by Dean A. Hoffman

Hambletonian and World Trotting Derby winner Vivid Photo drew the rail in a field of eight in Saturday’s Kentucky Futurity, the third leg of trotting’s Triple Crown. Rival Classic Photo, recent winner of the Canadian Trotting Classic, starts from post five.

The two sons of SJ”s Photo have dominated that sophomore trotting ranks all summer with Vivid Photo winning the Hambletonian and Classic Photo avenging that loss by winning the American-National. The $391,000 Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile will be the rubber match between these two trotters.

Hoping to spoil the day for the two favorites are six other outstanding 3-year-old trotters, including Strong Yankee and Ken Warkentin, two pre-season favorites for the Hambletonian.

To win the Kentucky Futurity, a horse must win two heats. If different horses win the first two heats, those two horses will return for a two-horse raceoff to decide the winner.

Here is the complete field: