Connors’ for Saturday, October 16, 2021

Oct 20, 2021 | Connors’ Comments

FIRST RACE – A warmish day for mid-October in the mountains to start: “fast +0” races 1-4; it rained hard during the fifth race, causing the track to be “sloppy +1” from the fifth race on, and temperatures would drop after the rain came through … Stretch headwind … MAJOR DESIRE protected the pocket early, considered a quarter-move but retreated, then came full-bore at the half and paced down the back in 26.2 to open a good lead, saw others catching up but held to the wire. CAPTAIN MALICIOUS was away quickly for the lead, yielded past the 26.2 opener, backed out as the winner brushed past 5/8 and was in a new pocket to the ¾, outside stretch, very good mile. LINCOLN JAMES gapped early, outside and followed cover 5/8, left uncovered ¾, went on well to the line. MUSCLE MACH A came all the way up the inside to be next. CLASSY HILL wasn’t keeping up with the deposed leader ¾ then outside, not that much. LEAR SEELSTER gapped both inside and outside. HULOU was used to clear past the fast opener, held no defense against the backstretch brusher, faded.

SECOND RACE – CAPTAIN CASH used the rail to maximum advantage, set the pace, lost all but one in a 26.3 third quarter, and then was safe over the pocketsitter despite giving some ground very late. JK MUSICMAN was away well to land the two-hole, stuck with the winner throughout, not quite enough to go by but far ahead of the rest. BELLOWS BINGE left well wide but soon took back and tucked fifth, stayed in and was stuck behind a gapping one, out in a blindswitch late turn, between horses for third. WAGON MASTER was uncovered at the half but never reached the front pair, ducked in for the stretch, next. THNDRFRMTHETHRON N was second-over, three-wide midturn, evenly. SO SO DE VIE had cover but had too far to come. BLACKLIGHT went around the gapping ROCKNROLL CAPTAIN before the half; neither were factors. PATERNITY SUIT A landed the 3-hole early, started to gap out 5/8 despite urging.

THIRD RACE – RIVER OTTER burst out to the lead, went fast odd-numbered quarters with the wind establishing a commanding lead, tired and bore out a bit in the stretch but had enough to get to the wire first. ZLATAN worked up to the pocket 3/16, loose of the leader most of the way, went inside of the winner in the lane and gained some ground. SWANCREDIT sat third, gapped a gapper, next. CASH FOR GOLD was never prominent; nor was MUAY HANOVER. ZOOMING came uncovered at the half but never got close. INVINCIBLE had a slow start, then broke past the 5/16.

FOURTH RACE – DAAMERICANSKY was another who went fast with the wind, to get to the lead then to open a safe margin, not troubled at the end. BARON MICHAEL was wide leaving, took back to a midpack tuck, stayed inside and went up the Pocono Pike to be a non-threatening second. FEHERTY was two-wide, went to the pegs fourth at the 1/8, moved second-over at the half, wasn’t helped when cover tired on the turn and had to go three-wide, moving well late. SPORTS TEEN was off the front two early, started raw at the half, made a bid into the quick third split but then tired. THEFREEDOMFIGHTERN was looking to move outside at the half but made a break; DIALAMARA, right behind, suffered an “ix”; BLOW A CLOUD N was pushed very wide; and PICKLED PREACHER ducked inside the trouble inside the pegs; all those involved in this incident were effectively taken out of the race.

FIFTH RACE – This is the race where it rained hard, and the track was rerated to “sloppy +1” … MR HOUDINI had good cover second-over, three-wide late turn, and had the most trot coming home. THISISSHE was uncovered soon off the second turn, applied steady pressure, gamely to the wire. MAJESTIC MARVEL was out until the 3/16 for the lead, yielded 5/16 for the pocket, to the Pocono Pike, so-so response. CIMERONKEN was first to show but took a balky step early, settled then took back, moved outside midturn, finishing decently wide. CREWS HILLTOPPER was underway before the quarter to control the throttle and rated the half, was pressured, didn’t have enough to last to the line. FRAC offered little.

