After winning his previous three top-level assignments in Maryland from off the pace, Ammo surged to the fore early and powered away from his eight rivals late to post a front-end 1:50.2 win in the $14,789 Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Monday, Dec. 9.

Driver Jonathan Roberts had the accelerator down with 3-5 favourite Ammo heading into the first turn and the pair circled three-wide from post nine around Business Director before forging clear of Skyway Victor (Eric Davis) at the end of a :27.2 first quarter. Ammo maintained a stout pace through middle splits of :55 and 1:22, and those fractions were enough for the four-year-old Sweet Lou-Beach Gal son to draw clear of his eight rivals. He wrapped up the mile 6-1/4 lengths clear of Walden Woods (Hugh O'Neil), who sustained gradual first-over gains to take second at the top of the stretch. Business Director (Russell Foster) circled four-wide from third-over cover to just miss the runner-up spot.

Trainer Michael Hall currently campaigns 15-time winner Ammo and shares ownership of the former Breeders Crown champion with Macklin Creek LLC. Ammo paid $3.20 to win.

Racing returns to Rosecroft on Wednesday, Dec. 11 with a 13-race card, headlined by a Mares Open Handicap Pace and a $19,905.19 Jackpot Hi-5 carryover. First post is 7:40 p.m.

(With files from Rosecroft Raceway)