Connors’ Comments for Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Sep 29, 2020 | Connors’ Comments

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2020

 

FIRST RACE – FASHIONWOODCHOPPER, the 2017 Sire Stakes champion over this track, was three-wide early to command at the 1/8, yielded but quickly retook, drew clear in the latter stages in fast time for this class. ANOTHER BREATH was looped and pressed on to the lead off turn one, yielded for the pocket, held on to the distant deuce over TURVILLE HANOVER. The latter was out on the second turn but quickly lost cover to a break, advanced in quarter three but could not threaten severely, just edged for place. CELEBRITY SERENA sat in, went wide in the lane and trotted past the others. GLOIRE DREAM yielded for good positioning, empty ¾. DOWNUNDERMATTER was never prominent. LEAP YEAR LUCKY was uncovered into turn two but soon was offstride. SCIROCCO JACOB was starting to lose contact by the ¼.

 

SECOND RACE – VALRHONA went right to the lead, never had big pressure from the parked horses, had enough to hold off RUNHAPPY TEN to the tune of $101.60. The latter was buried inside, angled to widest past headstretch and just ran out of racetrack. RACE ME VILLA was able to go up to the pocket late backstretch though gapping slightly, evenly late. ALTA SHELBY N was away in the pocket, came out 11/16 and challenged the winner but was rebuffed. ROLL WITH JEFF was three-wide to the 1/8 then behind the uncovered parked horse, went three-wide to the 5/8 and was left out three-wide until just before midturn, couldn’t sustain the gain. DULL ROAR was left out in the air, started falling back just past the half. ROCK THREE TIMES went to the sweeping tier but couldn’t make an impact. THE OTHER PAIR were wide early, tucked back, and did not figure in the outcome.

 

THIRD RACE – Stretch tailwind has started to get going … HALLS OF VALOR made the lead at the 3/16, rated the pace and had no anxious moments. CIRCUIT PARTY stayed connected in third, to the Pocono Pike and finished with some trot. KEEPTHETAB HANOVER pushed away well from the rail and yielded for the two-hole, so-so late response. BANKSTER, who gapped at times, stayed in and got fourth over THE IRISHMAN. The latter moved uncovered 5/8 but never made much of a dent. MY SON TY HANOVER never was prominent. PECANSANDY HANOVER was last in the main pack, nothing in the last quarter. TRICKY DICK was wide leaving, out with cover when breaking towards the 3/16.

 

FOURTH RACE – RHODATOLDME moved outside on turn two while far back, quickly made up ground down the back then went three-wide around the parked horse to get to two-wide raw, got in the pocket on the turn then came out again in the stretch, wore down SPECIAL ACHIEVER. The latter was in front just past the ¼, parked a foe, tried to meet the challenge of the winner but came up just shy. SWEETONTHEBEACH left a big gap in quarter two behind the duelers and pocket horse, tightened, came out midturn and won a three-way photo for third. STREAK THE LAWN was rough before the start and not away well, followed cover, uncovered past the ¾, fair late. DESTINYS CHILD stacked widest in the lane and finished with some pace. MISS SURREAL left, yielded after the ¼ and kept the hole closed, started to unplug ¾. LOOKING SANTASTIC never got a call. WYOMING WIND had cover to the ¼ then was left uncovered, tried for the lead but couldn’t go by, gave way significantly.

 

FIFTH RACE – LEXA HANOVER made two speed moves, got a breather against the wind down the backstretch, then had enough to go on to victory. TITANS HOPE was three-deep leaving, in front past the 1/8, yielded to the winner for the pocket, to the Pocono Pike and gained some but couldn’t reach. THE NUN got a forward spot and stayed in, in the deep Pike and was gaining some when breaking deep stretch, placed for LOB. MOODY BLUE angled into an early 4-tuck, moved outside going to the 11/16, couldn’t pose a big threat. MS ARTOIS gapped midpack. PRAIRIE VIRTUE and NANCY BAR were off the main pack after two horses broke on the second turn: BLESS YOUR HEART jumped at the ½ and went inside the pylons, while MISTY KRISTY miscued heading into that turn.