SIXTH RACE – IMAROCNROLLEGEND N dashed to the top, pushed a brusher a bit then yielded for the pocket, outside to headstretch and sailed by to make George Napolitano Jr. the 26^th driver to reach $100,000,000 in career driving earnings. KEYSTONE PHOENIX moved at the quarter, had to be chased a little to clear before the second turn, strung most of the field out until the far turn, had to settle for second. STATEMENT MADE A got the early pocket, then sat third-in, angled out early stretch but didn’t gain. BULLVILLE TERROR went evenly inside. SHAMMA LAMMA went wide in the stretch and had some pace. P L MUNSON moved outside from far back down the back, gained some, evenly. MAJOR OFFENSE was gapping before the ¼, never in it.

SEVENTH RACE – ATTA BOY DAN left under urging, as did the horse to his right, and got the lead because of track geometry, rolled down the back, then stayed clear of the opposition. PARKLANE JET was second-over 11/16, gapped then was better the later they got on the turn, wide and closed nicely. MAC ANOVER wanted the lead but backed off past the 1/8, just failed to hold second. MOVE THE LINE went evenly. BEACH FIRE K was uncovered 5/8 and grinded, backed off the last 1/8. ROCK THREE TIMES gapped at the back.

EIGHTH RACE – KING ALPHONSO was between horses leaving, pressed on well past a fast opener to get the lead, dashed a bit clear on the turn, successfully dealt with those narrowing in late. HOCKEY HANOVER tucked fourth behind the three early battlers, moved uncovered at the half, grinded up, kept on coming late in a game performance. MARION GONDOLIER was behind dull cover and moved three-wide ¾, gained through the last quarter nicely (even if it was in only 30). MISS MC KEE was three-wide to the 3/16 then backed off to tuck third, moved outside ¾, briefly blindswitched, got clear, OK. GRAPPLE HANOVER was inside, paused briefly when a horse made a break past midturn, but didn’t gain thereafter. ENZIO was outside with cover that he could not reach most of the last half. SORTIE broke moving out second-over before the half. ARCHIBALD was innermost among the three early fighters, finally yielded to the 3/8, struggled to stay close from before the 5/8, broke midturn and went inside the pylons.

NINTH RACE – SCOOTNROLL was away well for a midpack tuck, moved first-over and gradually advanced putting pressure on the leader, got a small advantage on the turn, proved the best with a 54.2 last half raw. GOOD ROCKIN had a good second-over journey, didn’t have the speed of the winner on the turn, along for second late. IM A GIGOLO N pressed on to get the lead past a 26.3 opener, rated the half then had to step it up as the winner came calling, held OK. NUTCRACKER SWEET left well, yielded after a fast quarter, slightly shuffled late turn, but then not all that much when finding the Pocono Pike. BILLY BADGER N passed the others for the last check while never a factor. BAY MEADOWS stayed up-close early, then began to back off 5/8. CAMWOOD was gapping early and was not ever a contender.

TENTH RACE—AMIGO VOLO was on top before turn one, made a foe work past a good opener to clear, then immediately retook, got a very moderate middle half, then came home in 27.4 into the wind in total control. EUROBOND went up to get the lead past the ¼, yielded for the pocket, no match for the winner, held second well. GHOSTINTHESHELL S protected the pocket early, sat third, couldn’t make up last ground. PATRIARCH HANOVER was uncovered 11/16, gained a bit then flattened out. MYSTICAL WYNN couldn’t go with these. RICH AND MISERABLE was last when breaking 11/16.

ELEVENTH RACE – AMERICAN REBEL initially sat in then backed out to third-over 9/16, followed advancing cover, four-wide headstretch, finished solidly (in a slowing last quarter) to just catch INDIGO ART. The latter got a good second-over trip, three-wide late turn, made the lead midstretch, just nipped by the late flyer. STELLAR BB was away nicely, made the lead 3/16, yielded to the retaker for the two-hole, Pocono Pike, not quite enough kick late. ARTISTS RUFFLES started grinding to the half, never really looked the leader in the eye until headstretch, carried on gamely. THE CANDYMAN CAN set the pace with two moves, rated the half, but then couldn’t sustain the lead. SULLIVAN was third-in, spent most of the stretch angling wide looking for clearance, had pace at the end. BABES DIG ME and LORD OF MISRULE weren’t far back at the end but never were major players.

