, Cider, Ale, Lager, Pilsner, Hefeweizen and a rotating schedule of seasonal beer. The venue also boasts a can’t miss entertainment calendar, various flat screens for all the big games and the perfect dining menu equipped with flatbreads, salads, burgers, wings and plenty more. For the full event calendar, visit The Hive Taphouse.
*Masks and full-face paint are only allowed in the event space. Guests may enter through the Racing entrance located adjacent to Lot A as well.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN POCONO
Mohegan Sun Pocono, owned by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, was the first destination to bring gaming to Pennsylvania in 2006 and since then has become one of the premier entertainment, gaming, shopping, and dining destinations in the state. Situated on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun Pocono features a 238-room hotel with on-site spa and adjacent 20,000 square-foot Convention Center. It is currently home to 68,000 square feet of gaming space including nearly 60 live table games, over 1,700 slot machines and electronic table games, a variety of dining and shopping options, nightlife, entertainment and live harness racing. Mohegan Sun Pocono is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware. More information is available by calling 1.888.946.4672 or visiting our website. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, download our app and view us on YouTube.
Oct 4, 2022 | Entertainment, Food & Beverage
Lead Singers from The Marvelettes, The Spinners & Temptations will Bring the Motown Hits + Holiday Favorites to Keystone Grand Ballroom on December 4th
WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 4, 2022) – Forever Motown will perform a holiday celebration inside Mohegan Sun Pocono’s Keystone Grand Ballroom on Sunday, December 4th at 4:00pm. This Friday at 10:00am, tickets for this all ages show will go on sale, starting at $25 via Ticketmaster.com. Tickets that are purchased at the Mohegan Sun Pocono Box Office, located at the Hotel Front Desk, will receive a complimentary voucher for $10 Free Slot Play!
Experience Forever Motown with some holiday flare on one stage for one night at Mohegan Sun Pocono! A legendary collection of performers including G.C. Cameron, original lead singer of The Spinners, Glenn Leonard, former lead singer of The Temptations, and former members of The Marvelettes headline this trip down Motown memory lane. The group of nine all-star performers will bring all the soul to the Keystone Grand Ballroom for a full stage production that can’t be missed!
To learn more about this show and to purchase tickets, visit mohegansunpocono.com
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN POCONO:
Mohegan Sun Pocono, owned by Mohegan, was the first destination to bring gaming to Pennsylvania in 2006 and since then has become one of the premier entertainment, gaming, shopping, and dining destinations in the state. Situated on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun Pocono features a 238-room hotel with on-site spa and adjacent 20,000 square-foot Convention Center. It is currently home to 66,000 square feet of gaming space including nearly 60 live table games, over 1700 slot machines and electronic table games, a variety of dining and shopping options, nightlife, entertainment and live harness racing. Mohegan Sun Pocono is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware. More information is available by calling 1.888.WIN.IN.PA (1.888.946.4672) or visiting our website. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, download our app and view us on YouTube.
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Oct 4, 2022 | Connors’ Comments
FIRST RACE – Cool; stretch headwind … STICK WITH ME KID took back early, moved uncovered before the 5/8 and challenged, had a small lead midturn when the pacesetter broke, went clear for a bit, then tired but did hold on. ARCHIBALD moved second-over behind the winner, not tight on him on the turn, then better late to just miss. HOT SUMMER KNIGHT raced inside, advanced up the inside late. KEYSTONE THUNDER was out to the front before the 1/8, yielded for the pocket, didn’t seem bothered by the breaker, so-so late. PRAIRIE VIRTUE backed out to third-over but did not factor. SMART AS HILL gapped in last, wide on the far turn but didn’t make up ground. SPREE quarter-moved, set the pace, got pressure late backstretch, had been headed on the far turn when going to a break and taken inside the pylons.
SECOND RACE – AMP IT UP was underway before the ¼ and was on the point just past the 3/8, got a big challenge from the first-over but held him out, drew away. MIND HUNTER left, put a rival in behind, then yielded 3/8 for the pocket, couldn’t gain late but well ahead of the rest. PINK FLOYD HANOVER left and settled in the early pocket, stayed inside, next in line. CAPTAIN MAP was outside with cover early backstretch, couldn’t go with the first-over during the big backstretch fight, so-so. ANGLER HANOVER got a check. HANDSOFFMYTITOS was a bit hard to handle starting to move uncovered before the half and ran up on the horse in front of him, quickly settled and came his third quarter in 27, getting a short lead, but faded in the last 3/16. THE OTHER TWO gapped at the back.
