FIRST RACE – A balmy 75 degrees to start, and a stretch tailwind (which, true to form, dissipated through the card) … ALEXANDER HANOVER moved uncovered at the half and grinded up vs. the wind in the third quarter, kept at his task and had a little more than RAY HALL in the latter stages, on the
gallop going into the turn after the race. RAY HALL was three-wide leaving, settled into the pocket 3/16, to the Pocono Pike, might’ve had a nose up for a step or two midstretch, good but not quite enough. SCIROCCO JAKOB was second-over, didn’t seem to find best strides until a trifle late. LINDY’S BEST YET headed down the road from the pole, had pressure from early in the backstretch, lasted until midstretch. CADILLAC CRUISER was third-over but couldn’t get into the main picture. MADEWELL HANOVER looked ready to leave but bounced offstride a couple of steps in, made up a lot of recovery ground in quarter two, but couldn’t enter contention. CAJOLE HANOVER struggled to keep tight on the front pair most of the race. QUIET GIANT couldn’t keep up at the ¾.
SECOND RACE – HEELS ON THE BEACH was looped between horses early, went on to grab command at the ¼, under a hold in Q2, sped up a bit into the wind so as not to be threatened by the first-over, drew clear in the lane. CINDER RITA was out second-over to the half, gapped a bit late backstretch then better and three-wide before midturn, finished steadily to get second late. TSM MONEY DRAGON went out three-wide to the lead entering turn one, yielded at the ¼ for the pocket, stayed tight until the stretch, then didn’t have quite enough. NOTEBOOKANDTABLET came out on the second turn, rushed up in 28 against the wind down the back, but couldn’t sustain the bid. KAY’S DELIGHT gapped cover at the ¾, got the last payday. CALL ME COWGIRL stayed in, offered little. WELL FRAMED left, was well-placed third-inside and went to the Pocono Pike, looked in a good spot to get a good share but then got rough before midstretch and fell back. LOVE ME SOME RUSTY was never in it.
THIRD RACE – TALKIN TOOTSIE stayed flat and left, which got her into a great position in the pocket, a bit loose much of the way, but in gear headstretch, handled cautiously but went by under her own strength late. CONNIE JEAN left between horses, started to take back just past the 1/8 as the pocket was filled, but then went on as others broke, on top at the ¼, set her own pace, just missed, but was 20 lengths ahead of the third horse. That one would be THE MUSCLE TOUCH, who was three-wide with cover early then three-wide without cover, taking back when running 3/16 in the vicinity of another horse going offstride, made a big recovery in the third quarter to get with three lengths of the top two by the ¾, but ran again, regrouped again and was along for the very distant third. MYRRH stayed flat but started gapping at the half. PINE BUSH LUCKY broke an 1/8 before the start; WISE HANOVER broke w-a-y before the start. KEYSTONE ANGEL had managed to keep the pocket closed early but jumped it off 3/16.
FOURTH RACE – CAROBBEAN PACETRY was well-placed second-over behind gaining cover, three-wide headstretch, had the most pace late as one of the few Puerto Rican-bred Standardbreds. PERSUASIVE HANOVER quarter-moved after the rapid opener, set an even pace afterward, came up a trifle shy. ALBANY GIRL was first-up going into the second turn, was a grindmistress deluxe, right in the scarp until the wire. DRIVINGTHEDRAGON N was four-wide leaving, three-wide to the first turn, and then to the lead 3/16 in the 26.2 opener, yielded for the pocket, to the Pike, may have seen the early usage blunt any late rally. LIVE ODDS went on between horses and contented herself with the early pocket 3/16, looked to want to explore the deep Pocono Pike but either had no room or didn’t want to go there, midstretch correction outside behind the top ones, with pace without room. GIRLLOOKATTHATBODY and MIMOSA PARTY weren’t far off at the wire but were not involved in the main action. STRINGS trailed.
