Connors’ Comments for Sunday, July 9, 2023

Jul 15, 2023 | Connors’ Comments

FIRST RACE – 67 degrees and “sloppy +1” track … NOTHING TOSEE HERE left and yielded for the pocket, moved to the Pocono Pike and got the job done. LOVE THAT SMILE took over just past the 1/8, set the pace as she pleased, saw foes come to her on both sides near the line, not bad. NEED UR OPINION got underway raw 5/8 and inched closer the rest of the way. TRAFFIC JAM gapped down the back while staying in, evenly late. BULLVILLEKARLA gapped second-over. ITS MESMERISE N gapped at the rear.

SECOND RACE – FRAC sat third until given his cue ¾, moved up immediately and went by midstretch. FIX-IT-UP took the pocket early and stayed there, to the Pocono Pike, had some good trot at the very end. SON OF LIBERTY burst through the rail and set the pace of his own choosing, couldn’t make the lead stand up. MAKIN MAGIC TONITE came out ¾ but didn’t gain. CERTIFIED AGENT was behind the gapping PONDA’S MUSCLE MAN the first half; neither got close. CRAZY ABOUT PAT broke at the start.

THIRD RACE – AHDC Trot … IFNOTMEWHO was three-wide early then pressed on until getting the top 3/8, kept up a good pace and was the dominant force in here. NEWELL PLACE tucked fourth, then started a long grind uncovered at the 3/8, to the pocket to the ¾, narrowed in a bit and far ahead of the rest. REAL MCCOY gapped second-over late backstretch, left raw, edged BANG BANG BOINGA for the distant third; the latter defended the pocket early, was shuffled back to the ¾ then out on a blindswitch midturn, gained a little back. TURBOCHARGEDPETE beat out the rest. LINDYS BOOZE CRUZ gapped much of the way. TRUMP THIS had very little to offer. FASHION CANTAB dashed to the early lead, finally yielded 3/8 in good fractions for these, began to disconnect 11/16.

FOURTH RACE – AMERICAN SKILLS stayed outside early, had brief cover early in quarter two then went on to take the top near the ½, held off a bid from SANDY COURT. The latter left and yielded, made a “hidden quarter-move” in front of the winner then yielded for the two-hole, outside stretch and getting close late. BIG CITY DAISY lagged a little much of the first half, uncovered 5/8 and did advance, looked hard to steer early backstretch then got a wheel under a foe, regathered and finished well but was placed for causing interference. CLAIREDELOU was wide leaving and took command, saw two go by in quarter two, evenly. SHUTUPANDDRIVE followed cover, wide early stretch when crowded and checked hard. CAPTAIN CATCH didn’t factor.

FIFTH RACE – Another AHDC Trot … SHOEMAKER HANOVER had very good cover, left uncovered ¾ and rushed right past the new leader, opened up at will in the last 3/16. CAMPBELLINI stayed in, backed out ¾, four-wide headstretch, just up for second over WINNERESS. The latter moved out but gapped letting a horse escape the rail, three-wide headstretch, still almost second. BROWNIE went right to the lead, yielded, sat in, shuffled ¾, got room to gain mid-far turn and then went to the Pocono Pike, not much late kick. ALL RISE took the early pocket then moved 3/16 to the lead, was under pressure from the 3/8 and finally yielded ¾, then came back out far turn as the new leader tired but couldn’t get back into the main action. GRAFENBERG was outside early taking back to last, not prominent. ALLINDOTIME moved uncovered 3/8 and challenged hard for the lead, cleared ¾ but was all done at that point.

SIXTH RACE – Rain falling early in the card beginning to slacken off … EPIC ACE generally stayed fairly connected to the lead two to past the half, inside, able to advance inside as the pocketsitter came out to follow the first-over midturn, up the Pocono Pike and was able to outfinish these. LYONS LIBERTY was on top in a fast 1/4, yielded for the two-hole, moved outside mid-far turn, went wide, caught up the inside as bearing out. A STUD NAMED SAM advanced with a good move down the back and fought with the leader, got by that one early stretch, couldn’t hold on to the lead. EDDARD HANOVER gapped second-over, evenly late. KINGSTONS BAD BOY gapped at points, evenly late. PAST DUE made two speed moves, was pressured from midbackstretch, broke s being passed early stretch.

SEVENTH RACE – TREACHEROUS PENNY went right down the road, strung the field out in quarter two, had only one keep up with her in a 27 third quarter, then left that one behind to win easily. EAZY HUNTING was in the pocket in a lineup sans the breaker, kept close in the fast backstretch then weakened through the stretch. HUNGRY FOR MONEY gapped from the 3/8, did a little better in the last 1/8. THE NEXT TWO were always far back. SANTAFE’S APPETITE may have been in close quarters at the 1/8 when making a break.

