Ammo, the Sweet Lou colt who won his division’s Breeders Crown Championship last season, won easily in his 2023 purse debut, taking a $12,600 division of the featured pacing class at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:51.2 on Thursday afternoon.

Ammo had shown his sharpness with a qualifying win in 1:51 at Philly over Confederate, who was second in the Breeders Crown, and the winner of $497,145 faced no Confederates here today. After a battle to the :26.3 quarter, David Miller sent Ammo on his way, and the willing colt put up mid-splits of :55.3 and 1:23.1 en route to his easy victory, 6-1/4 lengths to the good of Mayweather Hanover for trainer Joe Holloway and the partnership of Val D’Or Farms and Ted Gewertz.

Ammo is among the top 10 ranked North America Cup contenders, assessed at odds of 12-1, in TROT Magazine's Spring Book. 

Ammo’s section of the day’s four features was the only one for males; the ladies contested the other three. Trainer Holloway and driver Miller came back to produce the fastest of the females, the Always B Miki miss Cantgetuoutamymind, beaten only a length in the Kindergarten final and Thursday a 1:52.1 success story on her 2023 bow. Cantgetuoutamymind, setting the pace, had to be ready because Southwind Bella paced her last half in :53.4 uncovered from mid-pack, but Cantgetuoutamymind kept the advantage to the wire by a half-length.

The other two winners took lifetime marks. Daffled Hanover was a pocket rocket in 1:52.4, with the Captaintreacherous filly defeating Flippin Awesome for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Scott Di Domenico and Triple D Stables Inc., while the Sweet Lou mare Little Cindy Lou took the lead when the pacesetter Strawberry Fields literally went off-course on the far turn, with the winner stopping the timer in 1:53.3 for driver Troy Beyer and Team Cancelliere, trainer Tom and owner/brother John.

The terrific $20,000 Open Handicap paces for both sexes that have been the hallmark of recent weeks continue Friday at 12:25 p.m. at Philly. A Rocknroll Star will be starting 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 at 12:40 p.m. will feature an Open Handicap Yrot with millionaires Its Academic and Amigo Volo. Aafter that, Wednesday racing at 12:25 p.m. rejoins the regular schedule and will be in place for the bulk of the spring and summer.

(With files from PHHA/Harrah's Philadelphia)