Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Vivid Photo Preps at Lexington

September 23, 2005

Vivid Photo prepped for the October 1 Kentucky Futurity with a strong 1:54 effort in a qualifying race on Friday morning at the Red Mile with trainer-driver Roger Hammer in the sulky. The 2005 Hambletonian & World Trotting Derby winner took the lead early in the six-horse race and clicked off fractions of :28.3, :56.3, and 1:25.3 for the first three-quarter miles. The S Js Photo gelding was stalked throughout by the 3-year-old filly Flawless Bluestone, who trotted past the leader late for driver Dave Miller and won by one length and stopped the timer in 1:53.4.

"He got a little leg-weary the last eighth of a mile, but he has been off for three weeks," Hammer said after the qualifying race. "I figure this will tighten him up. He’s probably going to have to go in :51 or :52 next week."

Hammer co-owns the gelding with Todd Schadel, had said he planned to supplement Vivid Photo to the Futurity when he raced in the American National in Chicago.