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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Harness racing driver Joe Bongiorno must have really enjoyed guiding five winners seven days ago, so much so, in fact, that the 28-year-old pilot turned the trick again Saturday night (Sep. 17) at The Meadowlands, as the track closed out its seven-program September “mini meet”.
Bongiorno got his big night rolling early as he scored with Betterrock (Rockin Image) for his sister Jenn, who trained the second-race winner to a 1:50.1 score as the 9-5 favorite in a non-winners of $10,500 pace.
Joe came right back in the third with 9-2 second choice Copper Teen (American Ideal), who hit the wire in 1:50.3 in a winners of two but not more than four pace for Per Engblom. Win No. 3 saw brother and sister score again in the fifth with Lenda Hand Man (American Ideal) in a lifetime-best 1:54.3 in a TrackMaster 74 pace as the 8-5 public choice and the duo hit paydirt a third time in the seventh with Big Chic Magnet (Big Jim), who completed the mile in 1:51.4 as the 4-5 favorite in a non-winners of $7,500 pace.
Joe’s fifth and final win of the night came with Kat (He’s Watching), who was making her debut for the Ron Burke barn. She hit the finish in a lifetime-best 1:52.3 in the non-winners of $3,000 pace for fillies and mares in the 11th race as the 5-2 second choice.
A LITTLE MORE: Jenn Bongiorno’s three training victories left her one short of the 1,000-win plateau for her career. … Andrew Harris also trained three to victory lane, with all being piloted by Jack Pelling. … All-source handle totaled $2,258,336. … Harness racing at The Meadowlands will now go on hiatus for six weeks before returning on Nov. 4.
THE RUNNERS ARE COMING: While harness racing at The Big M takes a break, come out to the track to watch and wager on some exciting thoroughbred action as Monmouth Park conducts turf racing at The Meadowlands.
Turf action will be conducted on a Friday-Saturday basis starting Sept. 23 until Oct. 22, with one exception, as there will be no live racing on Oct. 15. Post time is 7 p.m.
For complete race results, click here.
by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands
