by Thomas Hicks for monteamerica.com

Pompano Beach, FL — On the Sunday (July 26) Zweig Memorial card at Vernon Downs, a solid field of eight RUS trotters faced the mobile barrier in an exhibition contest. They engineered a North American seven-eighths-mile track standard of 1:59s by the winner Funny Photo (Classic Photo-American Jean).

Sophie Engerran piloted Funny Photo for trainer Andy Gardner and co-owners Mo Coo Inc. and Jonathan Klee Racing. The Patty Jones-bred campaigner closed the record mile with a :29.4 final panel and has earned $89.061 with 11 wins in 92 sulky starts.

Glorious Winner (Credit Winner-Fox Valley Flan), a career winner of more than $108,000, was nine lengths in arrears in second for Ashley Eldred with Iron Will (Credit Winner-Armbro Archer) home third for Heather Reese. Iron Will, with career earnings of more than $276,000, held the previous seven-eighths time badge of 2:02s at Vernon this summer. Sweetie’s Secret was fourth for Emma Wahlberg and the top four to the line were clocked in 2:01s or better. Fractions were :29.1-1:00.1-1:29.1-1:59s.

Funny Photo led throughout, from post two, with De Nada (Jocelyn Gale aboard) second to the half-mile station. Iron Will surged to second by the three-quarters after which Glorious Winner closed stoutly to finish second, after being sixth at the half.

Winning rider Sophie Engerran, with monte experience in France, explained in a post-race interview the fan popularity of monte racing in France and throughout Europe, and the ability of Standardbreds to adapt to combined monte and sulky racing activity due to training and exercise under saddle.

Be on the lookout for RUS racing near you and experience the unique thrill of trotters under saddle.