Pat McGarry A won for the fourth time in his last six local starts on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 11) at Harrah’s Philadelphia, winning the $22,500 fast-class handicap pace in 1:51 over a track that had been downgraded to “sloppy” after daylong precipitation.
The gelded son of Million Dollar Cam was pushed past a :27 quarter by Da Delightful before claiming the lead for driver Joe Bongiorno, who reached the half in :55.4 with the pacer, then rocked him to the three-quarters in 1:23.3 as Da Delightful tried to stay close and Colossal Stride A sought to gain uncovered. Pat McGarry A responded to the urging to stay 1-1/2 lengths clear at the finish, with Colossal Stride A claiming second over Da Delightful in the last steps. Joe’s sister Jenn Bongiorno trains the 13-time season winner for M T Stables Ontario Inc.
Andres Hanover overcame the difficult post eight by making two moves in winning the $14,400 co-featured pace in 1:53.3 for Michael Goldberg Racing LLC. The Betting Line four-year-old gelding was the third successful teaming of the afternoon for trainer Andrew Harris and driver Andrew McCarthy; McCarthy would also guide a pair of winners for trainer Jeff Cullipher to give him five in total on Sunday. Others with triples included driver Joe Bongiorno and trainer Crissy Crissman-Bier.
Six more cards remain in the 2022 harness racing season at Harrah’s Philadelphia, with racing this coming week on Friday (Dec. 16) at 12:25 p.m. and Sunday (Dec. 18) at 12:40 p.m. For the two year-end holiday weeks, there will first be racing on Friday the 23rd at 12:25 p.m. and then Saturday the 24th at 12 p.m.; the year closes with racing on Friday the 30th at 12:25 p.m. and Saturday the 31st at 2:30 p.m.
(PHHA / Harrah's Philadelphia)