 

SIXTH RACE – VORACITY was three-wide past the 1/8, tucked third 3/16, uncoiled one move 11/16 that carried him to the lead past the ¾ and let him leave these behind in the red dust. WILD BILL took the pocket before the 3/16, gapped off the runaway leader, in the Pocono Pike and a very distant second in a photo. THORN IN YOUR SIDE got in gear early and rolled on to fractions of 26.3, 54, and 1:22,4, couldn’t resist the winner but almost held second. DAVID THE SAINT got in fifth past the ¼, out in the lane and had a bit of pace. JAGGER ROCKS went evenly inside. DASHBOARD tucked fourth, gapped the top three midrace and never was a factor. MOUNT ROYAL and PARTY BOY were always far back, as was RED DIRT ROCKNROLL, who was outside the mile while not prominent.

 

SEVENTH RACE – SIR CROMWELL went to the front, had just yielded the lead past the 3/8 when the brusher broke and so resumed pacesetting duties, had some pressure that was easily shook off and won handily. WORTHY OF HONOR maintained the two-hole, raced well. MINEFIELD HANOVER made a big uncovered move down the backstretch and through the turn, but he could not sustain it in the last 1/8. SAINT SEBASTIAN was wide on the final turn from far back, so-so. MISTER WALKER moved outside 3/16 and went frontward, had just cleared to the lead approaching turn two when making a break, made a good recovery. KEYSTONE THUNDER showed little. LOVING LIFE was gapping early. I HAVE A DREAM moved outside but gapped advancing cover.

 

EIGHTH RACE – REDDING HANOVER was in the outer flow, couldn’t stay with TRAY SURREAL as that one cleared to the lead and opened a bit of distance, but caught him 50 feet out then held off NOTAWORD N. The latter came out behind the early mover, ducked back in off the second turn when that one did not advance, had to wait then backed out behind the winner mid-far turn, closed well. TRAY SURREAL moved out, three-wide 5/8 to two-wide raw 11/16 and got a clear lead past midturn, just succumbed late. DOGFIGHT went wide in the stretch and was next in line. FRISKY PEDRO was between horses early to the pocket at the 1/8, shuffled far turn as the leader tired, outside in the stretch, fair. FIND ONE MORE pushed the 1/8 and yielded, also caught in, but showed little once clear. QUAGMIRE BLUECHIP did not feature. WAGS pulled out 5/16, gained for a little while then was all done and looped past the 5/8. BEACH FIRE K was three-wide past the 1/8 for command, set the pace, nothing the last ¼.

 

NINTH RACE – PRACTICAL CAT moved out third-over, couldn’t stay with the first sweeper but gradually got to two-wide and proved the only challenger, caught that one late. BUTTER TOFFEE went two-wide on turn two, three-wide 5/8 to two-wide raw 11/16 and took over the lead and the inside midturn, just failed to last at 47-1. WAYWARD MAN was four-wide to the 1/8, then basically three-wide to the 3/8, then went up to clear near the half, couldn’t keep the place horse out on the turn, bore out some in the lane but was very game considering the horrible trip. ANDOVERS TOUCH was three-wide early, decided to go up between horses, grabbed the lead 3/8 and yielded to the ½, to the Pocono Pike, couldn’t get show. KANDY KORN parlayed an inside trip into the last check. BUZZEN GARLAND took 3/16 to clear the pole horse, kept foes out a like distance before yielding, moved outside to avoid what looked to be a shuffle developing, but had little to offer. C-O-TO BLUEGRASS left from the rail and yielded 3/16, followed the last horse to the lead and was left raw at the half, faded. THE OTHER PAIR were not prominent.

 

TENTH RACE – CLAYTONS BETTOR N left well to clear by the 1/8, yielded off turn one but was quick to reclaim command, withstood the challenge of TERRITORY. The latter defended early position, flushed out to the 11/16 and went right up to challenge, raced well in a 28 kicker. PARTY WHIP was looped and was two-wide just past the quarter for the top, yielded, gave a little ground late. WHO’S NEGAN moved out behind not-great cover, ducked in on the turn and had some traffic issues headstretch, distant next. LIKE LIGHTNING LOU moved raw off turn two, got cover to the 11/16 but couldn’t go with it. ROCKIN ROCKO was last, went three-wide later on the backstretch, gained then flattened out mid-far turn. ODDS ON OCALA was already gapping by the 3/8.

 

ELEVENTH RACE – SWEET TALKER moved outside 3/16 to not get trapped in by parked horses, went on to get the lead 3/8, fought off the first-over and won comfortably. LIBSPEAK went to the early lead, saw an early challenger break, yielded to the winner 3/8, kept up pretty well in a 56.2 back half. FLIRTY FORTY was forwardly-placed, came raw on turn two and challenged, tired before the stretch. PRIMROSE was outside 3/8, gradually ranged closer to cover, almost made third. SUNRISE HANOVER tucked in third, no more forward gear at the ¾. LADY SOPHIA took a while to settle inside, not heard from thereafter. PEPPERMINT MOCHA had little to offer; SPRECKLES also was no factor. ROLL WITH AMY was going up to challenge for the lead 3/16 when making a break, recovered but made another break and suffered “b.e.,” was pulled up.

