Vettel N used a :26 third-quarter blitz to seize command in progress to a decisive 1:50 score in Sunday afternoon's (Dec. 6) featured event at Harrah's Philadelphia: an $11,600 fifth-level conditioned pace.
Vettel N was content to draft in third while Lyons Steel and Jacks Shadow N disputed a :26.3 first quarter. After Lyons Steel pulled the half back to :56, Joe Bongiorno angled the seven-year-old American Ideal gelding off the pegs and surged to the fore with three-eighths to go. After opening a three-length lead to three-quarters in 1:21.4, Vettel N repelled a late challenge from runner-up Rock The Town by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Our Max Phactor N finished third, another one-and-three-quarter lengths behind.
Trainer Jenn Bongiorno and driver Joe Bongiorno share ownership of 25-time winner Vettel N with Brent Hershberger and Robert Devine. Since arriving in the United States to race under Jenn Bongiorno's care, he has won eight of 20 races and has amassed $61,556 in purses. He paid $5.00 to win.
Marc Mosher shone on the undercard with a training hat trick, winning with Cole On The Beach ($5.40, Yannick Gingras, 1:52.4), Enough Sun ($2.40, David Miller, 1:52.1) and Razor's Edge ($3.80, Gingras, 1:53.1). Mosher conditioned all three for new Standardbred owner Joseph Riad, who purchased his first horse in September.
Racing returns to Harrah's Philadelphia with a 14-race program on Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 9) and a $6,896.90 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5, which is offered in the fifth race daily. First post time is 12:25 p.m. (EST).
(Harrah's Philadelphia)