Despite having to go first-over, Ontario Sires Stakes graduate Divas Image paced her back half in a sizzling :54.1 to take the $18,000 featured distaff pace at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Friday afternoon.
Driver Joe Bongiorno got away third from the rail with the daughter of Bettors Delight, then sent her out and up first-over, and Divas Image responded, going a :26.3 split down the back in the process of gunning to the lead, and then tacking on a :27.3 back quarter to easily handle her competition by 3-3/4 lengths while taking a new lifetime mark of 1:51. Jennifer Bongiorno trains the fast five-year-old, who has now won two straight and five-of-nine in 2018 to life her lifetime bankroll over the $390,000 mark.
The victory was perhaps a bit bittersweet as Eugene Kurzrok, a co-owner of Divas Image, passed away at the age of 81 on Monday. Kurzrok was a partner in both the Our Horse Cents Stables and Stable 45, which shares ownership of the winner with J&T Silva Stables LLC. Among the ownership of such stars as Mission Brief and Southwind Frank, Kurzrok was among the sport’s higher-profile owners, and the victory of Divas Image may help allay some of the grief of his friends and partners.
For the total Friday Philly card, the “Ohio Millers” combined for half the victories in the 14 races, with David winning four times (the first three with Nifty Norman trainees) and Brett three.
(with files from PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)