THIRD RACE – BRACE FOR LANDING went out from the rail for the lead, not bothered by outside challengers, but kept to task to withstand YOUCOMEHEREOFTEN. The latter tucked in the pocket, a bit loose down the back, but stayed steady to the line. PRAIRIE NUGGET gapped most of the race but was still a clear third. FAWN DE SIGN had little to offer. ONE HUNDRED POOF miscued 3/16. TAKE MY NAME was wide leaving then tucked third, made a break 9/16.
FOURTH RACE – SAMMY THE BULL N was the innermost of a cadre of leavers, forced a fast quarter then sat the pocket, outside early stretch and just nipped BELIEVEINTHESPIRIT on the money. The latter was three-wide to the 3/16 and onward to the lead near the 26.4 quarter, rated the half and didn’t have backstretch heat, just failed to withstand the winner and far ahead of the rest. HOT ROD DYLAN was out behind sluggish cover, ducked inside on the far turn and was along for a distant third. CHANCELLORCULLEN N was between horses until tucking 3/16, had little in the last ¼. ALL ABOUT RUSTY never factored. SARATOGA BLUE CHIP was very wide early, rode outside midpack until fading in the last stanza. ELRAMA N moved out behind the parked horse before the half, went three-wide 11/16 but did not gain. BEACHESBECKONME moved outside and wide but had little to offer.
FIFTH RACE – CANTERBURY HANOVER moved out 5/8 and quickly got in high gear, ate up the big advantage of the leader then drew away. LADY LIRA was parked with cover to the 3/16, went on as her cover tucked and made the lead 3/8, opened a big lead down the back, easily overhauled by the winner but far clear in second. NINA HANOVER was between horses and tucked in 3/16, left a gap down the back, then outside late on the turn, wide in the stretch and defeated the others for the distant show. ANDOVER JESS had the early pocket, stayed in, not very much in the lane. ANGELINA HANOVER had cover but couldn’t go with it. FAWN DE DON’T left well to get the lead before the first turn, yielded 3/8, unplugged from the 5/8. BROADWAY SENSATION made a brief break before the start but caught the field, no factor thereafter.
SIXTH RACE – VILLAGE CHAMP kept the pocket closed, outside towards headstretch and drew clear after the fast fractions. BETTOR’S WESTERN took back, tightened in before the half, went to the Pocono Pike but in doing so went inside the last pylon before the Pike, edged FEHERTY for second but was placed behind that rival for the pylon infraction. FEHERTY went to the lead in the 26.3 opener, set the pace, tired some. ALL IT TAKES followed three-wide cover then went three-wide uncovered the last ¼ and gained. LATE NIGHT JOKE was outside on turn two, three-wide 5/8 to two-wide but didn’t get in the main picture. WOODMERE ROLLEX was not a contender. GIVEN UP TERROR was looped and three-wide early, then left out two-wide, pressed the leader but couldn’t clear, tried 5/8.
SEVENTH RACE – SECRET RULE was looped between horses early, briefly tucked then quarter-moved, didn’t have anybody reach him then drew off in the last quarter. KILGORE S got forward positioning, stayed in until coming out and on in the stretch for the distant second. CS EXPLOSIVE CHIP was quickly to the lead at 105-1, yielded for the two-hole, got looser and looser from before the ¾. DOYLE HANOVER passed the rest. FEAST DAY was out most of the ¼ before tucking, moved out before the 5/8 but never moved up. ROJO MAN moved behind cover down the back, tried to go around it but never did. PRETTY DAME SPEEDY wasn’t keeping up on the far turn when making a break, ran home along the inside, placed. KOLB HANOVER was always far back.
EIGHTH RACE – CAPTAIN COOK rushed right to the top and strung out the field, ceding ground some late but had too big a lead to be caught. PLAY THE ACE was the only horse to make a significant outside move the last half, came coming on for a good second. GRATEFUL KISS kept the pocket, then was loose in it most of the way, evenly late. I’LL TAKE THE BET was looped early and tucked third, tried to gain late in the Pocono Pike but could not. LETMECALLYOUBACK got the last check. THE OTHER THREE were far detached, A SHORE LEGACY after a brief early break.
