Driver Joe Bongiorno captured two of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes events for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Harrah's Philadelphia on Sunday, Aug. 12, teaming up with Albergo Hanover and Done Well, both of whom earned new lifetime marks in their respective divisions.
In the $54,805 first division, the door opened for Bongiorno and Albergo Hanover with five-sixteenths to go when odds-on favourite Grand Teton broke stride after stalking second-over cover. After pacesetter Odds On Lauderdale dismissed an outside challenge from Shadow Cat through a 1:22 three-quarter split, Albergo Hanover found clearance up the open stretch and surged to a 1:49.4 score by one-and-one-half lengths. Odds On Lauderdale held second by a neck over Larry Karr.
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. He paid $6.80 to win.
Bongiorno came back in the $55,205 second division with Pepsi North America Cup runner-up Done Well, calling all the shots in progress to a 1:51 score. The Well Said colt strode clear from post four and controlled splits of :26.3, :54.3 and 1:22.4 before turning aside a first-over challenge from Aleppo Hanover and keeping the late-gaining Captain Deo two-and-a-half lengths at bay. This Is The Plan 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. He returned $5.60 to win.
Hayden Hanover ($6.20) rounded out the trio of Sire Stakes winners with a 1:50.1 victory in the $55,205 third division. Matt Kakaley had the son of Somebeachsomewhere in play from the outset, part of a three-way battle with Somebaddude and Nutcracker Sweet 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 rallied off the cover of Babes Dig Me 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. He paid $5.80 to win.
A $30,000 Great Northeast Series event for open pacers headlined the undercard with Graduate final-winner Donttellmeagain eclipsing More The Better N for the second straight week, scoring in 1:49.1 in rein to Victor Kirby.
The four-year-old Dragon Again gelding worked clear of Rodeo Romeo after a :26.3 quarter before yielding to odds-on choice More The Better N with a circuit to go. As More The Better N was worn down by millionaire Sunfire Blue Chip, Donttellmeagain 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 the Wednesday, Aug. 15 program. First post is 12:25 p.m. (EDT).
(Harrah's Philadelphia)