Sep 27, 2021 | Connors’ Comments
FIRST RACE – Strong stretch headwind to start … PHILOSOPHIZER protected the pocket early, then quarter-moved, backed off the half into the wind, then took off and won easily. AMERICAN ZESTAR moved outside nearing the second turn to avoid an “accordion,” grinded up steadily, no threat to the winner but kept going for place. BET EIGHTTHIRTYONE had steady if not-rapidly-gaining cover, went on well late. HURRIKANEKINGCARLO got forward position, stayed in, pinned in on the far turn, to the Pocono Pike, not too bad late. HONALI was last, in very tight quarters nearing the line. JOINT ACCOUNT made the top 3/16, yielded, pocket, couldn’t keep up the last 3/16.
SECOND RACE – WATKINS made the lead then yielded to sit a very tight two-hole, to the Pocono Pike, found superior strides in the last 50 yards and was along. KATKIN AND COKE went to the lead past the 1/8, set the pace as he pleased, held the lead a long way into the stretch, just caught. O JONNIE was uncovered early on the backstretch, ducked into the 3-hole into the final turn, out again late turn, couldn’t make any further progress. BATTENBERG gapped most of the mile. POWERFUL YIELD moved out with cover but could not keep up. ANDOVERS TOUCH was no factor. HALLANET went offstride going to the first turn.
THIRD RACE – KAACHING KAACHING wanted the top but took the pocket at the 1/8, loose behind the leader until approaching the ¾, got closer and closer, went to the Pocono Pike and was along late. MANUKA took control from the pole and forced the winner to tuck, has a clear lead in the middle half, ran out of gas midstretch. SURE BUD gapped but stayed flat. TSM PRINCE TRISTAN broke 50 yards before the start, did well to catch the back of the field. AMADEUS gapped a gapper, outside late turn but broke.
FOURTH RACE – IMONABEACH HANOVER started raw on turn two, in gear 9/16 and paced the backstretch in a wind-aided 26.3 to clear 11/16, opened a big lead as a “wedge” formed, saw NUTTINBUTHEBEST shake clear headstretch and rapidly narrow in, but was too far ahead. The latter made the lead 3/16, kept a foe out until before the 3/16, stayed in, then was “wedged in” as the pocketsitter and first-over tired side-by-side, found inside room nearing headstretch as the pocketsitter bore out, finished with a sharp burst. BYGONE HANOVER couldn’t go with the cover of the winner and was left raw, best in a multihorse photo for third. SOME KINDA ANGEL gapped in last until before the half, widest in the lane with some forward foot. HESTON HONEY took her time getting to the top, got there before the 3/8, yielded 11/16, bore out headstretch. KISSIMMEE BEACH left, yielded 3/8, sat in, couldn’t get into contention.
FIFTH RACE – POUR MEA DOUBLE moved from last into turn two, picked up cover before the 5/8, lost the cover on the turn, tucked for a spell, then came out again in the stretch and won comfortably. ZETTE FLAME got the top before the 3/16, drew clear into the backstretch, saw a first-over come up and then go offstride, good to be second, far ahead of anybody else. BEETLEJUICE yielded for the two-hole, started to gap off the second turn, did stay flat for third. PERFECT TITAN went up belatedly and tucked third 3/16, uncovered from behind the gapping two-holer before the 5/8, outside the leader into the turn but ruined his chance with a break. PLAYER ONE was gapping when breaking 5/8.
SIXTH RACE — Wind backing off … LADY’S NITE K was looped, raced up into the pocket at the 1/8, waited for the stretch and moved outside, won easily. TSM EMILIA T made the front easily, got dawdling fractions, couldn’t stave off the winner but well clear for second. AMBERS CHAMPION was three-wide to the 1/8, tucked 3/16, backed outside on the turn and then went three-wide, won a photo for third over PRAIRIE TRINKET. The latter came first-over 5/8, gained some until into the turn, then flattened out. DIVINE MOONSHINE offered little. FASHION PRINCESS went offstride at the 3/8. TICKET TAB, in the back throughout, lost significant ground in the last ¼.
SEVENTH RACE – SEVEYOND was immediately on top, hung a foe just past the ¼ and yielded to sit in the pocket, moved out behind the first-over before midturn, wide and trotted away late. COOL MISS WENDY finally settled in fifth near the ¼, gained from the ¾ through the turn while staying inside, Pocono Pike, decisioned the rest. FORTUNAPEDIA gapped much of the middle part of the race, finished in a higher gear. NONNA BELLA was uncovered past the 5/8, had the lead on the turn but couldn’t cross over, gave way. IDA SHAPIRO was outside until just past the ¼ for the top, was challenged at the ¾, had little left late. OK SUNNY was at the back of the main pack when miscuing late turn. WILD KAT G broke past the half. PRAIRIE GINGER jumped just before the start.