NINTH RACE – U BAKE THE CAKE left wide, to two-wide to the pocket past the 1/8, started gapping before the half, then inherited the lead when the pacesetter ran past mid-far turn, had enough to maintain the advantage in a 31.4 last quarter. PUB HOPPING stayed in in the strung-out field, came up the inside but couldn’t reach the winner. HECKRAISER HANOVER left and tucked early, got closer 5/8 and moved outside on the turn, but had been bottomed out chasing the fast numbers. THE NEXT TWO were always far behind. BRIGHT SIDE UP made the lead, was under a big hold yet still opened up a large advantage down the back, but couldn’t hold it together again mid-far turn.
TENTH RACE – BET EIGHTTHIRTYONE left enough to push a foe a ways while protecting the pocket, waited in the two-hole until the stretch, wore down GREYSTONE WATCHMAN late. The latter started quickly, was on top 3/16, set the pace, held very well until very late. INCREDIBLE BADGER sat in, never made any kind of threatening move. BRAZOS went evenly along the inside. MY BOY JACK was uncovered 3/8, gained some, got cover 11/16, couldn’t keep gaining. BIONIC was between horses early, tucked third, moved outside 11/16 but lost ground. BARRYWHITE HANOVER backed out to third-over, three-wide on the turn, no factor. MISTER DAVID C was trying to gain between horses when breaking while far back past early stretch.
ELEVENTH RACE – BEYOND ORDINARY yielded, stayed third-in until angling out then wide late turn, proved the wrong horse was named ESPLOSIONE this day by showing a big burst nearing the wire to win. The latter was looped, proceeded up methodically to command 3/8, set the pace, looked like he was going to make the lead last even in deep stretch but just got nipped. MISS MCKEE left well from PP8 to make the top at the 1/8, yielded for the pocket, loomed in the Pocono Pike but couldn’t make it. BELIEVER came uncovered 5/8, held decently. BAUTISTA moved second-over 5/8 but couldn’t keep up. MUSHANA had cover but did not enter the picture. KEEGAN HO and SUPER BETCHA both gapped in a fast race.
TWELFTH RACE – STAR TRACK HANOVER pulled before the outside horse had cleared to the lead late first turn, went on to the top, opened up in the third quarter and won by himself. GREAT MAGIC took the early lead, saw two go by, pulled from third 11/16, not a bad mile and far ahead of the others. AMBERS CHAMPION came out with cover late in the backstretch, won a photo for the distant third over TEDDY BROSEVELT. The latter went on to take over 3/16, soon yielded, pocket, couldn’t keep up at the 5/8. SPRING IN PARIS and ARCH CREDIT were both outside down the back but never got close. FRAC showed little.
THIRTEENTH RACE – ROSE RUN URIAH left inside of a wall and refused to give up the lead under pressure, rated some down the backstretch as the outer tiers weren’t menacing, game late to defeat STARVIN MARVIN. The latter left, took the pocket and stayed close as an outside foe challenged, had his shot in the Pocono Pike but couldn’t go by. WHATA TREASURE was underway two-wide to turn two, three-wide 5/8 to two-wide raw before the ¾, next-best. STELLAR BB was three-wide early, challenged but couldn’t get the lead or a tuck, went inside ¾ as a gap developed, held OK until early stretch. LORD OF MISRULE had an excess of cover, made up some ground for the last check. CANT KNOCK ME sat in, was shuffled, but then had little response along the inside late. IYQ YQR moved third-over but gapped. CAPTAIN MALICIOUS was out with cover before getting inside 5/16, backed up to the ¾.
FOURTEENTH RACE – SUNDANCEDIAMOND left, got into the pocket before the ¼, backed out to follow PUBLICITY SEEKER as that one cleared past the 5/8, went on to tuck in the pocket on the turn, up the inside late and went by the leader. The latter couldn’t quite keep the pocket closed nearing the ¼, moved out as the parked horse was clearing 3/8, got in gear down the backstretch to take over command and went a fast 3/4s, tired late and was caught. WILLIE B WORTHY was on top going to turn one, yielded to the 3/8, backed out behind the winner, was left raw on the turn, gained as the pace slowed late. FLANAGAN DESTINY left and had cover almost to the ¼, pressed on to the lead near the 3/8, was passed towards late backstretch and faded. THE OTHER FOUR were well off the back four early in the backstretch and never got close.
Oct 2, 2022 | Connors’ Comments
FIRST RACE – Mid to upper 60s; stretch headwind … TONY TOO TALL made two speed moves in controlling the pace, drew away in the last 1/8 looking sharp. BIG BOSS HILL was between horses leaving and tucked third past the 1/8, shuffled some later on the turn and had to await the Pocono Pike, good once clear along the inside for place. JK MUSICMAN moved outside 11/16 but didn’t gain. CAVIART MAX moved out on the turn and went wide early stretch, finished with speed. TRAY SURREAL went uncovered at the half, finally got cover 11/16, couldn’t rally. SOMEBODYITREASURE was three-high past the 1/8, then two-wide to the lead 3/16, yielded and sat in the two-hole, unplugged far turn. CLOUSEAU HANOVER never entered the main picture. LUZIANA was inside, gapped from the ¾.