 

TWELFTH RACE – SCOOTNROLL moved behind the quarter-mover and took the lead into turn two, paced his back ¾ in 1:23.4 as much the best. P-DRIVE HANOVER made two speed moves the yielded for the two-hole, kept pretty close until an 1/8 out, bettered ROLL WITH DOM for second. The latter was on top early, saw two go by in quarter two, also stayed close in a fast mile. BRAZEN BRAZILIAN came uncovered from far back 5/8 and made a good showing. BOLT OF LUCK gapped at a couple of points. SALT LIFE wasn’t a factor. LAGUNA BEACH BOY disconnected down the back. BEACHMASTER TWO broke as the field entered the backstretch before the start.

 

THIRTEENTH RACE – SIR JOHN F came uncovered nearing turn two and one-geared it all the way home, going past the leader headstretch and then withstanding all other challenges. SQUEE HANOVER was three-wide early while looped, got in fourth 3/16, used the Pocono Pike to get second. MOSCONI HANOVER cleared the field from the outer post rather easily, yielded for the two-hole, out behind the winner headstretch after keeping up in good fractions, evenly. CELEBRITY MASERATI was looped and between horses, went up to the lead past the ¼ and kept up a good clip while being pressed, tired headstretch. TOTAL DIVA had some gate speed, backed out to follow the winner ¾ but couldn’t keep up. PRESIDENT gapped at a couple of points including when he gave up second-over positioning, was blindswitched late on the turn, was behind a wall of horses late. WHOUCALNCRAZY and PHANTOM RUSTY were never in the main frame. TT CONWAY tried to gain wide late turn but flattened.

 

FOURTEENTH RACE – Wind had calmed … HORSING AROUND wasn’t horsing around here, going straight to the lead, continuing at a fast clip, then finishing out in 55.1, which he needed to to defeat MACHEASY A. The latter, in his U.S. bow, was wide early and backed off into a 4-tuck past the 1/8, came uncovered 5/8 and gained until ducking in behind the winner late turn for some strengthening, then came out again early stretch, only to have the wire come just a bit early for him. JIMI WIND RICKS was three-wide early and backed off to tuck third, outside late turn and a distant third. YACHT WEEK defended the pocket, may’ve been bottomed chasing a good pace and unplugged ¾. THE OTHERS couldn’t get into a fast race for this class.

 

Connors’ Comments for Monday, September 7, 2020

Sep 14, 2020 | Connors’ Comments

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

 

FIRST RACE – Stretch headwind … SPECTRE was three-wide to the 1/8 then in third 3/16, right up the Pocono Pike and had the most late. P L ICABOD yielded before the 3/16 to sit a two-hole, outside late turn, never had the lead but steadily for second. PUERTO RICO was out almost to the 3/16 in the 26.4 opener, rated the second quarter but the early energy use caught up to him. O JONNIE was last, had strong trot up the Pike late. CHAPTER FASHION gapped at several points along the way, not that much late. MISS MUSCLE was three-wide to try to circle dull cover late turn, not much. PRETTY EDGY was second-over, blindswitched, didn’t seem to have much in tight quarters much of the stretch. DJOKOVIC N moved raw towards turn two, didn’t gain much before backing off. ANDOVERS TOUCH was never in the hunt.

 

SECOND RACE – DAFINATY was the only strong leaver, set the pace to his liking, not threatened. FOOL OF IDEAS used the rail to get the pocket, came outside, drifted a little wide in the lane but still clearly second. BETTER BANGBANG was briefly outside to the ¾ but went back in with not a lot to give. SEE YOU FRIDAY got around two gappers down the backstretch, could get no closer. PROM KING and ALL PIPED UP were both gapping at several points.

 

THIRD RACE – FOCUS POCUS moved towards the ½ and cleared just past the 5/8 while going his own third quarter in 27.3, looked safe against the threat of CELEBRITY ROLEX. The latter left quickly from the rail, yielded in the front of the stands, came out as the winner was going by and retucked in the pocket, stayed close but wasn’t getting to the winner. DRAIN THE SWAMP outclosed the rest for the distant third. APOCALYPSE came out late backstretch, left behind while two-wide on the turn. TUFF TO BE LINDY tucked, moved to the lead in front of the grandstand, had no answer when the winner challenged past the 5/8. BETTA MUSCLES fell way back. HOLLOW TALK was already gapping past the 1/8.