FIFTH RACE – SUNRISE AVENUE went out between horses, briefly took the pocket then came out again 3/16 to the lead 5/16, sprinted home in 56.4 – 28.1 on her own – an improving mare. WHAMBAMTHANKUMAAM gapped third-inside much of the way, outside near headstretch and confidently had second measured off. HOT MESS HANOVER got an early spot, then backed out to second-over, three-wide past midturn, finished well. KAYLA JADE left three-wide to quick command, yielded for the two-hole, left behind in the last ¼. MISSY MOUNTAIN TOP didn’t get a call. WINNING PRINCESS had too far to rally. RUN FOR ROYALTY started first-over from second-last 5/16, got to the leader’s wheel 5/8, then faded badly in the last panel.
SIXTH RACE – CLASSIC CARPET was looped leaving, stayed outside and got in gear just past the 1/8 to get to the front 5/16, motored home in 55.3 – 27.3 as much the best. ROCKLINDAROCK, in good form now, was second-over, three-wide shortly past the ¾ as her cover gave way, up for second late over YOUNG AMERICAN after a protracted battle. The latter left three-wide, hit the front 3/16, yielded 5/16 for the pocket, couldn’t go with the winner in the last ¼ and then couldn’t quite save the place late. ART FRENZY got a forward spot early, stayed in, outside stretch, with pace between horses late. FASHION KATIE stayed in, went to the Pocono Pike and got the last payday. GIRLOFYOURDREAMS was third-over and followed three-wide cover but couldn’t stay with it. SEW PSYCHED was always far back. LIFE IS A BEACH started first-over, got to the flank of the lead near the 11/16, but then backed up significantly.
SEVENTH RACE -- OOH RAH started uncovered before the 5/8 but quickly got cover, three-wide late turn, had good late trot to take the victory. PERSEVERANCE made up a lot of ground to the ¾ and on the far turn to get in contention, four-wide headstretch, strong finish at 84-1. UNCLE LEROY made two speed moves then yielded going to the second turn, clear in the Pocono Pike and not far off. BOINGANATOR sat in, then came out in a two- and three-wide blindswitch midturn, steadily without a fully-clear lane. DON LINDY left and was three-wide to the 1/8 and two-wide to the 3/16 in making the top, saw two go by, pulled raw 5/8, challenged and took a short lead late on the far turn, but didn’t have enough to sustain the advantage. TOP OF THE LINE was away third, looked to want to quarter-move but then retucked when UNCLE LEROY moved, then did come out before the 3/8 and struck the front nearing turn two, had pressure come to him to the ¾ and on the turn, tired. ALLEGRO JOE was never closer than at the finish; THE OTHER TWO also never made their presence felt.
EIGHTH RACE – RODEO BLUES led these coast-to-coast, rating the half then coming home in 56.2 under confident handling. HARPER LEE raced into the pocket just before the 1/8, gapped a little coming off the far turn then made up a little ground late. SHUCKED sat in third, gapped a lot 11/16 then went on evenly. HIGHLY THOUGHT OF followed good cover, didn’t go wide until into the lane, some pace late. OFFICIAL BELLE started first-up towards the second turn, gained some until past the ¾, then gradually fell back some. THE REST did not have any say in the outcome of this race.
NINTH RACE -- Unusually, the horse who won the fierce early battle for the lead also held on to win the war and the big share of the purse: BEND IN THE RIVER was three-wide most of the 27.1 ¼ and then went on to command 5/16, but he had to come home in only 1:30 to held off the late thrust of ARMBRO HALL up the inside. The latter was the inner horse in the three-way cutthroat early battle, emerged with the pocket, gapped a little late backstretch but narrowed in steadily from there, just coming up shy. SORTIE HANOVER raced between horses until backing off to take third just past the ¼, came back out 9/16 and pressed the leader, held on pretty well. FUMATA BLANCA retucked down the backstretch, came up the inside late with good speed. TOOLBOX TUESDAY was second-over, struggled a bit to keep up the last 5/16. FLAGSTAFF spotted early, angled wide and gained on the leaders. CROWN AFFAIR was never close. SOUTHWIND LARADO broke going into the first turn. DREAM MERCHANT took an early tuck fourth, suddenly lost all of his action 5/8.
