Photo: CDI
Terry Hamilton’s
Hammers Terror pounded out a popular 2 3/4-length victory in
Thursday’s feature at Fair Grounds, an allowance $50,000 optional
claiming for 2-year-olds at a mile and 70 yards that offered a purse of
$49,000.
Ridden by
James Graham, who was riding his third winner of the afternoon, and trained by
Mike Stidham, who was
saddling his second, Hammers Terror pressed the pace, took command
entering the stretch and won while kept to urging. The Artie Schiller
colt toured the distance in 1:44.72 and increased his
career earnings to $66,512 with his third win in three lifetime starts.
He paid mutuels of $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10 as the odds-on choice in the
wagering.
Stidham
confirmed after the race that Hammers
Terror would be pointed to the Grade III Lecomte Stakes for
3-year-olds, also at a mile and 70 yards, on Road to the Derby Kickoff
Day Jan. 21.
Raut LLC’s
Adena’s Chance rallied late to be easily second best, paying $4.20 and $2.40 while finishing 4 1/4-lengths to the good of Gus King’s
M One, who paid $3.40.
Ron Moquett’s
Hard Nosed made the pace with splits of 23.92 and 48.05 before tiring.