Wilkes-Barre, PA — Vivid Photo shook off a slow start to his 2009 season with a winning performance in Tuesday night’s $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

The 2005 Hambletonian champion and earner of more than $3 million in his career had come up empty in four starts at The Meadows and Dover Downs in 2009.

Leaving from the outside post in a field of six as the 1-2 favorite on Tuesday night, the 7-year-old gelding took over the lead from Sauce Two K around the first turn of the race. From there, he was rated well in rainy conditions by trainer/driver Roger Hammer, and had plenty left to hold off Sauce Two K by a length in 1:55.4 on a track listed as ‘good.’ Eagle Prayer finished third.

Owned by Hammer and Todd Schadel, Vivid Photo, sired by S J’s Photo, won for the 38th time in 87 lifetime starts. The winning share of the purse pushed his career earnings to more than $3.034 million.

— Jim Beviglia

Royalton Star shines bright in top Hoosier pace

Anderson, IN — A muddy track and rainy conditions did not dim the light on Royalton Star and driver Andy Shetler during the $25,000 Invitational Pace on Tuesday at Hoosier Park. The 5-year-old son of Threefold pressed through the mud to win in a time of 1:52.1, a new lifetime mark.

Linscott Photography

Royalton Star held off Rocket Fuel in the Hoosier Invitational Pace.

Starting from post two in the eight-horse lineup, Royalton Star got a seat right behind early leader Robin I Scoot and Bill Dailey through fractions of :26.3 and :56.1. Just past the three-quarter marker, Royalton Star eased to the outside and moved into another gear, taking over the top spot and then glided home with a final panel of :26.3 for the win, his seventh of the season. Rocket Fuel and Dan Shetler used the center of the track to pull in second while newcomer Idle Hour and Brad Hanners rounded out the trifecta.

Owned and trained by Max Shaw, Royalton Star now has more than $100,000 in career earnings. He has three wins in four outings at Hoosier Park in 2009.

In other Tuesday evening action, Sweetsgetintheway and leading driver Peter Wrenn scored title in the $17,000 Miss Windfall Final. The heavily favored duo used a backstretch move to secure the front spot, and no other filly could ever get close. Wrenn guided the sophomore daughter of Dontgetinmyway under the wire in a time of 1:56.4 by nearly three lengths. Grand Sonrae and Jay Cross finished second over Doc Lock and Bill Dailey.

Sweetsgetintheway remains undefeated in 2009 with three wins. She more than doubled her career earnings with the effort for Dr. Jeff and Dr. Maria King’s Victory Hill Farm. Sweetsgetintheway is trained by Bobby Brower and earned a new lifetime mark along with her Miss Windfall title.

The $23,000 Invitational Trot brought an old favorite back to the winner’s circle. ABC Mercedes, 2008 Indiana Trotter of the Year, endured the heat from several contenders in the stretch to earn his first win of the year in only his second outing. The 4-year-old son of ABC Garland moved to the lead down the backstretch and fended off the field, posting the time in 1:57.1. Owned by Larry Miller, ABC Mercedes was driven to victory by Mark O’Mara for trainer Joe Putnam. The win was his 18th career trip to the winner’s circle in 22 career outings. He now possesses nearly $300,000 in career earnings.

— Tammy Knox

Three straight for Cactus Creek at Monticello

Monticello, NY — He came, he saw and for the third consecutive week Cactus Creek conquered the best on the grounds in Monticello Raceway’s pacing feature on Tuesday.

Jimmy Marohn, Jr. was again handed the reins by trainer Jamie Gerard and guided the former Adios Pace winner to another wire-to-wire victory, this time stopping the timer in 1:56.

The fact that Meadowlands import Kennans Josh (Jordan Stratton) had been victorious in 1:49.2 earlier this year made it hard for the bettors to decide which pacer should go off as the favorite, but still the late money went in on Cactus Creek.

Racing away from post position six — Kennans Josh had post seven — Marohn gunned Cactus Creek to the lead and had control midway around the first turn. Stratton left with Kennans Josh but when they got alongside the leader Marohn wouldn’t allow Stratton to take command. From there Kennans Josh was on the limb for the remainder of the race.

Cactus Creek was well in hand the entire mile and in the homestretch the pacer finished as a three length winner. Somewhat incredibly Kennans Josh kept chugging and finished second while Western Sign took home the show dough for driver Kyle DiBenedetto.

“He (Cactus Creek) has got a lot of class and he’s brave on top,” Marohn related after the victory. “I was concerned about Jordan’s horse (Kennans Josh) but I waited to see what unfolded (in the first turn) before I made a final decision. When he was hung out I had him in a good spot and thought it best to keep him there.”

Owned by Reginald Duquay, Cactus Creek paid $5.00 for win.

Billy Parker, Jr., the former 13-time Monticello Raceway driving champion, reined three winners on the card, which marked the third consecutive racing program in which he accomplished that feat.

Zeke — Parker’s nickname — won the second race with Joe Petrera’s Sempre Pronto in a time of 2:00.1 and then proceeded to win the sixth race behind Don Brainard’s Simply Lovely in a 2:01 clocking. Parker’s final victory on the card followed in race seven when he reined Robert Heimstra’s Capote to a 1:58.3 victory.

Parker, a Maine native but Monticello resident for the past 25 years, has won more races here than any other driver and holds the record (526) for most wins in a single season (1996). On October 20, 1996, Zeke tied a then world record when he reined nine winners on that program.

— John Manzi