TENTH RACE – MARLEE B was three-wide to the 1/8, then had cover to the 3/16, then pressed on to get the top 5/16, surrendered the point to a brusher just past the 3/8 and sat a pocket trip, to the Pocono Pike and had a strong finish to give 18-year-old Hunter Oakes a victory in his first start as a licensed trainer. LOVINEVERYMINUTE worked out a fine second-over trip from next-to-last, three-wide midturn, finished with good speed in a big mile. SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR yielded at the 3/16, came out behind the winner at the ¼ then kept right on going when that one brushed to the top and herself was in front just past the 3/8, was pressured down the back, held well. ARIELLE LYNN made the lead 3/16, saw two rush by, inside, evenly late. UF DRAGON’S QUEEN was third-over, had late speed a trifle belatedly. DEUCES FOR CHARITY started uncovered at the ½, went 27.1 down the back to put pressure on the leader, started fading towards midturn. REAL DIVA never emerged as a major factor. THREEDEE DELIGHT A fell way back.
ELEVENTH RACE – HILARIOUS HERO made the top at the 1/8, rated the half, disposed of the first-over on the turn, then had enough to last against the late charge of ALL NIGHT CREDIT. The latter raced up into pocket position, a little loose going to the ¾, but then in gear and moved out early stretch, eating into the lead but didn’t quite make it. MISTER PHOTOGENIC was second-over, three-wide headstretch, looked to run in some early stretch and continued with a good finish along the inside. MUSCLES ON FIRE was third-over, gapped cover, never seemed to find high gear. ARTIC CLIPPER tucked, fell back, then came back on a little between horses in the lane. KEYSTONE SHOTGUN left and tucked third, started to fade past the 5/8. MEETMEINTHEMIDDLE started first-up 3/8 and grinded a long way, but then came up empty in the stretch. MAJESTIC SUNSET broke just past the start, caught the field, but then broke again 5/8. FOREVER made an early mistake and never recovered.
TWELFTH RACE – GIN’S TONIC tucked then sat on the back of the gapping pocketsitter until coming out 11/16, gradually worked her way to the leader, got to the front before midstretch and won nicely. MY CHERRY PIE had the lead early then yielded and gapped behind the runaway, to the Pocono Pike and gradually went by ABBIE’S CELTICLASS for second. The latter was outside with cover early, eyed a 5-hole but decided to press on 3/16, brushed to the lead and went her individual middle half in 57 with a giant lead, but she paid the price for the hot middle half although keeping the lead until almost midstretch. STARR SAVANNAH gapped near the back until the far turn, then came between horses in tight quarters through the stretch while gaining rapidly. STARS N SPARKLES moved out to try to advance but didn’t. DEWTIFUL LASS gapped inside. SAVANNAH SUNSET was never heard from. ANGIE OVER started slowly and kept falling further back.
THIRTEENTH RACE – HYPOTHETICAL became quarter-mover #2 and made the lead 3/8, in control of these throughout, finished well. NEW EVIDENCE made the front at the 1/8, saw two move early and go by, stayed in, easily second along the inside. SUNSHINE WEST came first-over 5/8, fell back on the turn but soldiered on and was third ahead of a tired group. BULLPUP passed a few horses along the inside. THEON HANOVER left, yielded, was quarter-mover #1, yielded again for the pocket, loose 11/16, tightened in on the turn and outside in the stretch, but empty and drifted out. SOME GOLD was never close. TSM GANNICUS T gapped second-over.
