Simply Volo was simply the best in Friday's Pennsylvania Stallion Series action at Harrah's Philadelphia, winning the fastest of four $20,000 divisions for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Corey Callahan drove Simply Volo to a 1:53.4 career-best victory for trainer John Butenschoen.
Starting from the outside post seven, favourite Simply Volo settled in fifth early on while Brand New Key fronted the field through a :27 opening quarter. Meanwhile, Choochoocharlie was parked and pressing and he cleared to command in front of grandstand. After a :55.4 half, Perseverance took over while Simply Volo progressed to confront the new leader approaching three-quarters in 1:24.3. Their battled continued into lane with Simply Volo taking over mid-stretch and holding off a resurgent Brand New Key to score by half a length in 1:53.4. Perseverance finished one and a half lengths back in third.
The win was Simply Volo's second in 12 starts this year and fourth lifetime pushing his bankroll to $163,911. Butenschoen trains the Crazed-Sterling Volo gelding, who is owned by Kentuckiana Racing Stable, David Miller, Lawrence Means, and Eugene Schick.
The other division winners were: Lars Perry in 1:57.1 with Jim Pantaleano driving for trainer Richard Perfido; Media Buzz in 1:56.3 for driver Dan Rawlings and trainer Steven Bush; and the Jim Campbell-trained Thisguyisonfire in 1:56 with Simon Allard aboard.