Harrah’s Philadelphia hosted a qualifying session on Tuesday morning, May 7 with some notable winners.
Epoch, a Chapter Seven filly who is a three-quarter sister to millionaire Venerable, closed well to win her first qualifier of the year in 1:57.1 for driver Josert Fonseca, trainer Nancy Takter and Epoch Stable. The maiden filly closed in :27.2 and finished a half length in front of the Jim Campbell-trained International Stallion Stakes winner Santa Croce.
Another trotting filly, Valentina Richie, a Tactical Landing daughter out of the mare who produced champion Shake It Cerry, was a 1:56.1 qualifying winner off the bench for owners Jason Allen, Patrick Hoopes and Julie Meirs. Her connections, Team Orange Crush (driver Andy and trainer Julie), also won with the maiden Muscle Hill filly Vivacity in 1:56.4 for owners Hoopes and Andy Miller Stable Inc.
Ammo, the 2022 Breeders Crown winner for two-year-old pacing colts, was sharp on the engine in 1:54.1. The son of Sweet Lou won his four-year-old qualifying debut for driver David Miller, trainer Joe Holloway and owners Val D’Or Farms and Ted Gewertz.
David Miller came right back to post a dynamic open-length victory in 1:51.4 with Ken Hanover, a Little Brown Jug elimination winner last season and third in the final, with the son of Captaintreacherous impressive in his second qualifying mile of his four-year-old campaign for trainer Polie Mallar, co-owner with Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt.
(With files from PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia; Photo of Ken Hanover winning his 2023 Little Brown Jug elimination heat)