EIGHTH RACE – SHADOWS DANCERS was looped, went on with it three-wide to the 1/8 then two-wide before grabbing command 3/16, pushed a challenger a ways before yielding for the pocket, waited for the Pocono Pike then proved the strongest of a threesome late. BETTE TINA looped everybody from the outside post, saw two go by, moved outside to challenge before the 11/16, never ahead of pacesetting LIGHTNING LEIA until two steps before the wire, after the winner had gone by. The latter was double-looped while remaining outside to the first turn, went up to challenge and after being pushed almost to the 3/8 made the top, didn’t quite have enough but far ahead of the rest. CANDY PAINT stayed connected to the front three until the 11/16, when she unplugged. INHERENT RESOLVE, far back behind gappers, got around the rest for a check. THE OTHERS never menaced.
NINTH RACE – Stretch headwind has picked back up … PUERTO RICO yielded at the quarter to sit in the two-hole, used the Pocono Pike and was an easy winner. NAMJE moved uncovered from last in the main pack 5/8, grinded on and won a three-way photo for second. ALLY WAY CAST was outside to the ¼ for the lead, rated the half, couldn’t sustain her advantage to the wire, nipped for place. SUM FOR ALL tucked fourth at the 1/8, backed out to follow cover 11/16, ducked inside in the stretch, came up a bit shy. SPEED IT broke at the start, was taken wide and ran the first quarter, settled and caught the field, couldn’t gain, placed for violation of the breaking rule. BALLET BARRE was gapping on the far turn when breaking and going to the infield.
TENTH RACE – CLASSIC VENTURE was looped, made the lead at the quick quarter, went on, got pressure 5/8 home but held together very gamely at $78.20. HASHTAGMADEYALOOK was looped and wide to the 1/8, settled in fourth, moved out at the half then was tight on cover when he got it 5/8, badgaited far turn and gapped, then had a resurgence late to just miss. CHRISTOPHER CRAZO had a forward spot, was able to go up into the pocket past the 5/8 when the two-holer pulled, Pocono Pike, not far off. NICE STUFF got a good inside trip, clear in the stretch, evenly. KEYSTONE THUNDER never factored. GERARD outleft everybody, let the winner go at the ¼, vacated the pocket 5/8 and challenged, tired. SMALLTOWNTHROWDOWN wound up third-over, three-wide mid-far turn, folded. KEYSTONE SERGEANT was last when breaking past the ¼.
Sep 23, 2021 | Connors’ Comments
FIRST RACE – Slight stretch tailwind to start … IMAGINEUWITHOUTME tucked third at the 1/8, then quarter-moved to 3/8 command, maintained a solid lead to the wire. JEREMES GENERAL paced through at the rail to force an early rival to tuck, yielded to the winner, seemed all-out but game to not lose any further stretch ground. MEADOWBROOK FLASH went up second-over, three-wide before late turn, closed very well but had too much ground to make up. SPORTSMANSHIP was first to show but couldn’t clear the pole horse and tucked second 3/16, inside, Pocono Pike, evenly. I AM GOLDEN began the outside train into turn two, advanced down the backstretch but never reached the leader, held well. CODE MEISTER was never prominent. CHANCELLORCULLEN N went third-over but gapped. LIMA RAIDER sat in then backed out towards the ¾ and soon went wide, couldn’t get closer.
SECOND RACE – LAREDO TORPEDO N was moving raw towards turn two, advanced down the back against the wind and sailed by ¾, all by himself late. ROCKIN THE SHADES was between horses leaving, yielded for the early pocket 3/16, backed outside ¾ when the inner tier folded, came on steadily late to just outfoot HYPNOTICDREAM for second. The latter was outside in a tier not advancing that well, went widest for the drive and closed strongly, just missing second. LUZIANA backed out on the second turn to follow cover, couldn’t stay with that cover and was left uncovered ¾, not enough. MESSIER SEELSTER showed some speed, then moved 5/16 to the lead before turn two, surrendered without much of a fight ¾ and backed up. YOUR MOM N EM was very wide to the first turn, three-wide to the 1/8, then two-wide to the lead 3/16, yielded before turn two, got stuck behind the tiring pacesetter on the turn, but had no response when finally gotten to the Pocono Pike. TWINCREEKS JESSE was gapping by the 5/8.
THIRD RACE – WILLIAM STAR sat third-in, got access to the Pocono Pike when the pocketsitter swung out headstretch, trotted by strongly. WHOUCALNCRAZY took the two-hole to the 1/8, outside headstretch, never ahead but went on to the wire steadily. KOLIN immediately assumed the mantle and got a rival in behind him, set the pace as he pleased, passed inside before midstretch and then photoed out of being a semiKolin. UNABATING moved outside past the 5/8, didn’t gain much, and was abating late. LAKEVIEW TAMMY moved out ¾, gapped, went back in, got rough, then broke headstretch.