TWELFTH RACE – ALEX TYE started raw towards turn two, went in 27 down the back, battled the leader head-to-head the last quarter and got the decision. REGAL SON was parked past the ¼ to get the lead, set wind-appropriate fractions, held very gamely. BENJI’S BEST was third-over, wide late turn, next one home. WALTER MITTY was second-over but gapped a bit and was blindswitched, evenly in the path behind the winner. TJ BLAST left, took the pocket at the 1/8, inside, Pocono Pike, evenly. WHITE HAIR ROCKS sat in, spent the upper stretch angling wide and finished quickest of all. BOBBY DAZZLER left very well, yielded 5/16 for the pocket, stayed close, came up empty in the stretch. SOMEBEACH BARON did not enter the main picture.

THIRTEENTH RACE – GANGSTER HANOVER gradually worked up to 5/16 command, came home in 56.2 and was far ahead from the 5/8. THE LIONKING AS flashed good speed to clear nearing the first turn, kept the winner out to the 5/16 then yielded for the pocket, clear second. JUST MAYBE THE ONE left and got a forward spot, inside, Pocono Pike, evenly. SOUTHWIND FROST sat in, won fourth in a photo over MAX. The latter came uncovered off turn two but made little headway in the fast third quarter, evenly. KENOGAMI COCO gapped second-over. MACMORRIS HANOVER and TWO AM were never close. LUCKY MATTER broke just past the start, recovered, but broke again before the ¾.

Connors’ Comments for Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Oct 18, 2021 | Connors’ Comments

FIRST RACE – Card opens with a slight stretch headwind … WORLDSSTONECOLD AS made the lead, had outside challengers fill the holes behind him as the pocket horse broke past the ¼, rated the half, no problem the last half. JOE EXOTIC was up to challenge for the lead then took the pocket just past the ¼, sat close, not enough in the lane but clearly second. VINCENTI went second-over, three-wide late turn, along for third over COMMAND THE MARKET, who hugged the inside then didn’t show that much late. FATHER OF IRELAND avoided trouble and got the last check. MR BLUMETTI looked to leave but took back, then third-over, couldn’t rally enough. FASHION ON A STAR was three-wide to the 3/16, dropped down behind cover, got a 3-tuck past the 3/16, came again raw down the back, but faltered in the last quarter. ENDYMION came through well past the start and was protecting the pocket just past the ¼ when breaking, possibly because of a dislodged pylon on the track near the area of the break.

SECOND RACE – BETTORS AUTHORITY made the early lead, yielded to the favorite past the ¼ and sat the golden journey, moved out near headstretch as the first-over broke, sailed right on by. COUNTER OFFER went in fifth at the 3/16, backed out to be second-over, went inside far turn, up the Pocono Pike and got second. INTENTIONS got in gear at the 1/8 and grabbed the front past the ¼, set fractions a she pleased, came up short at crunch time. RAGE THE MOON, last much of the way, went wide around the other stragglers. DARLA HANOVER backed out to third-over but had little to offer. HURRIKANEKINGCARLO was boxed in behind a sluggish one much of the last half, Pocono Pike, not too much. DUSTUP HANOVER left and tucked second, couldn’t keep up the last 3/8. ROSA’S REBEL was uncovered going into the second turn, came a long way raw and had gotten to the pocketsitter’s flank when running late turn.

THIRD RACE – ONE AFTER NINE had the early pocket then quarter-moved, set a good pace and drew away from these. PRACTICAL CAT went to early command, yielded to sit in the pocket, saved second late over MELANIA. The latter was two-wide on the second turn but needed until almost to the ¾ to get to a gear enabling her to gain, three-wide late turn, finished steadily. STORM BRINGER gapped the last half. SHADRACK HANOVER ducked inside an early breaker and tucked third, came back out at the half, got up to the leader’s saddlepad before the ¾, then gradually ran out of gas. CHARMING BANK was never a factor. HALL IT OFF broke coming off turn two. DANZON HANOVER made a mistake as the field swung off the turn before the start. TUFF TO BE LINDY was vying for the early lead when making a break.