SECOND RACE – SLY ELEANOR N backed off early, kept a hole closed in the frontstretch to keep a horse parked, slipped out far turn and went right on to the lead and the victory. SHADOW ONE had the rail against two leavers, yielded to one then kept the pocket tight to keep the other parked, did not pull out far turn, took the Pocono Pike and was a clear second. HEAVENISSOFARAWAY stayed inside, moved out into a blindswitch approaching headstretch, was searching for room and had to check in close quarters midstretch, then gained once fully clear. ABBY ROSE was underway two-wide before the half, three-wide just before the ¾ through the turn, steadily. BROOKDALE JESSIE was far back along the inside, gained then seemed to take a bad step going to the deep Pike and never regained any momentum. SUMMER RAE was between horses just beyond the 3/16 to get the lead in a fast ¼, had to keep up the fast pace with an outside challenger, tired. TALL POPPY N was three-wide just past the 3/16 then to two-wide uncovered, had to spend life on the rim, fell back some nearing the ¾ but stayed on one-geared and was actually blocked at the wire. RIGGINSWIND gapped at the end.
THIRD RACE – LENDA HAND MAN went away for the pocket, was able to back out behind the new leader far turn, wide and enough to get the decision. STATE SENATOR tucked in third just past the 1/8, came uncovered 5/8, got the lead but not the inside far turn, caught after a good mile. FLIGHT ONEFORTYSIX hugged the inside and was gaining in the Pocono Pike. BULLVILLE FRANK never got going until too late. ZEUS HANOVER moved outside but gapped, on the far turn just enough to let the winner get out. HUNTED HOUSE showed good speed from the rail, picked up a pesky challenge late backstretch, came up empty in the stretch.
FOURTH RACE – SO SUPREME took back early and stayed in third, could have gone up to the pocket as the two-holer pulled late turn but elected to swing out and wide, went to the lead late. QUEEN LOSTRIS N was three-wide to turn one then two-wide to 3/16 command, yielded to a brusher for the pocket, moved outside late turn, took over early stretch and had the stretch lead a long way. CULINARY ARTIST sat in, had room to gain along the inside in the last 1/8 and did so to be third. GREENHILL HANOVER was first to move out on turn two but soon got cover, wide on the far turn, evenly as the pace slowed. SO DELIGHTFUL was wide early then tucked fourth past the 1/8, started raw at the half, one-geared along not threatening the top ones but also holding on fairly well. BEACH PASSAGE left, yielded, quarter-moved to take over 3/8, set the pace, gave way. ALLMYLOVIN HANOVER never factored. ALWAYS CURIOUS lost contact the last half.
FIFTH RACE – FRESHGROUNDPEPPER was three-deep to turn one then on top past the 1/8, slowed the half then turned up the speed, drew away from these nicely. P L PANDORA sat third-in until the ¾, was just up for second in the closing steps over HONORABLE LADY. The latter left then yielded to sit the two-hole, not enough late sprint and just nabbed for the deuce. SANTA MONICA AS came outside with cover to the far turn, found her best steps a mite too late. SOUTHWIND DESI stayed in, Pocono Pike, got the last check. TSM LOYAL T never factored. COWBOY CRUISIN moved out from last early backstretch, gained, got cover ¾, gapped it late far turn then miscued.
SIXTH RACE – IMPRINCESSGEMMA A was three-deep to turn one then took over past the 1/8 in a quick opening number, withstood the first-over, was tired late but so was the rest of her opposition. SHES A SASSY BEACH secured the pocket early, gapped a bit far turn, OK along the inside late to get second. JB’S STAR DANCER moved behind cover but gapped it, evenly late. HURRIKANEMYSHANNON left a gap the first half, then found a better gear and went up to challenge, couldn’t sustain the move. ANOTHER BEACH DAY sat in, spent most of the stretch angling wide to find a path, some response once clear. GRANT ME THIS gapped a gapper as third-over, widest in the stretch, so-so. NARINA HANOVER gapped at the back.