FOURTH RACE – LIFELUVN YANKEE came from third on a quarter-move, had the main competition duck inside her in the stretch, finished out in 27.4 to preserve the victory. SEAHUNTSIDEALBEACH raced up three-wide to turn one, took the early pocket past the 1/8, came back out 5/8 and gained, went inside for the stretch and tried hard to the wire. BETTING HANNAH was outside down the back but couldn’t range up into contention, was doing a bit better late. CHEEKIE BABE went evenly. SEBOOMOOK BEAUTY went away to the lead, yielded to the winner, stayed close to just before the ¾. SWEET HELLO never factored. HEAVEN SENT ME was off the gate and never close.
FIFTH RACE – MARCO BEACH was on top before the 1/8, yielded to ride in the two-hole, moved out early stretch, had the stronger late kick. CAPTAIN MALICIOUS pulled the pocket off turn one and set the pace, handled the first-over, but was outbrushed late. SI SEMALU, on a line at some points, sat in, evenly. SAULSBROOK LANNY came out and was asked 11/16, advanced to past midturn then flattened.
SIXTH RACE – CHECKERED PAST gapped early, then tightened and went up uncovered before turn two, went 27.1 down the back to gain a short lead into the turn, which he widened through the early far turn to clear inside midturn, in control here. SWEETONTHEBEACH caused a lineup, fought with the winner, did surrender the lead on the turn but then held staunchly. IDEAL IN CASH had the pocket, locked in as the winner went by, to the Pocono Pike, OK. TSM ARTEMIS T was second-over, couldn’t go with the winner as she cleared, not bad late. IAQUINTA was third-over but couldn’t go enough. BEAM M W was stuck inside, didn’t show a great deal late. THE BOSS’ WIFE left to challenge for the lead but saw she wouldn’t have the speed and the holes were filled, so took all the way back to “her” spot in the lineup at the ¼, not much thereafter.
SEVENTH RACE – Wind has calmed … FRAC was first to the lead, saw two go by, waited, had access to the Pocono Pike and still had good trot after the fast pace. STOP RESISTIN moved off the first turn to 3/8 command and put down quick numbers for these, powerless to stall the winner. TW LAUXMONT raced up to the lead 3/16, yielded 3/8 to sit second, outside to headstretch, bore out and lost ground. LIBERO HANOVER sat in, gapped ¾. WHAT THAT IS was a weak first-over and never got close. EVANNA was last, was behind the weak cover, three-wide far turn but didn’t gain.
EIGHTH RACE – JUXTA COWGIRL was kept out 3/16 for the lead, slowed quarter two then picked up the pace stringing out the opposition down the back, held off the stretch charge of PRAIRIE WESTERNGAL. The latter was the innermost of leavers and kept the winner out long enough that the other leaver had to back up and tuck third or face spending a long time on the rim, moved out headstretch, narrowed in some. ABIGAIL DAWN as mentioned was out with cover early, forced to take back to third 3/16, outside midturn, best of the rest. VH PRINCESS BREA got an early forward spot, inside, fair late. GEORGIE MARTIN N moved uncovered from far back, didn’t do badly. TRAFFIC JAM had no say in this. A CRAFTY LADY was last in the main pack, had late pace from a very hard spot. YES DOUBLE DOWN broke before the ¼.
NINTH RACE – ARTACHE HANOVER was three-wide early and tucked third to the 1/8, came out 5/16 to go to the top before turn two, did not try to keep the brusher out down the back but stayed up on the bit, outside headstretch and went by easily. GOLDEN GESTURE was four-wide early, took back to tuck fourth then gapped to the half, underway quickly down the backstretch and went to the lead 11/16, couldn’t sustain to the wire. POLAK A couldn’t quite keep with the backstretch brusher, left raw 11/16, went on to best the others. KOLT POWER was outside but gapped cover, found a better gear late. BRINGITONHOME N forced wholesale tucks early, yielded past the 3/8, inside, not much of a late response. SUNBURST CRUZE took the early pocket, struggled the last 5/16. LUCID DREAMS never entered the picture.
TENTH RACE – CRAZY CUTE went to the top towards turn one, yielded before the 3/16, was loose in the pocket until the half then tightened in, to the Pocono Pike and proved most photogenic in a blanket finish. BYE BYE FELICIA started uncovered past the 5/8, never gave an inch of ground the rest of the way. APRIL AVA took over before the 3/16, was clear on the lead to the half, had the first-over come to her hard on the turn, didn’t miss by much in the sprint home. PANSY’S IMAGE sat in third, had no clear path in the stretch. AMERICAN DELIGHT N moved second-over, found her best strides just a bit belatedly.