FOURTH RACE – DIGNITY HANOVER, a bit rank behind the gate, was content to trail in the main group, swung outside and wide, caught SAYONARA ANGEL late. The latter spotted, moved outside midturn, had the lead past early stretch, almost lasted to the line. I’M HAPPY HANOVER moved 3/16 to control the throttle 5/16, rated the half, didn’t have enough late. YOUNG MICHELLE went right to the lead, yielded for the two-hole and stayed connected, Pocono Pike, not too much. LADY’S REWARD lost stride at the start.

FIFTH RACE – CAPTAIN ROMANCE was three-wide to the 1/8 and to the lead, never let up in an overpowering victory. NUMBER ONE HILL was between horses to the early pocket, stayed close until the stretch, clear of the rest. BOLTMAN had early speed and yielded to the outer pair, not too much in the lane but did retain third. LINDYSALWAYSTHINKN was uncovered at the half, almost got even with the pocket horse late backstretch, but then gave ground in the last 1/8. BULLVILLE JONATHAN stayed inside and got the last check. SIX DEGREES moved out second-over, three-wide as cover faltered, bore out some early stretch and didn’t make up ground. ARRHYTHMIC SURGE dangled outside midpack before fading. THE OTHER DUO were always far back.

SIXTH RACE – VINYASA tucked third at the 1/8, moved outside 11/16 to challenge ¾, took over entering the stretch, then urged to hold off MYREANNA. The latter got to the lead, yielded before the 1/4, sat in, advanced when the pocketsitter broke on the turn, came up the Pocono Pike to just miss. MISS MAYTRIX was outside, not helped by sluggish then breaking cover, had some late trot. B FLOVER stayed back early then got in gear at the 1/8, needed almost to the second turn to clear though in pedestrian fractions, just came up empty late. BUCKET HEAD never featured. LILYBET was parked 3/16 before taking over, strung a brusher that far and more before yielding for the pocket, looking to stay close when going to a break midturn and was taken wide. KOKOMO was second-over but gapping before breaking far turn. CARAMELA HANOVER was offstride at the start.

SEVENTH RACE – DAGON HANOVER moved uncovered 5/8 and challenged, went right by on the turn, finished nicely. WORTHY OF HONOR was away quickly for command, yielded 3/8 for the pocket, backed out behind the winner past midturn, a clear second once RED REDEMPTION broke. The latter sat in, angled wide into the stretch, was gaining but went to a run midstretch, placed. KEYSTONE BARRACUDA was away second in the lineup-minus-one, moved to the lead 3/8, challenged on the far turn and gave way. ME TOO BABY stayed in, blocked on the turn, not too much once free. TRICKY DICK went uncovered off turn two, got to second-over but gapped. ABOVE THE CLOUDS never made the main radar.

EIGHTH RACE – OHARE HANOVER got early position, moved uncovered before the half and went up blazing to the lead just past the 5/8 while covering his third quarter in 26.2, drew away. TUFFENUFTOWEARPINK was parked with cover until the 3/16, then moved on to get the lead before the 3/8, surrendered without a fight to the winner, was kept alive and had a clear advantage in second. SEND IT IN JEROME was behind decaying cover, ducked inside for the stretch and beat out a couple for third. MY BOY JACK was kept out past the 3/16 before making the lead, then inside until slipping out to track cover 11/16, wide, couldn’t make up more ground. MOHAWK SEELSTER followed the winner but couldn’t go with that one 5/8 and was left raw, dropped back. A SHORE LEGACY gapped inside. MESSIER SEELSTER was gapping by the half. OCTAVE lost contact.

NINTH RACE – COACH K HANOVER came out of third into turn two uncovered, trotted in 27.4 down the back to gain an insurmountable lead. BACKSTREET PLAYER was looped, pressed on to take over at the ¼, yielded to the winner without a fight past the 5/8, was a clear second. DOWN THE PIKE MIKE inherited third-in 5/8 but gapped. BIG BEN HANOVER was out behind struggling cover, went between horses in the lane, not that much. CS EXPLOSIVE CHIP followed the winner out but was soon gapping then left uncovered, had little. ZETTE FURY left well to take over early, yielded at the ¼, broke 5/8 looking to keep up and was taken inside the pylons. UNLEASH THE TITAN broke in last.