FOURTEENTH RACE – BIGTOWN HERO stayed outside early, then gradually got into gear nearing the 3/16 to the lead 5/16, and the former world champion just had too much for these, winning in fast time with only SOMETHINGINTHEWIND able to stay close. The latter made the lead before the 1/8, yielded 5/16, stayed with the winner throughout, couldn’t gain on him late but far ahead of the rest. SOLAR SURPRISE improved position early and hung with the top two in the stretch, couldn’t sustain closeness in the very fast mile but held for third. WHITE MOUNTAIN TOP started gapping 11/16. THE BACK FOUR were the back four throughout the mile and never had a say in the outcome.
SECOND RACE – HEELS ON THE BEACH was looped between horses early, went on to grab command at the ¼, under a hold in Q2, sped up a bit into the wind so as not to be threatened by the first-over, drew clear in the lane. CINDER RITA was out second-over to the half, gapped a bit late backstretch then better and three-wide before midturn, finished steadily to get second late. TSM MONEY DRAGON went out three-wide to the lead entering turn one, yielded at the ¼ for the pocket, stayed tight until the stretch, then didn’t have quite enough. NOTEBOOKANDTABLET came out on the second turn, rushed up in 28 against the wind down the back, but couldn’t sustain the bid. KAY’S DELIGHT gapped cover at the ¾, got the last payday. CALL ME COWGIRL stayed in, offered little. WELL FRAMED left, was well-placed third-inside and went to the Pocono Pike, looked in a good spot to get a good share but then got rough before midstretch and fell back. LOVE ME SOME RUSTY was never in it.
THIRD RACE – TALKIN TOOTSIE stayed flat and left, which got her into a great position in the pocket, a bit loose much of the way, but in gear headstretch, handled cautiously but went by under her own strength late. CONNIE JEAN left between horses, started to take back just past the 1/8 as the pocket was filled, but then went on as others broke, on top at the ¼, set her own pace, just missed, but was 20 lengths ahead of the third horse. That one would be THE MUSCLE TOUCH, who was three-wide with cover early then three-wide without cover, taking back when running 3/16 in the vicinity of another horse going offstride, made a big recovery in the third quarter to get with three lengths of the top two by the ¾, but ran again, regrouped again and was along for the very distant third. MYRRH stayed flat but started gapping at the half. PINE BUSH LUCKY broke an 1/8 before the start; WISE HANOVER broke w-a-y before the start. KEYSTONE ANGEL had managed to keep the pocket closed early but jumped it off 3/16.
FOURTH RACE – CAROBBEAN PACETRY was well-placed second-over behind gaining cover, three-wide headstretch, had the most pace late as one of the few Puerto Rican-bred Standardbreds. PERSUASIVE HANOVER quarter-moved after the rapid opener, set an even pace afterward, came up a trifle shy. ALBANY GIRL was first-up going into the second turn, was a grindmistress deluxe, right in the scarp until the wire. DRIVINGTHEDRAGON N was four-wide leaving, three-wide to the first turn, and then to the lead 3/16 in the 26.2 opener, yielded for the pocket, to the Pike, may have seen the early usage blunt any late rally. LIVE ODDS went on between horses and contented herself with the early pocket 3/16, looked to want to explore the deep Pocono Pike but either had no room or didn’t want to go there, midstretch correction outside behind the top ones, with pace without room. GIRLLOOKATTHATBODY and MIMOSA PARTY weren’t far off at the wire but were not involved in the main action. STRINGS trailed.
FIFTH RACE – SUNRISE AVENUE went out between horses, briefly took the pocket then came out again 3/16 to the lead 5/16, sprinted home in 56.4 – 28.1 on her own – an improving mare. WHAMBAMTHANKUMAAM gapped third-inside much of the way, outside near headstretch and confidently had second measured off. HOT MESS HANOVER got an early spot, then backed out to second-over, three-wide past midturn, finished well. KAYLA JADE left three-wide to quick command, yielded for the two-hole, left behind in the last ¼. MISSY MOUNTAIN TOP didn’t get a call. WINNING PRINCESS had too far to rally. RUN FOR ROYALTY started first-over from second-last 5/16, got to the leader’s wheel 5/8, then faded badly in the last panel.