ELEVENTH RACE – KEYSTONE STEAM was looped early and settled third before the ¼, followed the pocketsitter in circling the spent leader on the turn, sat half-half until headstretch, then wider and went by easily. BLOOD BROTHER forced a tuck and sat a gapping second behind the runaway, came out to the ¾ and went right by, clearly second-best in the stretch. MR MCDREAMY was outside from behind a gapper down the back, with SPORTS COLUMN also in the wide tier; they were the next two to finish. MUSCLE MACH A gapped badly down the back when the 2-3 horses tightened in on the tiring pacesetter. THE NEXT TWO were never in the picture. DAAMERICANSKY was in a world of his own, three-wide to the 1/8 and then continuing wide until coming to the rail near the ¼, had a big lead that began to shrink late backstretch and then disappear, tired.
Sep 23, 2021 | Connors’ Comments
FIRST RACE – Stretch tailwind … STEP ON THE GAS did so early and made the top past the 1/8 in a fast quarter, set the pace, looked to have warded off the first-over and was clear midstretch, then had enough for that resurgent one. LOUD SPLASH was looped and tucked fourth past the 1/8, started raw on turn two and went up in 27.1 vs. the wind to challenge, fell back a bit off the turn but then found renewed speed in a big try. BEACH FIRE K sat in, had to wait until midstretch to find room between horses, closed well once free. FEHERTY left well and yielded to sit in the two-hole, a little loose down the back, even response inside late. MR DS ROCK gapped cover third-over, finished with some speed. R MADDY BLUE CHIP, a little off the gate, went up second-over, did not tip wide from behind cover, so-so late.
SECOND RACE – THE WALL left swiftly and got everybody in behind, set the pace as he pleased, then had a 27.2 last quarter to win decisively. BABES DIG ME raced into the pocket at the 1/8, could make no inroads into the winner’s margin late, held second over BLACKLIGHT. The latter sat third-in, to the Pocono Pike, OK. MCNEIL Z TAM stayed in, not prominent. SOUTHWIND MOROCCAN backed out third-over past the 5/8, ducked in for the drive home, got a check. AMAZON caught up to advancing cover second-over, three-wide late turn, couldn’t reach. FEELING CAM LUCKY was wide leaving, took back, came with a rush at the half but never got to the leader’s wheel, started to back off midturn.
THIRD RACE – CREWS HILLTOPPER headed right on down the road, got mild fractions, able to stay clear to the wire. WINNERESS sat in third, had access to the Pocono Pike but couldn’t make up enough ground. MUAY HANOVER tucked in the pocket past the 1/8, slightly off the leader most of the last half, but went along steadily. DARK POOL sat in until midturn, angled all the way to four-wide headstretch, finished solidly. SILVERMASS VOLO went uncovered from last before the 3/8, got ahead of the pocket horse ¾ but never reached the leader. NEVER SAY UNCLE backed out to second-over behind a one-gear sort, wide late turn but couldn’t make up the distance.
FOURTH RACE – BAMSKI raced up into the pocket past the 1/8 and enjoyed a golden journey, tightened back in some on the far turn, outside stretch and to the lead midstretch. CLASS SIX stayed in, outside far turn, moving best of all late. ATTA BOY DAN charged right out to the lead, wouldn’t yield and kept up good fractions, tired late. ABSOLUTE INTENT sat in, outside midturn but quickly ducked back to the pegs, outside again in the stretch, evenly. CLASSY HILL gained inside far turn, not bad late. BARNABAS was mired behind too much dull cover. SOUTHWIND DREDGE moved behind the parked horse on the second turn, started a three-wide move to go around him but didn’t have much. DREAM OF LUCK pushed up on the first turn but didn’t have enough speed and was on the rim throughout, fell back.
FIFTH RACE – CHOCO CHARLIE moved second-over, three-wide 11/16 to two-wide raw midturn, proved the best of this group late. BROADWAY BRUISER was right on the back of the leader, three-wide before midturn, dropped back down to second-over late turn, couldn’t step with the winner but outstepped the rest. DAYTONA DREAMIN was parked almost to the ¼ for command, went 28-29-30 (wind appropriate) on the lead but still had no late answer. ARCH CREDIT made the top to turn one then yielded at the ¼, sat the pocket, evenly late. LIGHTS COME ON gapped at the 3/8, got closer but then fell back again in the lane. GREEK LEGEND was uncovered into turn two, never threatened, tired significantly.
SIXTH RACE – MISS MCKEE was away second, moved past the ¼ but was made to work well past the 3/8 before reaching the top, continued on, had a 28.2 coming home and needed it to deal with THE LIONKING AS. The latter left strongly from the pole, made the winner work before accepting the pocket, came back up the Pocono Pike and put in another good mile. GRAPPLE HANOVER moved uncovered 11/16, not in the league of the top two but did take third over a pair. MARION GONDOLIER moved raw past the 5/8 and then soon got cover, drifted wide through the stretch and gained some ground. MUFASA AS seemed all-out at times just to stay with the main group. BANZAI AS, off the gate, offered little. MUSHANA moved outside, made a break at the ¾.
SEVENTH RACE – LORD OF MISRULE blasted away for early command, then yielded to sit the pocket behind a fast pace, outside late turn and went on to win comfortably. DIALAMARA showed some speed, stayed third-in, could use the Pocono Pike and just nipped TJ BLAST for second. The latter quickly worked to the top and rambled off very quick numbers on his own, just couldn’t last to the wire. ROLLIN IN NEW YORK took back early, was far back behind unresponsive cover, was closing very impressively. ROCK KING DEO moved outside mid-final turn, some at the end but outkicked. LEAR SEELSTER never surfaced; PICKLED PREACHER didn’t surface either after being wide early and taking back. RAYS N A RUCKUS was uncovered to the half but never got beyond midpack.
EIGHTH RACE – THE CANDYMAN CAN was outside most of a good quarter to make the top, came home in 55.2 – 27.3 under a hold, uncatchable. SOMEBEACH BARON was fastest away and made the winner work hard to clear, stayed tight until the stretch but didn’t have the winner’s sprint, held second over BLOW A CLOUD N. The latter sat in, outside before midstretch and narrowed in on the place horse. RHP moved outside down the back but gapped, ducked in, no factor. THNDRFRMTHETHRON N came out raw 5/8, got to the wheel of the winner but no closer, fell back in the lane.
NINTH RACE – SNOWBALL’S ROMEO circled the field with good gate speed early, yielded for the pocket, sent to the Pocono Pike, went right on by and held off the closers. ACTOR HANOVER was looped and got into the early pocket past the 1/8, inside, angled out then wide headstretch, took a while to get in gear and was still fifth with little more than 50 yards to go, then was moving very well at the wire. BULLVILLE TERROR came all the way up the inside from second-last, deep in the Pike and just edged for second. DREAMS BEACHBOY quarter-moved and kept rolling, couldn’t last until the wire. BENJI’S BEST was third-over, had his cover lose its forward momentum on the turn, widest and very good late. WHITE HAIR ROCKS tucked fourth 3/16, moved uncovered at the ½, did got a head ahead of the winner on the turn, held fairly well considering the hard trip. CAPTAIN MCKEE was second-over, gapped. BAY MEADOWS was at the back throughout.
TENTH RACE – CURIOUS CORTEZ left hard to get control at the 1/8, yielded just before the ¼ but was quickly on the retake, had a clear lead far turn and was not seriously threatened late. REGAL SON parked the winner a ways then yielded, moved uncovered nearing the ¾, was game late and got up for second. STELLAR BB went up and took most of the quarter to make the lead, yielded to the winner, couldn’t go with that one far turn, raced commendably. BELLOWS BINGE moved out late backstretch, got cover, went back inside on the turn, to the Pocono Pike, not quite enough. ALEX TYE never entered the picture. MAJOR DESIRE was gapping before the 5/8.
ELEVENTH RACE — … Unfortunately, the video transmission went off the air just about at the 3/8 pole, so I cannot really say what I “saw” that you cannot infer from looking at the charts. The biggest puzzle is how SULLIVAN got out from behind the tired leader, and I would guess behind INDIGO ART. Sorry.
Sep 20, 2021 | Connors’ Comments
FIRST RACE – Stretch headwind … HURRIKANE WILLIE G was pushed to the 3/16 for the lead, yielded to a brusher and sat the pocket, outside stretch and got to the lead late in a good time for this class. CASTYOURCROWN moved from fourth at the quarter to the lead at the other end of the frontstretch, rolled along, didn’t miss by very much. BJORNSSON pushed the early pace, yielded and stayed third-in, inside stretch, just held third over MISTER WALKER. The latter was on his way from the back of the pack not much past the ¼, left uncovered before turn two, held on decently. CREATE moved outside 5/8, had cover but couldn’t go with it 11/16. F X HANOVER was the original second-over, gapped 9/16 and broke before the 5/8. LEGION OF HONOR showed little. DANZON HANOVER left and tucked third early, broke to the 5/16 and went inside the pylons.