TENTH RACE – Blanket finish with horses coming from everywhere … BIPBOPNALLIE gapped about eight lengths off the top quartet and the hot pace just past the half, urged late backstretch, found more pace on the turn, swung wide, proved the best of seven in a 29.4 last quarter. HURRIKANE EMPEROR tucked third, moved into turn two after the pacesetter rebuffed the first challenger, made the front at the half and kept up the very quick pace to the ¾, tiring but held dead game to the last steps. ROLLIN IN NEW YORK was three-wide leaving, went into the early pocket, tried to quarter-move but rethought that as the winner sped up, stayed in until late on the turn, stayed in the thick of it to the line. ACTOR HANOVER took command early, refused to let the first brusher go then yielded at the half, to the Pocono Pike, a half-step shy. MIKIBYTHESEASIDE was last, came all the way up the inside with good pace (in a 29.4 last quarter) to miss less than a length. MANKAT tucked, sat in, angled out early stretch but was unsuccessful in finding a clear path. BETTOR NOT TALK was out behind dull cover far back, three-wide ¾, gained steadily as the tempo slowed. LOTTERY WINNER came out off the second turn looking to clear a gapper (who would be the winner) but never made much progress.

ELEVENTH RACE – SHIPNSTROL HANOVER quarter-moved from fourth to the lead just past the 3/8, went off to a clear lead on the turn and into the stretch, then survived the late burst of PERFECT QUEEN. The latter moved second-over, three-wide late turn, found her best kick late and was quickly narrowing in. KISSINYOUGOODBYE was fastest away, yielded to the winner for the pocket, gave a little ground the last 3/16. BETTE TINA tucked third at the 1/8, moved uncovered to the 5/8, didn’t menace but did OK. SOUTHWIND MOLLY went evenly. BETTING HANNAH went outside ¾ but couldn’t get into the main hunt. SWEET HELLO was three-wide leaving, took the early pocket just past the 1/8, stayed in, backed up in the last quarter. IN A DAZE lost contact past the half.

TWELFTH RACE – BALDAQUIN yielded and sit ready in the pocket, exploded when shown the Pocono Pike and won handily. BIG NUDGE spotted around slow starters, then was first-over at the half, went 27.3 down the back to put high heat on the leader, never had the lead but stayed very game to the wire. KATKIN MORGAN sat in, angled out before midstretch, then hit a high gear and closed strongly. SO LONG HANOVER was in front at the 1/8, slowed the half, then was under pressure not far past the 5/8, couldn’t sustain. DIVINE SPIRIT was second-over but gapped 5/8. CAVIART EMMA did not contend.

THIRTEENTH RACE – SOME KIND ANGEL made two speed moves to control the throttle, put these away for good with a 27.4 third quarter, unthreatened. BYGONE HANOVER started grinding at the half, never got close but kept on trying and took second late. JAGGED LITTLE PILL was three-wide to the first turn then went in front at the 1/8, yielded for the pocket, loose late backstretch, so-so late. HAZEL PARK gapped second-over, evenly. BETTER BID HANOVER had some early speed, sat in, but didn’t have much late. THE OTHERS were well off the checkgetters the second half.

FOURTEENTH RACE – SPIT AND VINEGAR was three-wide early to a tuck at the 1/8, moved out behind the pocket horse on the turn then swung wide in early stretch, closed steadily to get the decision at $214.60, biggest win price of the 2021 Pocono season. FAWN DE TOUCH stayed in, gapped down the back then got tighter ¾, went all the way up to the pocket late turn and then to the Pocono Pike, briefly had the lead, just failed to hold on to it. FINLANDIA sat the pocket journey, came out late turn, just a bit shy. PAINT BY NUMBERS was in front at the 1/8, didn’t have pressure on the lead, tired. CHOCOLATE MATTERS stayed in, went evenly for the last check. WHAT A DAME had dull cover, not all that far off. QUICKEST HANOVER broke w-a-y before the start, caught the field and went uncovered at the ¼, stayed midfield raw, pretty good recovery. DESTINY BLUE CHIP backed out to follow cover, wide, too far back. KISS AN ANGEL, off the gate, gapped at the ½, broke past midturn.