SIXTH RACE – CLASSIC CARPET was looped leaving, stayed outside and got in gear just past the 1/8 to get to the front 5/16, motored home in 55.3 – 27.3 as much the best. ROCKLINDAROCK, in good form now, was second-over, three-wide shortly past the ¾ as her cover gave way, up for second late over YOUNG AMERICAN after a protracted battle. The latter left three-wide, hit the front 3/16, yielded 5/16 for the pocket, couldn’t go with the winner in the last ¼ and then couldn’t quite save the place late. ART FRENZY got a forward spot early, stayed in, outside stretch, with pace between horses late. FASHION KATIE stayed in, went to the Pocono Pike and got the last payday. GIRLOFYOURDREAMS was third-over and followed three-wide cover but couldn’t stay with it. SEW PSYCHED was always far back. LIFE IS A BEACH started first-over, got to the flank of the lead near the 11/16, but then backed up significantly.
SEVENTH RACE -- OOH RAH started uncovered before the 5/8 but quickly got cover, three-wide late turn, had good late trot to take the victory. PERSEVERANCE made up a lot of ground to the ¾ and on the far turn to get in contention, four-wide headstretch, strong finish at 84-1. UNCLE LEROY made two speed moves then yielded going to the second turn, clear in the Pocono Pike and not far off. BOINGANATOR sat in, then came out in a two- and three-wide blindswitch midturn, steadily without a fully-clear lane. DON LINDY left and was three-wide to the 1/8 and two-wide to the 3/16 in making the top, saw two go by, pulled raw 5/8, challenged and took a short lead late on the far turn, but didn’t have enough to sustain the advantage. TOP OF THE LINE was away third, looked to want to quarter-move but then retucked when UNCLE LEROY moved, then did come out before the 3/8 and struck the front nearing turn two, had pressure come to him to the ¾ and on the turn, tired. ALLEGRO JOE was never closer than at the finish; THE OTHER TWO also never made their presence felt.
EIGHTH RACE – RODEO BLUES led these coast-to-coast, rating the half then coming home in 56.2 under confident handling. HARPER LEE raced into the pocket just before the 1/8, gapped a little coming off the far turn then made up a little ground late. SHUCKED sat in third, gapped a lot 11/16 then went on evenly. HIGHLY THOUGHT OF followed good cover, didn’t go wide until into the lane, some pace late. OFFICIAL BELLE started first-up towards the second turn, gained some until past the ¾, then gradually fell back some. THE REST did not have any say in the outcome of this race.
NINTH RACE -- Unusually, the horse who won the fierce early battle for the lead also held on to win the war and the big share of the purse: BEND IN THE RIVER was three-wide most of the 27.1 ¼ and then went on to command 5/16, but he had to come home in only 1:30 to held off the late thrust of ARMBRO HALL up the inside. The latter was the inner horse in the three-way cutthroat early battle, emerged with the pocket, gapped a little late backstretch but narrowed in steadily from there, just coming up shy. SORTIE HANOVER raced between horses until backing off to take third just past the ¼, came back out 9/16 and pressed the leader, held on pretty well. FUMATA BLANCA retucked down the backstretch, came up the inside late with good speed. TOOLBOX TUESDAY was second-over, struggled a bit to keep up the last 5/16. FLAGSTAFF spotted early, angled wide and gained on the leaders. CROWN AFFAIR was never close. SOUTHWIND LARADO broke going into the first turn. DREAM MERCHANT took an early tuck fourth, suddenly lost all of his action 5/8.