SEVENTH RACE – NO NAME YANKEE left well to the top, yielded to the brushing favorite to sit in the two-hole, left a gap on the turn then did better and gradually wore the leader down. CIRCLE OF LIFE AS was away second then improved that position by one with an early move, had a clear lead on the turn but tired gradually and was caught. CARAMEL MACCHIATO tucked fourth at the 1/8, moved uncovered past the 5/8, next in line. SCIROCCO BIG JOHN moved outside early backstretch then got cover but gapped it, finished with a good surge on the extreme outside. FASHION WINNER sat third, started unplugging 5/8. PHANTOM RUSTY never factored; nor did BAZAAR BAZAAR. GREEK LEGEND moved outside before the half but never got close.
EIGHTH RACE – PAULAS BET HANOVER was away second, moved 3/16 to take over just past the ¼, yielded and sat in the two-hole, outside late turn and just got by BETTE TINA late. The latter moved behind the winner then went on to take command before the 3/8, set the pace, just failed to last to the wire. ROCKNROLL NELLA outleft everybody, saw two go by, went evenly late. TWENTY GRAND stayed in, went to the Pocono Pike but did not gain. HIT ME UP made a break early, recovered and sat last, came outside towards turn two then got cover 5/8, three-wide ¾, made up some territory in the 30 kicker. SHE’S MAGICAL and STARZZNSTRIPES didn’t do much here. ASHLEE’S DELIGHT moved raw 5/8, didn’t advance very much, then retreated.
NINTH RACE – CAPTAIN SOLO was on top at the 1/8, yielded for the pocket and stayed close, to the Pocono Pike, got the lead midstretch and hung on to it tenaciously in a blanket finish. LET’S GOT ROCKED sat in then backed out to third-over past the 5/8, swung wide, looked a little steppy but made up a lot of ground late. BET ON ZETTE stayed third-in, went to the deep Pike and was right there at the finish. STORM THE COURT was three-wide to the 1/8 then went on to take over just past the ¼, got a slow second quarter then had to really step it up to meet the huge charge of the first-over, kept that one outside, stayed fighting right to the end. JERSEY JUSTICE was near the back, had some room along the inside and did OK. EXCURSION went uncovered before the half, hit a very high gear in going 26.4 down the back to challenge for the lead, did have a small advantage but couldn’t cross over, tired midstretch. TSM TRISTAN T was second-over, gapped, then didn’t have a clear path late. DEL MAR DOUG gapped early and lost contact down the back.
TENTH RACE – Stretch headiwnd / backstretch tailwind is very strong now, helping to explain the fast third quarters in this race and the one previous … STONEBRIDGE KARIS went right to the lead, slowed the half then had to rev up quickly in the face of a serious first-over challenge, kept that one out and drew clear in the stretch. COWBOY COOL came out 5/8 and hustled to get close to cover, three-wide late turn, finished solidly. LIFETIME EXPERIENCE had the pocket before the 1/8, gapped in it during the 26.4 third quarter and beyond, just enough to get third over CODYS KNAPSACK. The latter vacated third at the half and went his own third quarter in 26.2 to fight hard with the leader, but was rebuffed. COUNTER OFFER was last at every call.
ELEVENTH RACE – UPTOWN HANOVER went up behind great cover, gapped it slightly far turn, but then picked up the pace and drew clear of the two battlers. ALWAYS B FIRST was uncovered from the 3/8, one-geared up raw to reach the leader before the ¾, fought with that one the rest of the way, did get the better of her late but the winner outpaced both. JIVE DANCING A was three-wide to the 1/8 and out to a 26.3 opener, didn’t have a challenger until nearing the ¾ but still went on very quickly, gave ground only grudgingly and almost held for second. THE STUNNING NUN N was in the lively outer flow, stayed in the path behind the winner in the stretch. MAJOR BATTLE sat in, then backed out to follow good cover, wide, OK. APRIL AVA made the lead at the 1/8, yielded at the ¼, started to gap when the pace picked up down the backstretch. JUXTA COWGIRL made the lead and yielded, gapped. HP XANADU was not in the main picture.
TWELFTH RACE – TORRONE was in front at the 1/8, set the pace, kept to urging late. BY A HOFF HANOVER tucked early, vacated third 11/16 and kept coming on in a good race. CHAMPAGNE HANOVER had the pocket, started to gap off the second turn but popped the earplugs 9/16 and narrowed back in, then couldn’t keep pace from before the ¾, just held third. ARGENTO was inside the stretch breaker and gained some at the end. MATTER OF TRUST never featured. SCOTTISH gapped during the third quarter then was a bit closer and outside on the turn, searching for more trot when offstride midstretch. MEDLEY looked rank going to the start, wide leaving and broke at the 1/8.
