CHESTER PA – The five-year-old trotter Amigo Volo has been a “slow starter” as far as season-long form during his career. At two, he went two-for-six before going four-for-six to end his year; at three, he was two-for-seven early but seven-of-eight late in winning divisional honors; and at four, he was zero-for-seven before coming around to a five-for-ten finish to his campaign.
The altered son of Father Patrick has come out sharp for his 2022 campaign, winning at first asking during a Tuesday morning qualifier at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:53.4. The two-time Breeders Crown champion sat second through early fractions of :28.3 and :57.1, moved to challenge for command nearing the 1:25.4 three-quarters, then came home in a strong :28 – it’s seldom you see a horse behind at the three-quarters winning by 21¾ lengths, but that was the result for Amigo Volo against overmatched opposition.
The career winner of $1,690,914, driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer Nifty Norman for the ownership of Pinske Stables and David J. Miller, looks like he’ll be back in the free-for-all battles soon.
The next top trot on the calendar, though, is this Sunday, which might be a bit quick for Amigo Volo to reemerge off one qualifier. But just about every other top-level older horse should be at Harrah’s Philadelphia this Sunday, May 29, for the track’s annual pre-Memorial Day “Super Sunday” of racing, featuring three $100,000 Invitations: the Maxie Lee Trot, the Commodore Barry Pace, and the Betsy Ross Pace for distaffs. The draw for those races will be held in late morning on Wednesday.