TENTH RACE – MARLEE B was three-wide to the 1/8, then had cover to the 3/16, then pressed on to get the top 5/16, surrendered the point to a brusher just past the 3/8 and sat a pocket trip, to the Pocono Pike and had a strong finish to give 18-year-old Hunter Oakes a victory in his first start as a licensed trainer. LOVINEVERYMINUTE worked out a fine second-over trip from next-to-last, three-wide midturn, finished with good speed in a big mile. SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR yielded at the 3/16, came out behind the winner at the ¼ then kept right on going when that one brushed to the top and herself was in front just past the 3/8, was pressured down the back, held well. ARIELLE LYNN made the lead 3/16, saw two rush by, inside, evenly late. UF DRAGON’S QUEEN was third-over, had late speed a trifle belatedly. DEUCES FOR CHARITY started uncovered at the ½, went 27.1 down the back to put pressure on the leader, started fading towards midturn. REAL DIVA never emerged as a major factor. THREEDEE DELIGHT A fell way back.
ELEVENTH RACE – HILARIOUS HERO made the top at the 1/8, rated the half, disposed of the first-over on the turn, then had enough to last against the late charge of ALL NIGHT CREDIT. The latter raced up into pocket position, a little loose going to the ¾, but then in gear and moved out early stretch, eating into the lead but didn’t quite make it. MISTER PHOTOGENIC was second-over, three-wide headstretch, looked to run in some early stretch and continued with a good finish along the inside. MUSCLES ON FIRE was third-over, gapped cover, never seemed to find high gear. ARTIC CLIPPER tucked, fell back, then came back on a little between horses in the lane. KEYSTONE SHOTGUN left and tucked third, started to fade past the 5/8. MEETMEINTHEMIDDLE started first-up 3/8 and grinded a long way, but then came up empty in the stretch. MAJESTIC SUNSET broke just past the start, caught the field, but then broke again 5/8. FOREVER made an early mistake and never recovered.
TWELFTH RACE – GIN’S TONIC tucked then sat on the back of the gapping pocketsitter until coming out 11/16, gradually worked her way to the leader, got to the front before midstretch and won nicely. MY CHERRY PIE had the lead early then yielded and gapped behind the runaway, to the Pocono Pike and gradually went by ABBIE’S CELTICLASS for second. The latter was outside with cover early, eyed a 5-hole but decided to press on 3/16, brushed to the lead and went her individual middle half in 57 with a giant lead, but she paid the price for the hot middle half although keeping the lead until almost midstretch. STARR SAVANNAH gapped near the back until the far turn, then came between horses in tight quarters through the stretch while gaining rapidly. STARS N SPARKLES moved out to try to advance but didn’t. DEWTIFUL LASS gapped inside. SAVANNAH SUNSET was never heard from. ANGIE OVER started slowly and kept falling further back.
THIRTEENTH RACE – HYPOTHETICAL became quarter-mover #2 and made the lead 3/8, in control of these throughout, finished well. NEW EVIDENCE made the front at the 1/8, saw two move early and go by, stayed in, easily second along the inside. SUNSHINE WEST came first-over 5/8, fell back on the turn but soldiered on and was third ahead of a tired group. BULLPUP passed a few horses along the inside. THEON HANOVER left, yielded, was quarter-mover #1, yielded again for the pocket, loose 11/16, tightened in on the turn and outside in the stretch, but empty and drifted out. SOME GOLD was never close. TSM GANNICUS T gapped second-over.
FOURTEENTH RACE – BIGTOWN HERO stayed outside early, then gradually got into gear nearing the 3/16 to the lead 5/16, and the former world champion just had too much for these, winning in fast time with only SOMETHINGINTHEWIND able to stay close. The latter made the lead before the 1/8, yielded 5/16, stayed with the winner throughout, couldn’t gain on him late but far ahead of the rest. SOLAR SURPRISE improved position early and hung with the top two in the stretch, couldn’t sustain closeness in the very fast mile but held for third. WHITE MOUNTAIN TOP started gapping 11/16. THE BACK FOUR were the back four throughout the mile and never had a say in the outcome.
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