THIRTEENTH RACE — MIKI MINAJ started raw into the second bend, hit a high gear 5/8 and went up to battle the leader, had a short advantage around the turn, then went on to defeat the railshooting ROGERTHAT BLUECHIP. The latter took over 3/16, yielded to a brusher for the pocket, was stuck behind the tiring leader at a very crucial juncture headstretch until getting to the Pocono Pike, then was eating up the ground late in an unlucky loss. DIVISION BELL left, yielded, backed out 11/16, tightened in on his cover on the turn, fair late. FRONTIER ROLLO couldn’t go with the winner’s brush down the back and let a foe out, so-so. HOW ARE YEE JOHN left some, inside, gapped. ROCK THREE TIMES never entered the picture. AMERICA’S GUEST came hustling out of fourth 3/16 and went to the lead 5/16, got pressure from the winner, tired through the stretch.
FOURTEENTH RACE – OAKWOODNITOWNIT IT was three-wide leaving to take over early, relinquished command to sit the pocket, had room in the Pocono Pike and was along easily. HEZA REAL DIAMOND was wide three-wide to the 1/8 then backed off to tuck fourth, uncovered into turn two, grinded, was outsped to his left but very game to hold second. CAPTAIN CASH was looped between horses early, pressed on to the lead past the ¼, slowed the half then sped up, not quite enough at crunch time. VANILLA MALTED was third-over, made a big three-wide move 11/16 to loom midturn, flattened a bit. PALOMAR was second-over, blindswitched, fair between horses. I’VE GOT HOOTSPA stayed in, had pace in tight quarters late. GET LIT left some, stayed in, not that much late. DIVINE RIGHT was out behind the sweeper far turn but never was onto the main radar.
Oct 2, 2022 | Connors’ Comments
FIRST RACE – Coolish, and with a stretch headwind almost all the day, which explains where a lot of the winners came from (front and inside) except for the first race … COXCOMB was away seventh as many left, last at the half, was fourth-over down the back, then three-wide towards the ¾ and practically circled the field on the far turn, drew clear. CANDY TRADER was wide early, then had cover to the ¼, to the lead at the 3/8, had pressure almost immediately, held on very well. NO BETTER JOY sat in, came up the Pocono Pike to be a distant third. MONEYORROSES dropped in before the 3/16, inside, angled outside in the stretch and had some pace. MIDNIGHT DAY paced on to take over at the ¼, yielded, struggled a bit in the third quarter and then couldn’t gain in the lane. FRAZZLEBERRY gapped third-over, was blindswitched, didn’t enter the picture. THIRD POWER was second-over, gapped much of the backstretch then narrowed in, then was blindswitched through the turn, not much late. BUTTER UP dashed to the lead and yielded at the ¼, came again raw on the second turn but couldn’t go by, faded.
SECOND RACE – CRYSTAL FASHION went to the top going to curve one, yielded 3/16 and sat a great trip until midturn, moved out and went by easily. ONE AFTER NINE stayed connected in third, outside in the lane and along for second over P L NOTSONICE. The latter went to the lead 3/16 and rolled on, no match for the winner and then was caught for second late. DEE’S RED DELICIOUS came out late backstretch but never was a major player. CHAPOLIER moved outside at a distance on the far turn, OK. NO DRAMA PLEASE and MARION GONDOLIER gapped at the back; SWEET HEART AS gapped even more.
THIRD RACE – BELLOWS BINGE raced up into the pocket behind an insistent leader and got a great trip behind a big duel, outside before late turn and went to the lead, went clear. HUNDIE N quarter-moved but was given the brotherly cold shoulder, persevered with outstanding courage and somehow retained second. MINDTRIP was third-over, gapped then got closer in a blindswitch, could swing wide late turn and finished steadily. EDDARD HANOVER was well-positioned inside, not too much late. BROTHER JAMES stayed inside, gained some in the deep Pocono Pike. DONE WELL struck the top early and refused to yield in a fast pace, paid the price in the stretch. BLACKLIGHT didn’t offer too much. IDEAL WHEEL wheeled out behind the parked horse, sent three-wide 5/8 but couldn’t go by the parked horse and in fact backed through the field on the far turn.
