Bongo beat a fast rhythm down the stretch to win the featured pace on closing night at Scioto Downs

. The sophomore gelding scored in 1:54.1 for driver Dan Noble over Dandy Dick and Sand Summerfield.

Driver Chris Page put the 2-5 favourite Sand Summerfield on the front end at the start and Noble positioned Bongo on Page’s back. Dandy Dick and driver Charles Neff applied pressure to the leader by coming first-over at the half-mile marker.

As they turned into the stretch, Sand Summerfield clung to the lead, but Noble ducked Bongo to the inside and Neff continued his attack on the outside.

At the wire, Bongo had a half-length on Dandy Dick who was a neck ahead of Sand Summerfield.

Mark Gillenwater trains Bongo for the S&S Racing Stable and it was his second win in 14 tries this season. He paid $14.20 to win.

Scioto closed its 2010 racing season on Saturday. Track officials presented trophies to Virgil Morgan, Jr. as the leading trainer and Chris Page as the leading driver. Morgan has been the leading trainer at Scioto for many years and Page was repeating his driving title from last year.

Live harness racing won’t resume at Scioto until next year, but simulcasting continues at the track.

(Scioto Downs)