FIRST RACE – The warmest day of the year so far – temperatures in the mid-50s – and the wind “back at its normal stretch headwind” … ERINWOOD YVES went in fourth at the 1/8, could wait until the ¾ to move outside as there was no forward flow, followed cover on the turn then tipped wide, ate up the ground voraciously late to be just along. PANETTONE HANOVER was looped early, got command at the ¼, slowed the second quarter then ...
Category: Connors’ Comments
Connors’ Comments for Saturday, March 25, 2023
2023-03-27FIRST RACE – Low 40s throughout the card … Stretch tailwind … After earlier rain, the track rated “good” for the first 11 races, and “fast” thereafter; the track was rated “+1” for the first four races, and “+0” thereafter … A very rough day for anybody trying to race in the two(+)-wide tier(s) during the second half: the headwind down the back often inhibited first-over moves and flow … HIS BEATS HANOVER was the ...
Connors’ Comments for Monday, March 20, 2023
2023-03-25FIRST RACE – Temperature rising through the 40s through the card … Stretch headwind … SPRINGBRIDGE DUEL got early forward position, moved 5/16 but was left out to dry, looking to be falling back on the turn but found renewed strength and put his nose on the wire just ahead of DONT JUDGE A BOOK. The latter headed right down the road setting a very quick pace, bravely held until the last step. MR CENSI left, backed ...
Connors’ Comments for Sunday, March 26, 2023
2023-03-22FIRST RACE – Near freezing temperatures all day, and a “+1” allowance given even though the track was “fast” … Stretch headwind … MARINER SEELSTER was two-wide early, let a horse circle him 3/16, followed his cover then proceeded up to take over nearing turn two, under heavy backstretch pressure, but drew clear. TERRITORY left rapidly to hit the top into turn one, yielded, backed out 5/8 and was strong on cover, three-wide ...
Connors’ Comments for Saturday, March 18, 2023
2023-03-21BENJI’S BEST was uncovered to the half, rushed by the leader ¾ and was off by himself late. MUDVILLE was third-over, blindswitched 11/16 but advanced in the blindswitch on the turn, clear early stretch and just up for the distant second. MINDTRIP had the winner’s cover, couldn’t stay with it to the ¾ and two-wide raw on the turn, to the inside headstretch, just failed to preserve second. SNOWBALL’S ROMEO stayed in and ...
Connors’ Comments for Monday, March 13, 2023
2023-03-18FIRST RACE – 40 degrees … TODDLER TANTRUM left well, yielded then reclaimed the top spot, nudged along home to prevail over BRIGADOON. The latter was urged early and cleared at the 1/8, yielded for the pocket, outside early stretch and was gaining late but came up shy. SPINOUT was second-over, three-wide ¾, gained on the turn, then went evenly late while bearing out. DISMISSAL SLIP and SKYWAY ...
Connors’ Comments for Sunday, March 12, 2023
FIRST RACE – 38 degrees today; track rated “fast” but still seeming a bit below peak speed … RYCROFT N moved behind cover at the ¼ then followed a brusher, went by him to the top 3/8, rolled on, held on to the wire. DING DING DINGER left sharply to a quick lead, saw two go by, sat in, moved outside towards headstretch, finished nicely. COCOSFELLA A never left the rail, evenly in the Pocono Pike. BLACKLIGHT ...
Connors’ Comments for Saturday, March 11, 2023
2023-03-15FIRST RACE – Temperature right at freezing, and the track again heavy after snow earlier in the day … Stretch tailwind … BRAVO TEX N went on to the lead 3/16, had an easy time of it. BOBBY K HILL left to command then yielded for the pocket, didn’t keep up on the far turn but narrowed back in some late. HOMESTRETCH WES sat in and was buried, to the deep Pocono Pike and finished well. LITTLE POWER ...
Connors’ Comments for Monday, March 6, 2023
2023-03-12FIRST RACE – Mid 40s; stretch tailwind today, though diminished towards the end of the card … KILOWATT KID N left well, yielded at the 3/16 for the pocket, worked hard and got by IM A GIGOLO N in the last 100 feet. The latter left briskly to 3/16 command in a fast quarter, kept going at a good clip, just missed in a big outing. SHANE ADAM tucked third, sat third-inside, held that position in a photo over REGAL ...
Connors’ Comments for Saturday, March 4, 2023
2023-03-07FIRST RACE – About 40 degrees, shifting winds (frequently a stretch tailwind later) and a heavy racetrack that noticeably negatively impacted the times registered (and, especially later in the card, did not help speed horses) … YS DO IT RIGHT was three-wide to the 1/8 to the front past the 3/16, set the pace, under mild encouragement to withstand BOUNTY HUNTER. The latter was wide early then took back to tuck fifth at the 1/8, moved ...