SECOND RACE – CAVIART CARMEL was four-wide early, three-wide to the 3/16, then two-wide to the top 5/16 after hard usage, rated the half, had to pick it up and battled with ODDS ON CARLY fiercely the last 5/16, very game to hold on. The latter made the top between horses at the 1/8, yielded, vacated third raw before the 5/8 and went nose-to-nose with the winner to the wire, very good effort. BETTE TINA came outside ¾, found her best strides a little late but still grabbed third. KISSIMMEE BEACH was involved in the early action to the 1/8, moved second-over, got to tuck in the pocket on the turn, Pocono Pike, not quite enough punch. TSM WESTERN SOUL couldn’t keep up in the last ½. SOUTHWIND MOLLY was three-deep to the 1/8 then on the lead 3/16, pushed the winner to the 5/16 before yielding, went loose 5/8. LADY ELECTRA was slow to the gate and rough once she got there, broke before the start, would eventually pull up.
THIRD RACE – CHAMP CHARBEL tucked, then gapped in third most of the middle half, outside on the far turn, wide and had the best finishing move. BALI BEACH was looped and worked up into the pocket, was also loose until the ¾, to the Pocono Pike, had a chance but outkicked, did get second. KAUAI KING moved uncovered 5/8 and made steady progress until the stretch, held on decently late. SICILY BEACH looped the field in short order, had an open lead after a fast quarter and a rated half, had the others catch up to him to the ¾, tired a bit after hard work in front. THE OTHER PAIR were not factors here.
FOURTH RACE – CARAMELA HANOVER moved out raw 5/8 and retucked in the pocket, gradually reeled in the leader on the turn, outside stretch, held off PAINT BY NUMBERS in the 32.2 last quarter. PAINT MY NUMBERS tucked fifth, then followed the winner (also retucking) until headstretch, went inside and just missed. MYREANNA tucked third and sat behind the gapping pocket horse, finally out two-wide midturn, just edged MISS MAYTRIX for third. The latter gapped behind the main pack, three-wide far turn and gained into the drastically-slowing tempo. THESUNRISESAGAIN made the lead and try to scorch the field with a giant quarter and half, still had a huge lead down the back but was tiring and gradually gave way. CIAO BELLA never made her presence felt. LILYBET sat second, gapped virtually the entire way until breaking far turn and going to the infield. TSM EMILIA T misbehaved 50 yards before the start.
FIFTH RACE – BLONDE ONTHE BEACH looked at leaving but took back, came raw 3/8 and went right by before the 5/8 in a 26.4 backside, had to deal with CAPSAICINN but went on enough to get that foe into the pocket towards headstretch, drew away. The latter moved second-over from last and then challenged when left raw 5/8, couldn’t go by and tucked headstretch, held second over some late rushers. JUBILEE QUEEN quarter-moved after a fast opener, had the winner rush by 5/8, couldn’t stay with the top two at the end of the fast third quarter, but kept on steadily. BAREFOOT’NPREGNANT was shuffled to last, came back some on the end. EASYRUNNER HANOVER, wide early, took the pocket 3/16, was shuffled back, evenly late. AVAYA HANOVER left between horses to the lead 3/16, yielded to the second quarter brusher, gapped the main action at crunch time.
SIXTH RACE – GROSSETO AS was three-wide to the 1/8, wanted to go on but was wrestled into the pocket off the first turn, closed the distance between himself and the leader late backstretch, out headstretch and trotted away late in a quick time for this level. INFINITE ZETTE spotted early, uncovered at the half far off the lead, kept gaining steadily for a good second. ARMANI HANOVER was determined to set the pace, got a breather to the half then took off again, out of gas headstretch. THINK I CAN was a very distant next-best. TSM PRINCE TRISTAN gapped down the back. COMMAND THE MARKET as forwardly-placed, but was leaving a gap soon off turn two. THE OTHER DUO were always far back.
SEVENTH RACE – MORROCKIN K came uncovered at the half, got around a gapping three-holer, could have ducked in far turn but chose to advance two-wide, a very confident half length winner. REMY AURORA defended the pocket, got a bit loose on the backstretch but narrowed in, to the Pocono Pike, got the lead midstretch, not quite enough to resist the winner. WATERBOARD took the lead and slowed the half, tried to steal away with a 27.1 third quarter, held on to midstretch, not beaten by much. SILVER TAIL moved second-over but gapped on the turn, had a good if belated rush. SURE R LOOKIN GOOD tucked third at the 1/8, started to leave a gap not long into the backstretch.
EIGHTH RACE –ONE AFTER NINE was three-wide and looped early, to two-wide and in front 5/16, went on and strung out the front part of the field, drew away. QUICKEST HANOVER circled four-wide and lived up to her name getting the lead, yielded to the winner 5/16, couldn’t go enough late but did hold on to second in a three-way picture. LAA DEE GAA one-geared it raw from the half, good race. ME TOO BABY used the rail to achieve a forward positioning, Pocono Pike, didn’t have a solid pop late. CHARMING BANK gapped out far turn. I’LLALWAYSBEBACK and FINLANDIA were never factors. STORM BRINGER tried to gain outside but could not.
