Ameliosi and P L Hercules both made a stop in the Harrah’s Philadelphia winners circle on Thursday afternoon after winning their respective divisions of the $14,500 featured class for trotters.
Ameliosi worked his way to the front for driver Victor Kirby, then had to be good to first repel favoured first-over Dot Dot Dot Dash and then hold off potential pocket rocket Cantabs Lightning. But successive :28.4 quarters on the end of the mile saw Ameliosi home first in 1:55.3 for trainer Jenny Melander and owner John Devito. The daughter of Explosive Matter brought her lifetime earnings to $275,432.
P L Hercules took his second victory in his last three starts, using his good gate speed to secure a pocket trip behind pacesetting Turn The Paige, then rallying to just get a nose nod in 1:55 under the guidance of George Napolitano, Jr. Tony Poliseno conditions the victorious altered son of Majestic Son, now with $292,337 on his card for Winstar Farm.
Provisional driver Jeremy Morrison capped his first day of pari-mutuel driving in a big way, guiding home the Credit Winner sophomore gelding Fashion Forever to a 1:55.1 tally in the day’s finale.
The 28-year-old Morrison did well in his pari-mutuel bow, finishing fifth while beaten only 1-1/2 lengths with the Jim Campbell trainee Thisguyisonfire in the P L Hercules co-feature, and then got a late assignment to guide Fashion Forever for Campbell when originally-named sulky sitter David Miller did not compete on the card. Morrison handled the pressure of driving a 3-5 shot like a veteran, going out for a pocket trip, sitting patiently when the first-over came up, and then taking his shot when the uncovered horse faded, getting by the leader in a matter of strides and winning as he pleased for Fashion Farms LLC.
(PHHA / Harrah’s Philadelphia)