Chester, PA — Ammo, last year’s Breeders Crown champion 2-year-old male pacer, easily won his 2023 purse debut, a $12,600 pacing co-feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia, in 1:51.2 on Thursday afternoon (May 11).
After a battle to the :26.3 quarter, David Miller sent Ammo on his way, and the Sweet Lou colt put up middle splits of :55.3 and 1:23.1 en route to an easy 6-1/4-length victory over Mayweather Hanover for trainer Joe Holloway and the partnership of Val D’Or Farms and Ted Gewertz.
The other three co-featured paces featured fillies and mares. Holloway and Miller came back to produce the fastest of the females, the Always B Miki miss Cantgetuoutamymind, who won in 1:52.1 in her seasonal debut after losing by only a length in the 2022 Kindergarten Final. Cantgetuoutamymind, setting the pace, kept Southwind Bella, who paced her last half in :53.4 uncovered, a half length at bay.
The other two winners took lifetime marks: Daffled Hanover rode the pocket to defeat Flippin Awesome in 1:52.4 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Scott DiDomenico and Triple D Stables Inc.; while Little Cindy Lou inherited the lead when pacesetter Strawberry Fields went off the course on the far turn before stopping the timer in 1:53.3 for driver Troy Beyer, trainer Tom Cancelliere and owner John Cancelliere.
The terrific $20,000 Open handicap paces for both sexes that have been the hallmark of recent weeks continue Friday at 12:25 at Philly.
Friday’s (May 12) card features a pair of $20,000 Open Handicap Paces. A Rocknroll Star will start from the outside in a field of six as he goes for his eighth straight success in his event, while last year’s sophomore champion Treacherous Dragon will try to beat the outermost post eight in the feature for mares. Sunday (May 14) will feature an Open Handicap Trot with millionaires It’s Academic and Amigo Volo. After that, Wednesday racing rejoins the regular schedule on May 17 and will be in place for the bulk of the spring and summer. Program pages for all Philly cards are or will be available on the PHHA website.