FOURTH RACE – EFFRONTE A was three-wide early then two-wide on to the lead at the 3/16, had challengers tuck in behind him as he went on and the pocket horse backed up, stayed safely clear. OWEN got a forward spot, then was horribly shuffled behind the tiring two-holer, not clear from the 5/8 to headstretch, then wide, still sixth midstretch, flying late to photo out NEWBIE. The latter tucked, then was uncovered towards turn two, went into the pocket 5/8, couldn’t go with the winner, went on well but caught for second on the money. REYS N A RUCKUS took until the 3/16 to settle in sixth, then second-over, left uncovered 5/8, into a three-tuck far turn, outside stretch, OK. UNDERTAKER was in the good outer flow, uncovered far turn, fair late. MANNY was shuffled then moved out, didn’t make the main picture. CONCUR gapped at the back. SHANGHAI BOBBY left between horses, raced in the pocket until falling back from the 5/8 onward.
FIFTH RACE – EUROBOND was three-wide to the 1/8 then settled behind cover to the 3/8, left raw and didn’t get the lead into early in the backstretch, but then just drew away effortless in a quite superior mile. GRAPPLE HANOVER got the top 3/16, yielded 3/8, inherited the pocket 5/8 when its former occupant broke, did well. MYSTICAL WYNN came through at the start, pushed a foe early then yielded, went what he could and got third. THE LIONKING AS moved outside from far back down the back, steadily late. TOKYO SEELSTER never featured. SORTIE was outside with little. ALL RISE didn’t factor. RICH AND MISERABLE chose to remain two-wide early, needed to the 3/8 and make the lead and then pushed the winner well past a fast half, had already begun to gap when breaking 5/8.
SIXTH RACE – PURPLE POET left hard but reluctantly took the pocket as the leader went in 26, waited for the Pocono Pike, then closed enough for the victory. THE MOONSHADOW N did not want to surrender the lead, kept it, backed off the half, met the challenge of the first-over, but then could not withstand the winner late. PREMIER ROCKSTAR took back, might’ve pulled if the four horses directly in front of him going into turn two hadn’t also gone outside, decided to take his chances improving inside, didn’t clear until approaching midstretch, hit a high gear but not a supersonic one. JIMS PERFECT TEN lagged off the first quarter fight, then led the two-wide tier, grinded, couldn’t sustain his bid. ATOMIC BLAST pulled but was fourth-over, went back inside nearing the half, angled out early stretch but didn’t gain. ROLLINWITHAMBITION was behind dull cover, three-wide ¾ but didn’t advance. KINGSTONS BAD BOY was second-over, struggled to stay semi-close to cover down the back then faded on the turn.
SEVENTH RACE – MONTY MONO sat a very good pocket trip, then used the Pocono Pike as his path to victory. PARK OFFICIAL started on the grind approaching turn two, tried very hard in a big mile. DRAGON STRIKES sat in and was shuffled badly, spent most of the stretch weaving between horses for clearance and finished strongly. MY WISH CAME TRUE was third-over, three-wide late turn, one-geared late. LYONS NIGHT HAWK was on top at the 1/8, rated the half, didn’t get pressure until nearing the far turn, still not enough in the lane. SNOWBALL’S ROMEO tucked third past the 1/8, sat in, Pocono Pike, not a threat. GONNAHAVEONEMORE wasn’t well-served by his cover. SOUTHPORT BEACH was second-over, looked to be all-out staying close down the back, then blindswitched far turn and fell back.
EIGHTH RACE – LEXUS KODY didn’t leave but was on the move not far past the 1/8 to the lead not far past the ¼, appeared to have an easy time of it. AP HALL OF TRIX left quickly for the top then yielded to trail the chalk, did well to stay as close as he did and finished well ahead of the rest. DAGON HANOVER backed out into second-over entering the backstretch, best of the distant rest. JOYGO stayed in, came out behind cover on the turn, never prominent. PRACTICAL CAT had to go up uncovered from far back, gained then saw his bid stall in the latter stages. HIP HOP GRACIE and SPIT AND VINEGAR were always near the rear. HURRIKANE WILLIE G had the early pocket, started to gap midturn.
NINTH RACE – Wind had gone down almost to nothing for this race … SPINOUT left well and was encouraged to push a challenger a long way before yielding for the pocket, came out into the stretch and just wore down SAFENSOUND HANOVER late. The latter was parked almost to the 5/16 to make the top, rated the half then had to pick it up to meet a lively first-over challenge, turned for home still in control, just caught at the end by the pocket rocket. BEVANS CULLEN N closed a hole early, sat in then backed out to third-over 11/16, four-wide late on the final bend and closed well. AIN’T IT FUN was out before the half but ducked back in, angled wide the first part of the stretch and was closing well. SPORTS HERO stayed in, didn’t show much. BASS PLAYER was towed up second-over, three-wide midturn but couldn’t mount a late charge. ROCK KING DEO was in a very tough spot. SPORTSMANSHIP tucked fourth past the 1/8, moved out before the half and quickly got into gear, throwing a 26.4 third quarter fighting the leader, but tired with 3/16 to go.