NINTH RACE – ISLAND LILY went outside with cover past the 5/8, uncovered midturn as her cover got the lead and the inside, worked her way to the front without seeming to have much trouble. DAGON HANOVER sat in the two-hole, remained in that positioning after the leader broke and a new leader crossed over, Pocono Pike, just second over TEQUILA N ROSES. The latter went uncovered 5/8 and was going past the pacesetter when that one broke, came up just a bit shy at crunch time. SERRANO VOLO avoided trouble. BALLET BARRE was well-placed until the ¾, then tired. BREEZING PRAYER was looped early and went on belatedly, was making a play for the lead when breaking at the ¼, recovered and went outside but couldn’t sustain the comeback. RED REDEMPTION made the top near the 1/8 in a fast quarter, slowed Q2 then picked up Q3, was giving way when he broke midturn and went inside the pylons. BILLIE CLAIRE and CUSTOMARILY both broke soon into the race; the latter suffered “b.e.” and was pulled up.
TENTH RACE – PRESTO grinded up from the 5/8 and proved the best in a three-horse duel. SO LONG HANOVER was in front at the 1/8, yielded and was a bit rough, left a gap behind the leader until late backstretch, to the Pocono Pike, didn’t appear to ever have the lead but steadily for second. SWEET HEART AS was three-wide to the 1/8 and went in front 3/16, set wind-appropriate fractions as many did on this card, held the lead until just past midstretch. CAN’T SAY NO couldn’t make his presence felt. LAZER JET moved outside in an effort to gain but was ineffective. BANG BANG BOINGA was always far back. BIG NUDGE ran at the 3/8.
ELEVENTH RACE – CAPTAIN ROMANCE went out between horses and wound up in the early pocket, quarter-moved then yielded again at the half, accelerated 11/16 to be in position to move outside for the stretch, did so and wore down a stubborn STELLAR YANKEE to make George Napolitano Jr. only the 12th driver in North American harness racing history to record 11,000 victories. The latter was looped, had the winner move to the lead in front of him and followed him to command after a taxing half, held his ground dead game. BEACH TOWN BOY tucked third, came out into turn two and was briefly in tight quarters, continued up raw, tucked third ¾, couldn’t go with the top two on the end but bettered the rest. BOLTMAN tailed the show horse’s cover then was left raw on the turn, OK. THE COOKIE MONSTER came on from far back to get the last payday. THE NEXT THREE were never major dangers. ITZALLDOWNTOLUCK N was very wide to the first turn and three-wide to the 1/8 before getting the lead, yielded, a bit rank in the hole towards turn two, fell back.
Sep 16, 2021 | Connors’ Comments
FIRST RACE – Stretch headwind … ARTACHE HANOVER left and wound up in the pocket, pulled out late backstretch after the brusher had cleared and attacked, proved the best in a multi-horse photo. RUNHAPPY TEN went into third before the 1/8, sat in then followed the winner outside, got into stretch high gear just a little bit too late. GOLDEN GESTURE left to take over before the first turn in a quick quarter, really slowed the second split, didn’t fight really hard when the brusher came and yielded for the two-hole, into the Pocono Pike, just missed. BOBBY DAZZLER tucked fourth to the 3/16, came with a giant brush at the half and went by 5/8 with a 26.2 third quarter with the wind, couldn’t make the lead stand up. KOLT POWER pulled at the bottom of turn two but couldn’t reach. POLAK A never surfaced. DUCKIES DYNASTY was behind dull cover but didn’t seem to have much anyway.
SECOND RACE – WINNERESS was between horses in a pack early, tucked, raced fourth-in, saw the two-in and three-in horses fan wide before headstretch and came right up the Pocono Pike for the victory. MUAY HANOVER was very wide early and three-wide to the quarter, then two-wide to the top to the 3/8, couldn’t ward off the pocket rocket. ZOOMING was far back, moved out behind a parked horse, launched wide and wound up four-high headstretch, finished with trot. FASHION POSSESSED pushed the ¼ and yielded, moved three-wide from third-in late on the turn, couldn’t quite get there. SWANCREDIT was out to the ¼ for command, yielded 3/8 for the two-hole, outside late turn, tired some. NOBLE WARRAWEE was not heard from. GEMINI EDDIE was three-wide early then dropped behind cover, left uncovered 3/8 and could not gain. LIBERO HANOVER was off the gate, caught the field, broke, caught the field again, broke again.
THIRD RACE – SUNBURST CRUZE left for the pocket, moved out late turn, up by a nostril. JEREMES GENERAL worked his way to command, got no pressure until the stretch, just nipped. GRANTOR HANOVER stayed plugged in until the stretch. SUNSHINE WEST had trouble keeping up as early as before the 5/8. JAMES RIVERSIDE galloped midway on the turn before the start.
