Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

When Classic Photo sold for $87,000 at the 2003 Kentucky Standardbred Sale in Lexington, he carried with him the hopes and dreams of several Illinois and Indiana-based owners. Trained by Illinoian Erv Miller throughout his career, this tiny but determined whirlwind has become one of the best trotters racing in North America today.

As a two-year-old he captured a qualifying race on September 14 in Lexington, trotting in 2:00.1. He followed that up with a victory in a freshman conditioned trot on September 19 at The Red Mile in 2:02.4 before finishing fourth at the end of the month in a Lexington Late Closer. He went on to finished fourth in the freshman American National in early November at Balmoral, before garnering a second in the $228,600 Valley Victory at The Meadowlands on December 4, 2004.

At three Classic Photo has blossomed into a terrific looking, big gaited sophomore. He began the season by finishing second in his Goodtimes elimination, two and three-quarter lengths behind Vino Camielle, and then rebounded with a three-quarter length winover Ro Lo in the Goodtimes Final.

He again defeated Ro Lo by two and three-quarter lengths in their Stanley Dancer Trot elimination, and was a one length winner over Strong Yankee in the $350,000 Stanley Dancer Trot Final. Stopped Northern Ensign by three lengths in their Hambletonian elimination. As the favorite, he finished second in the $1 million Hambletonian Final, trailing Vivid Photo by two and three-quarter lengths.

Classic Photo next headed to Springfield for the Illinois State Fair where he trotted to a one and three-quarter length winner over Self Possesion in the Review Stake. He next rallied in the stretch to defeat Vivid Photo by a length and a half in the $150,000 American-National Stake on August 27, before netting a two and three-quarter length win over Muscle Memory in their Canadian Trotting Classic elimination. The following week he lowered his career mark to 1:52.3 clocking with a two and a half length triumph over Strong Yankee in the $850,000 Canadian Trotting Classic Final. In early October he finished third to Vivid Photo in a division of the Kentucky Futurity.

Classic Photo's Career Stats Through October 4, 2005
Year  Starts Wins 2nds 3rds Money Won Best Time   Track Date Record Taken
2005    16       10      3      3      $1,376,829    3,1:52.3S      MOH     09/24/2005
2004     8         1       2     0      $     70,175    2,Q2:00.1M     LEX      09/14/2004
Total    24        11      5      3      $1,447,004    3,1:52.3S

2005 Archives
September: Vivid Photo
August: Peacefull Way
July: Rocknroll Hanover
June: Mr. Muscleman
May: The Standardbred Stallion
April: The Standardbred Broodmare
March Gallo Blue Chip
February Jag de Bellouet
January Old Timers