 

FOURTH RACE – BIG CC’S ROCK was content in the pocket, to the Pocono Pike and drew off as much the best. LYONS JOHNNY moved out of third 11/16, gained some, couldn’t step with the winner but edged SPECTACULAR ROCK in the last step for second. The latter was very fast away, got his own half, couldn’t complete this mission. REDONKULOUS struggled from later in the backstretch. DELIGHTFUL FASHION gapped at points, out late turn, couldn’t reach fourth. WE NEVER GETACOLT got around a struggling BOOK BINGE.

 

FIFTH RACE – TRAVEL WINNER went up between horses to command at the 1/8, yielded at the ¼ then moved to reclaim the lead just past the 3/8, in control the rest of the way. CASH FOR REAL was three-wide to the 1/8 to the lead just before the ¼, yielded just past the 3/8 for the two-hole, couldn’t gain but held ground well. EV’S GIRL moved out from next-to-last 9/16 and gradually tightened in on cover, ducked inside late turn, then out in the stretch and showed late gain for third. KINETIC KING went out raw early on turn two, never reached the leader, next–best. SMART AS A WHIP was shuffled, evenly in the stretch. RAP SHEET was too far back. KAFFIR KEMP showed speed and relinquished, struggled from the 5/8. NEW IDENTITY was never prominent.

 

SIXTH RACE – WHO’S NEGAN quarter-moved and had a nice stroll in the sunshine thereafter. DON’T BLAME LOU was three-wide most of the way to the front at the 1/8, yielded for the two-hole, outpaced late. TSM BATMAN came up between horses to get the early pocket, left the rail midturn but didn’t gain. BEACH CHIEF closed a gap at the half then moved out 11/16 but didn’t have much to offer. THE NEXT THREE never achieved prominence; nor did BIG LUCIANO, who was already leaving a gap in front of the stands.

 

SEVENTH RACE – I’M WININ HANOVER was briefly wide then followed cover, uncovered 1/8 to the lead 3/16, got third quarter pressure from her main rival as that one tried to recover from a break, left her foe far behind with a good 57.3 last half for maiden trotters. BELLA BELLINI was out between horses and got the lead at the 1/8, made a break near the ¼ but caught back on and went up to challenge in a fast third quarter, understandably tired but way ahead of the others – has talent. MOUSE CIRCUS was forwardly-placed then got the pocket when a rival broke, gave way ¾. CAITLEE HALL was well off the action, moved out far turn but couldn’t reach third. RHYTHMOFTHENIGHT barged offstride just past the start. GHIBLI left a big gap past the ¼ then eventually broke. MISTY KRISTY was reasonably close when going offstride 5/8.

 

EIGHTH RACE – SO SUPREME made the point at the 1/8, yielded then retook, aided when the outer tiers stalled midturn, drew away. EMORI HANOVER took command at the 1/8 then ceded it for the pocket, no match for the winner but held second ahead of SENDMETOTHESTARS. The latter was four-wide towards turn one, then two-wide to a 3/16 3-tuck, moved out midturn but quickly ducked back inside, OK. HELLO TOMMY was three-wide early then took a tuck fourth, not much late. BORNWESTERN was blocked headstretch, but couldn’t rally for fourth in the Pocono Pike. LAST LUXURY was away slowly, moved outside but gapped, three-wide late turn as the first-over tired, not a factor; ADELIA HANOVER followed LAST LUXURY then wax four-wide into the lane, not enough. GIRL HAS GAME didn’t have the necessary game for these. KISSIMMEE BEACH was first-over 3/8, made a good bid down the back then slowed suddenly past midturn.

 

NINTH RACE – BILLIE BLUE left well to have the lead by the 1/8 in a fast quarter, kept rolling on the lead, drew clear on the turn, kept to business late (the last quarter was 31). TOTAL DIVA followed cover early on the backstretch then lost it 11/16, kept on gaining one-paced. FRAC was away alertly and sat the pocket, loose of the leader far turn, kept trying to the line in the slowing tempo. SCARLETT RAIDER moved raw early backstretch and retucked around a fader, next in line. NATALIE HANOVER went evenly. C-O-TO BLUEGRASS had some speed, backed up in the last ¼. BIGBOY ROSCO never featured. GLOIRE DREAM was looped, tucked fourth 3/16 as SMOKIN ON BY broke; both of those were far back.

 

TENTH RACE – AN THE THUNDEROLLS came out off turn two, uncovered at a distance behind the fast third quarter mover, finally got to that one in a 30.2 kicker. LOOKINFORADVENTURE was last, four-wide late on the far turn and stormed through the stretch, just up for second. CANBEC KINGKAZIMIR was looped and pressed on to 3/16 command, shuffled when the lead changed hands later on the backstretch, made up ground quickly once getting to the Pocono Pike. NEEDLESS TO SAY was uncovered going to the second turn and paced down the back in 26.4 to open up a giant lead in a fast ¾, but had to pay the price late. FINAL JUSTICE gapped inside, then was also blocked late far turn, good in the Pike behind the winner. WILD WEST wasn’t in the main picture. RUTHLESS DUDE got the top from PP9, yielded, backed out to the ¾ but gapped on the turn. MATT MAJOR got forward position then quarter-moved, could do nothing about the brusher past the 5/8 and folded. DONAU was way back.

 

ELEVENTH RACE – NEAT was urged leaving, three-wide just past the 1/8 to the top just before the 5/16, set the pace, held off the relentless charge of SWEET TALKIN SATIN. The latter was third-over from far back, three-wide 11/16 and swept horses to get to two-wide midturn, kept narrowing in but couldn’t quite reach by the line. HERE COMES SWIFTY couldn’t stay with the place horse’s big three-wide move, very wide off the turn and passed many horses late for the distant third. APP HANOVER was shuffled, out in a blindswitch late turn, angled a lane to his right and had a little response. ACHILLES BLUE CHIP spotted midpack, then moved raw 3/8, couldn’t get close but kept going. R GAUWITZ HANOVER tucked third, didn’t reenter the picture. ASCARYONE HANOVER raced outside in the second half of the field, never a major danger. GRANDPA DON got the top, yielded to the winner before the 5/16, struggled from the 5/8. MAGIC TRICKS fell back.

 

TWELFTH RACE – GATORS BEN WINNING was three-deep to turn one and onward to the lead at the ¼, slowed the second quarter then picked up the pace to deal with the first-over challenger, drew away in the last ¼. ALWAYS BE LUCY raced out to command then yielded for the pocket, gave ground through the last ¼ but retained the distant second. SUN BELLE SLIPPERY was trapped inside, made up a fair amount of stretch ground. HOW ABOUT MURPH had some speed, stayed in, had to pause late turn as the pocketsitter backed up, then came clear but had little. TOPVILLE OLIVIA had to stack four-wide from third-over, got the last check. WOODMERE TANGO looked to leave but took back, then uncovered from the second turn, paced a big 26.4 backside to reach the leader while getting to second, but then backed off the last 3/16. HYPO FLIP was in good second-over position but started struggling 11/16. THE OTHER TWO gapped down the back.

 

THIRTEENTH RACE – SHOW ME THE MAGIC went a big first quarter to put everybody in behind, then went a big third quarter, a bit tired late but so were the rest trying to keep up. STOP RESISTIN tucked third, backed outside then was left raw when the first-over took over the pocket, advanced around the turn, held well in the stretch. J S PEYTON left a gap early until underway and uncovered towards turn two, got into the pocket past the 5/8, gave some ground late. LEAP YEAR LUCKY came up the inside and went on evenly. ER BEN left, took a tuck second 3/16, couldn’t keep the pocket filled early backstretch, then moved out on the final turn as the pace slowed and went on evenly for the last check. GUILTYWITHANEXCUSE gapped down the backstretch. THE REST did not achieve a contending position.

 

FOURTEENTH RACE – SKIP TO MY LOU tucked third, came uncovered at the half and paced his own third split in 26 flat to clear to the lead, drew away from these. ROCK LIGHTS was going to go third-over but then ducked back in near the half, went inside a gapper, outside headstretch, the only other one to be going “forward” late. OLLIE’S Z TAM took the pocket at the 1/8, backed out as the leader went by late backstretch and soon was left uncovered, couldn’t hold second late. WILD BILL went a good quarter to ensure command, slowed the half then stepped it up again but was unable to keep the winner outside, tired. LIMA RAIDER was along for the last check. BETTOR SPIRITS N was well-placed second-over at the half but flailed in the fast backstretch. THE REST OF THE FIELD was far back in this fast mile.