FOURTH RACE – NITE TIME DEAL was three-wide leaving then two-wide to 1/8 command, had no midrace challengers, opened a clear lead early stretch, then held together when LIGHTNING LELA surged. The latter was between horses for the lead, then yielded for the pocket, tightened in the last half as the only challenger, found better strides midstretch and didn’t miss by much. BETTING HANNAH worked in fourth 3/16, outside ¾ and retucked third past midturn, next in line. CHEEKIE BABE was forwardly-placed, then started gapping at the half, was coming back a little late. SHADOWS DANCERS passed tired horses for a check. HEAVEN SENT ME came up empty. PEMBROKE IDEAL BJ was leaving a gap by the 3/8.
FIFTH RACE – I’M VERY SPECIAL was in front just past the 1/8, went fast- slow (vs. the wind) – fast (to open a big lead) – fast (to maintain that big advantage). PRAIRIE WESTERNGAL was the first to show, yielded for the two-hole, started gapping off turn two, did last for second. GEORGIE MARTIN N gapped a gapper down the back, got closer and went to the Pocono Pike but couldn’t reach second. TRAFFIC JAM and MOTU MOONBEAM N offered little. ROLLING GOING GONE moved out down the back but came up empty.
SIXTH RACE – BRINGITONHOME N raced third-in, aided when the pocketsitter pulled, then went to the Pocono Pike and lived up to his name for the victory. FATHER FRED came through at the start, parked past the 3/16 before taking over, had some pressure down the back but shook that one off, couldn’t hold his advantage to the line. SPORTSMANSHIP pushed a foe most of the ¼, yielded for the two-hole, outside in the stretch, just edged for second. MEADOWBROOK FLASH had dull cover, three-wide at the ¾, outfinished the others. CODE MEISTER gapped in last, clear but not much to offer late. DARTH FADER tucked fourth at the 1/8, started first-over into turn two, got as close as the leader’s hindquarters but no closer, faded. MAJOR SUGAR RUSH was second-over, rough-gaited on the turns, blindswitched to the ¾, couldn’t get close.
SEVENTH RACE – Wind has died down … PANSY’S IMAGE was in front heading to the first bend, discouraged an early mover, had TURNTHEFROWNAROUND come up to her by the 11/16, and those two went at it to the wire, with “PANSY” gamely prevailing. The latter came uncovered approaching the 5/8 and reached the winner by the 11/16, slugged it out with that one, stayed very game to the line. AMERICAN DELIGHT N moved out from last 9/16, got cover 5/8 but gapped it, was moving well at the wire. CAVIART CHERIE yielded early, seemed to contemplate a quarter-move but rethought that strategy and stayed in the two-hole close-up, to the Pocono Pike but with little to offer. SOMEBEACHSOMEFRA never factored here.
EIGHTH RACE – QUEEN KENDALL quarter-moved and got a rest to the half, held off the first-over and drew away in the last 1/8. SWEETONTHEBEACH made the lead and forced a tuck in a quick opener, sat close in the pocket most of the way, didn’t have enough for the winner late but held second over the closing TSM ARTEMIS T. The latter stayed in until the far turn, three-wide in the lane and gained some. MORE THAN KUTE was not a factor. THE BOSS’ WIFE took the pocket early, came raw off turn two and gained down the back, but her bid stalled on the far turn. RHYME N ROLL pulled out from last at the half but couldn’t advance.
NINTH RACE – APRIL AVA got to the top, did not encounter pressure until SURREAL FEELING came on midstretch, then was hustled home to stay safe. The latter left, yielded for the pocket, and stayed inside almost to midstretch, where she moved out and uncorked a solid burst. BYE BYE FELICIA moved uncovered past the 5/8 but never reached the top two, went on to take a three-way picture for show. MAN DONTFORGET ME got a slow start and was last inside, slow to clear between horses in a tight spot, had pace at the end. CRAZY CUTE was second-over but her cover didn’t advance as much as she might have liked, three-wide headstretch and moving well late. DELISHKA N didn’t have much kick tonight.
TENTH RACE – A CRAFTY LADY was three-wide to the 1/8 then two-high to take the point 3/16, got a bit of a breather in Q2, then paced successive 27.4 quarters to win easily. WINNING WORDS took over at the 1/8 then yielded to sit the two-hole, not threatening the winner but not being caught for second. CLASSY CHAPEL N left for forward position, moved outside 5/8 but never reached the winner, held pretty well. RAPUNZEL BLUE CHIP came out with cover late backstretch, couldn’t have much impact. CHECKERED PAST moved out from last and passed tired foes for the last check. THE OTHER PAIR had little to offer.
