Ammo - 2CP
Ammo fires off Breeders Crown shocker
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms
MILTON, October 28, 2022 – Ammo, sent on his way at 52-1, pulled off the stunning upset in Friday’s $810,000 Breeders Crown two-year old pace, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The tote board suggested Ammo didn’t have much of a shot at taking all the spoils, but one of the sport’s all-time top drivers had other ideas.
It was outsider Ervin Hanover, from the outside post, who swept across and to the front, as David Miller, in rein to Ammo, followed suit from post nine, and took up residence in second going into the first turn.
Ervin Hanover held a short-lived nose lead after an opening panel in :27.1, as Ammo was then sent to the front, only to be passed by Combustion, who held a two-length advantage through a half in :56.0. Confederate, the popular 1-2 choice, sat eighth of 10.
Reaching three-quarters in 1:23.3, Combustion was three lengths clear of Stockade Seelster, now second, while Ammo, another quarter-length behind, dug in as the pace quickened down the lane. Miller had his charge rolling along the inside, while Confederate, to the far outside, was picking off rivals with every stride.
At the wire, Ammo staved off Confederate – both of them sons of Sweet Lou – to win by half-length in a time of 1:50.4. Combustion was third and Stockade Seelster finished fourth.
Trained by Joe Holloway, Ammo made his debut at The Red Mile on September 19, notching a half-length score in 1:52.4. He arrived at Friday’s final off a third to Confederate in their Crown elim on October 21.
“I thought he raced well last week, and I thought racing him back in a week might suit him, and David just drove him great,” said Holloway, who sent out history’s first 1:50 2-year-old, in the 1998 Breeders Crown winning with Badlands Hanover. “And sometimes it works out. I tried to map it out for him [Miller] as best I could, told him to do all that and then he just kind of handled it from the head of stretch home.”
Not that Holloway needed to tell Miller what to do.
“Oh, I think he knows his way around there,” quipped the decorated conditioner.
It was just the fifth start for the bay colt owned by Val D Or Farms and Theodore Gewertz. Bred by Sergent Stables LLC, Ammo was a $90,000 purchase (Hip No. 23) at the 2021 Lexington Select Sale.
Now 2-1-1 from five starts, Ammo, who came into the Crown final with just over $38,000 in earnings, paid $106 for the win.
Purse $600,000
October 28, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
