The late-developing Donato Hanover gelding So Long Hanover has now won three of his last five starts after recording a 1:55.3 win in the $14,400 featured trot at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon.
Unraced at two and winless at three, So Long Hanover has five wins this season after Thursday’s feature triumph. Tim Tetrick, the meet’s leading driver and a five-time winner on Thursday, spotted him behind contentious early speedsters, and then brushed to the lead with him in front of the stands, drawing off in the last quarter for Bottom Line Racing LLC and Triple D Stables. For trainer Scott Di Domenico, it was his 2,001st career training win, after his milestone achievement with Maroma Beach on Tuesday at Yonkers.
In the $13,000 co-feature for fast-class older horses Blue Cupertino continued to exhibit career form, winning despite having to go first-over in 1:53.2 for his third straight, following wins in a lifetime best 1:53 and 1:53.3. The son of Kadabra grinded down the favoured mare Eva Dairpet FR late for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Joseph Columbo and George & Tina Dennis Racing.
The 2020 Breeders Crown freshman colt trotting champion, On A Streak, was upset in his seasonal debut after being used hard to get the lead; he held for third in the 1:55 mile, which gave a new lifetime mark to the Trixton gelding Gerard, who came first-over and still had enough to get the victory for driver Simon Allard, trainer James De Lucia, and This N That Stable.
Sophomore trotting fillies of the highest quality are set to go in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action on Friday at Philly, including 2020 champions on both sides of the border (Anoka Hanover and Donna Soprano), Breeders Crown winner Lady Chaos, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Flawless Hanover, and the red-hot Bella Bellini. Three divisions of Sire Stakes and five Stallion Series sections will be featured on the 12:25 p.m. card
(PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia)