by Kimberly Rinker, managing editor, Hoof Beats

Campbellville, ON — Vivid Photo was all business en route to capturing the C$265,350 Trotting Classic Open Final at Mohawk on Saturday night (June 16), trotting in 2:39 for the 1-3/8th mile endurance race.

Kimberly Rinker photo

Vivid Photo was a winner in the Classic Final on Saturday.

Sent off as the 8-5 favorite, the 5-year-old winner of $2 million-plus was content to sit back throughout most of the mile that saw 75-1 longshot Elvis Cole lead the field through fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:27.2 before giving way to the hard-knocking Man About Town (Daniel Dube), with Vivid Photo creeping up on the outside of horses.

From there, Vivid Photo took over the first-up chase, trotting the mile in 1:55, before roaring home in 2:39. JM Vangogh (Trevor Ritchie) closed like a bullet to be second, while Hez Striking (Paul MacDonnell) nailed third.

“This horse is lucky to be back racing as tough as he is, especially after the infection he had,” driver/trainer Roger Hammer said. “He’s good, but I wasn’t sure if he was sharp enough to go this distance. We’re pointing him next for the Titan Cup, and then we’ll bring him back up here for four months, as long as he stays healthy.”