TENTH RACE – PARMESAN N used the rail to secure the early pocket, then sat third-in until late turn, wide past early stretch and found enough late to just be the big cheese in here. CARLISIMO left but took back, then was out most of the frontstretch to take over the stick, fought with CHATELROLL gamely from past midbackstretch to the wire, very brave and perhaps unlucky to be caught. The latter started uncovered approaching bend two, went his own third quarter in 26.4 to fight with the leader and held bravely to the line. BETTERROCK was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-wide to the 3/16 to get the lead, yielded in front of the stands, couldn’t keep pace late. STONE HANOVER sat in and was shuffled to last, angled out to find clearance headstretch and finished with solid pace. HORSE was never prominent. LOUIE THE HORSE N gapped second-over; BULLVILLE TERROR gapped that gapper.
ELEVENTH RACE – Wind back up … JIM BLUE left and had early control then yielded for the pocket, had a notion to retake at the ¼ but was put back in, got a clear path headstretch as the pacesetter bore out and went right to the lead. BIG CHIC MAGNET was outside early, had the winner pull in front of him 3/16 then was left raw when that one cleared, battled on uncovered gaining in the third quarter, carried wide headstretch, gamely after covering a lot of ground. MAJOR SHOW sat in third, got direct access to the Pocono Pike, so-so. CAPTAIN SLEAZE sat in and was shuffled to last, gained through a narrow hole late while not appearing fully clear. CAVIART EDEN hustled up down the back to get to a tight second-over, three- then pushed four-wide late turn, flattened a little. FORREST BLU backed outside on the turn, found himself five-wide headstretch, no chance. LOUIE THE LOOPER yielded but moved to retake 3/16, set the pace with second-half pressure, tired headstretch and bore out.
TWELFTH RACE – HOT DEUCE left in tandem with PLAY THE FIELD then let that one go to sit behind him, to the Pocono Pike and found a better gear midstretch to garner the victory. The latter made the top in good order, slowed the half, fought off the outer horses but couldn’t handle the one to his inside. STAR MESSENGER was third-over, four-wide in the stretch and just up for third over a bunch of others. REGAL SON sat in, had access to the Pike but did not stay tight on the winner. SHORE OF HIMSELF stayed in, came out into a blindswitch headstretch, OK between horses late. BRAVO TEX N started uncovered on the second turn, took a long time to get in highest gear, then couldn’t sustain that move. INDIGO ART was second-over from last, three-wide to midturn, flattened.
THIRTEENTH RACE – MARK WITHA K left some, moved 5/16 to the lead past the 3/8, paced in 27.1 down the back to try to get away from the field, but found IM A GIGOLO N a plucky grinder, did hold in a 55.2 back half. The latter moved raw at the half from next-to-last in the short field, was a speed-grindmaster-deluxe by going in 26.3 to edge up on the backstretch then continued gaining into the wind, just missed. BETTOR MEMORIES gapped cover slightly, steadily for third. DEALER’S TABLE made the lead at the ¼, yielded, to the Pocono Pike, OK. MISTER DAYTONA N stayed in and was backed up to last, circled wide, couldn’t make up the ground. CAVIART ROCKLAND was three-deep early, on top 3/16, yielded just past the 3/8, a bit loose in the two-hole much of the last half before fading more.
FOURTEENTH RACE – SPEEDY DOMINIC A made the lead past the 1/8, didn’t get any pressure on the lead until past the 5/8, held off the first-over, clear in the lane after identical 55.4 halves. ACTOR HANOVER was between horses early to get the pocket, outside early stretch, didn’t gain but did hold second. LITERL LAD HANOVER pushed early then sat third-in, to the Pocono Pike, not enough for place. CYCLONE BANNER was locked in far turn, angled wide early stretch and was going well late. CAPTAIN ROMANCE got in fifth before the 3/16, came raw on turn two, went up in 27 to put some heat on the winner, but tired. BELL FAMILY never factored. PATERNITY SUIT A was second-over from next-to-last but couldn’t go with cover. THE WALL gapped the outside gapper.
