Joe Bongiorno doubles in PASS at Harrah’s

Chester, PA — Driver Joe Bongiorno captured two of Sunday afternoon's (Aug. 12) three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events for 3-year-old harness racing pacing colts and geldings at Harrah's Philadelphia, teaming up with Albergo Hanover ($6.80) and Done Well ($5.60), both of whom earned new lifetime marks in their respective divisions.

 

In the $54,805 first division (race three), the door was opened for Bongiorno and Albergo Hanover with five-sixteenths to go, when odds-on favorite Grand Teton (Andy McCarthy) broke stride after stalking second-over cover.

 

After pacesetter Odds On Lauderdale (Andy Miller) dismissed an outside challenge from Shadow Cat (Corey Callahan) through a blistering 1:22 three-quarter split, Albergo Hanover found clearance up the open stretch and surged to a 1:49.4 score by 1-1/2 lengths. Odds On Lauderdale held second by a neck over Larry Karr (Matt Kakaley).

 

Gestion J Y Blais Inc. owns Albergo Hanover, now a five-time winner in his career. For the son of Well Said, it was his fourth win in six starts for trainer Jenn Bongiorno.

 

Bongiorno came back in the $55,205 second division (race seven) with Pepsi North America Cup runner-up Done Well, calling all the shots en route to a 1:51 score.

 

The Well Said colt strode clear from post 4 and controlled splits of :26.3, :54.3 and 1:22.4 before turning aside a first-over challenge from Aleppo Hanover (Kakaley) and keeping the late-gaining Captain Deo (Marcus Miller) 2-1/2 lengths at bay. This Is The Plan (McCarthy) circled three-wide through the far turn to take third.

 

James Stambaugh, Wingfield Brothers LLC, Milton Leeman and Alan Keith own six-time winner Done Well.

 

Hayden Hanover ($6.20) rounded out the trio of Sire Stakes winners with a 1:50.1 victory in the $55,205 third division (race 11). Matt Kakaley had the son of Somebeachsomewhere in play from the outset, part of a three-way battle with Somebaddude (Marcus Miller) and Nutcracker Sweet (McCarthy) through a :26 first quarter.

 

After initially protecting inside position, Hayden Hanover yielded to Nutcracker Sweet with a circuit to go and rode the pocket to the open stretch, where he pounced and drew off by a length. Macadoodledoo (Callahan) rallied off the cover of Babes Dig Me (Goodell) to take second narrowly over Nutcracker Sweet.

 

Julie Miller trains three-time winner Hayden Hanover for the Pinske Stables, Andy Miller Stable Inc., T L P Stable and Deo Volente Farms LLC.

 

A $30,000 Great Northeast Series event for open pacers (race nine) headlined the undercard, and Graduate final winner Donttellmeagain ($5.80) eclipsed More The Better N for the second straight week, scoring in 1:49.1 in rein to Victor Kirby.

 

The 4-year-old Dragon Again gelding worked clear of Rodeo Romeo (George Napolitano Jr.) after a :26.3 quarter before yielding to odds-on choice More The Better N (Callahan) with a circuit to go. As More The Better N was worn down by millionaire Sunfire Blue Chip (Andy McCarthy), Donttellmeagain was able to set sail up the open stretch and draw a length clear at the winning post.

 

Jim King Jr. trains 17-time winner Donttellmeagain for the Paton Racing Stables Inc.

 

For the second straight card, multiple players had the winning 20-cent Jackpot Hi-5 combination, resulting in a carryover of $1,118.61 to the fifth race on Wednesday's (Aug. 15) program. First post is 12:25 p.m. Eastern.