EIGHTH RACE – T H TYSON came out before the 5/8, wound up third-over, three-wide late turn, went past everybody in the latter stages. HOWLENTHEHILLS went to the top at the 1/8, pushed the brusher until well past the 3/8 then yielded for the pocket, to the Pocono Pike, steady but outfinished. ANTE UP HANOVER moved uncovered 5/8 and challenged, got a small lead in the stretch but couldn’t hold on to it. BOBBY’S BLUE CHIP moved second-over, in traffic midstretch, so-so late. LAST GOODBYE was doing OK late from way back. REGGIE THE FOURTH gapped at a couple of points. BULLVILLES PRINCE quarter-moved from midpack, needed until past the 3/8 to clear, was under pressure, tired.

NINTH RACE – DEFACEMENT left, yielded, looked ready to quarter-move before the parked horse came on but had to check as the leader broke, looped by the parked horse then onward to the pocket, outside far turn to take over, held MELODRAMA at bay. The latter came out with cover, wide headstretch, looked like he may have wanted to run in a little in the lane, steady. FRANCO’S GIRL was far back most of the way, gained some in the Pocono Pike past tired horses and breakers. BINGO BRAIN was very wide before turn one, outside at the ¼, went to the top when the leader broke, got a slow middle half, still gave way. DIVINE ZETTE went on to the lead early, made a break 5/16 and went to the Pocono Pike, regained trot but broke again and stayed inside, then couldn’t reenter the main course until further retreat because the rest of the field were in position, little chance of recovery after that. STRIKING TACTFUL moved outside but was empty in the stretch before breaking. PINK WINGS broke sitting third past the 5/8.

TENTH RACE – INCOMMUNICADO hesitated just before the start but then regathered and was able to defend the pocket, waited behind the rated pace then went to the Pocono Pike, had a nice late surge to gain into a 27.2 last quarter and be along. YANKS DUGOUT was in front at the 1/8 and set the pace of his choosing, did very well sprinting home in the fast last quarter but just got nipped. HIGHLAND MOWGLI considered improving early position but took back, moved out ¾ and challenged, very good. HERCULISA followed cover late on the turn, a couple of steps shy. PL NOTSONICE was last of the main bunch throughout. RICH AND MISERABLE broke early.

ELEVENTH RACE – KICKUPYAHEELS N charged through at the start, yielded, moved behind cover at the ½ and soon was uncovered, went by towards the 11/16, had to deal with SPITTING IMAGE but did so. The latter was out behind the cover of the winner, left raw late backstretch, challenged briefly, steadily for second. ROMANTIC EVENING was in the good outer flow backstretch, not enough. GEORGIE MARTIN N was four-wide early, took back to tuck, came clear in the stretch and finished with some pace. SIRI BLUE CHIP made the lead 3/16, pushed a foe until relinquishing at the 3/8, came again before the half and made the top again after that point, yielded to the winner and couldn’t stay close. THE LAST TWO never entered the picture.

TWELFTH RACE – COCKTAIL FASHION went to the top, yielded to the 3/16 to sit the two-hole, outside headstretch and worked past MISS PRINCIPLE late. The latter went on to take over the front 3/16, set a slow second quarter then picked up the pace, held OK but settled for second. CELEBRITY SERENA tucked third, stayed inside, next-best. RED OVERBACH avoided the outer tier, gapped on the turn, a bit better late. KEYSTONE APACHE was behind dull cover, advanced some when that one finally tucked back in, four-wide into the lane but never got close. MY BOY CHRISTIAN moved raw 3/8, one-geared forward some without ever threatening. GREEK LEGEND was second-over, couldn’t stay with cover and ducked back in.

THIRTEENTH RACE – IDEALINFUN was with cover early, in fifth at the 3/16, uncovered past the 3/8, and one-geared up raw, proved resilient and got the decision although drifting out a bit. KAY SAGE was first on top, yielded for the pocket, Pocono Pike and took a short lead midstretch, not quite enough. A CRAFTY LADY had cover early, tucked third 3/16, sat in until coming out past midturn, wide stretch and finished with pace. NEVERTELLMETHEODDS sat in, gapped, did better late deep in the Pike. THINK OF GALAXIES left for command, had the winner gradually move to her the length of the backstretch, came up empty in the stretch. SOMEGIRLSOMEWHEREA gapped at the back. LITTLE BEARCAT backed out to second-over 5/8 but was soon gapping.

FOURTEENTH RACE – SEVENTIER was out 3/16 to make the lead, yielded and stayed close in the pocket, outside headstretch, took the measure of BLENHEIM late. The latter, now with trotting hopples, took an early three-tuck, moved to the ¼ to get the lead 3/8, kept up a good pace stringing out the field, drifted out a little but still was a good second. HUNTING AS tucked fifth, moved uncovered 11/16, did not tip wide of the winner when he moved out headstretch, steadily. NANCY BAR yielded 3/16, sat in, gapped ¾, evenly. FORREST couldn’t gain enough late ground. SNOWMAN HANOVER never got close. HOT SUMMER KNIGHT gapped the last ¼. PADRE was between horses early, broke 3/16.