by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Roger Hammer, the trainer, driver and co-owner of Hambletonian champion Vivid Photo, watched with interest Saturday night as rival Classic Photo set a track record in winning the C$1 million Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. He also had his eyes on Yonkers Trot winner Strong Yankee, who finished second, and two-year-old champ Ken Warkentin, who was third.

He was impressed and pleased by what he saw.

Hammer and Vivid Photo were in Lexington, where they were waiting for those horses to join them for Saturday’s $400,000 Kentucky Futurity, the third jewel in trotting’s Triple Crown.

“They all should be in shape right now; they all should be good and tight,” Hammer said. “You want the horses to be at their best, you want them at the top for this. That’s what makes racing good. If you get beat, you get beat. But no one has any excuses.”

Vivid Photo has won 13 of 16 races this year and earned $1.1 million. He upset favorite Classic Photo in the Hambletonian on August 6 at the Meadowlands and last raced September 3 at Duquoin, winning the World Trotting Derby in straight heats. On September 23, he participated in a qualifier at the Red Mile, home of the Kentucky Futurity, and was second by a length to filly Flawless Bluestone in 1:53.4.

“He got a little fatigued in the last eighth of a mile, which wasn’t unexpected because he hadn’t raced in three weeks,” Hammer said. “He’ll be good and ready for Saturday.”

Although Vivid Photo hasn’t raced since the World Trotting Derby, he has remained busy. Last week, he spent two days at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Ohio, where he led the post parades for two races.

“He didn’t get any rest out there,” Hammer said. “People were around all the time taking pictures. They all were glad we came out there. A lot of people never get to see a Hambletonian horse, except on TV. It was fun.”

Classic Photo has won 10 of 14 races this season and earned $1.3 million, best among three-year-old trotters, and has been victorious in four consecutive starts since losing the Hambletonian to Vivid Photo. He got a measure of revenge against his rival on August 27 when he won the American-National at Balmoral Park. Trainer Erv Miller decided to skip the World Trotting Derby because he worried about Classic Photo, who is on the small side, racing heats in the summer heat.

“Hopefully, it will be a bit cooler here,” said Miller, who arrived in Lexington on Sunday. “My preference is still not to race heats, but I think it’s late enough in the year now. I think people will give him a lot more credit if he shows he can win a couple heats. I don’t think we’ll have an issue, but we won’t know until we do it. Fortunately, there is a long time between this and the Breeders Crown [November 26 at the Meadowlands].”

In the Canadian Trotting Classic, Great George Two led to the first quarter before yielding to Classic Photo’s first-over move. Classic Photo led the rest of the way, drawing off to a 2½-length victory in 1:52.3. The time lowered the track record for a three-year-old, set by Kadabra in 2002, by one-fifth of a second. The last two Canadian Trotting Classic winners – Windsong’s Legacy in 2004 and Mr Muscleman in 2003 – went on to win the Kentucky Futurity.

“I thought he turned in a good one, nice and solid,” Miller said. “He came out of the race in good shape. Hopefully, we can keep it together for another month and a half, or so. If he keeps going as good, he should be a major contender the rest of the year. He’s a nice horse to work with, a happy-feeling guy, and he loves his work.”

In addition to Classic Photo, Vivid Photo, Strong Yankee and Ken Warkentin, other trotters who might start in the Futurity include Agassi Hall, Bare It All, Diesel Don, Garth Vader, Keaton Zet, Lindy Five Hundred, Manopoly, Muscle Bound, Muscle Memory, Racino, Self Professed, Sir Perseverance, and Vino Camielle. Entries are due by 10 a.m. Wednesday.

“A lot of people are following Classic Photo and my horse, and this is kind of a return match that they want to see, which is good for the sport,” Hammer said. “But that’s a tough bunch of horses, all of them. This isn’t going to be a two-horse race. Any of those dropping in have got a chance. It should be a good race. I won’t short those others.”

On Friday, the $250,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity will be held at the Red Mile. The list of eligible horses includes Aeronautess, Blur, Coulantine, Dodger Blues, Flawless Bluestone, Flirtin Miss, Her Culese, Jalopy, Jersey Gal, Ladymatic, Magenta Hall, Reinvent, and Solveig. Entries are due by 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Coulantine is coming off a win in the Moni Maker at the Red Mile on September 17. Her Culese won the Filly World Trotting Derby while Jalopy won the Hambletonian Oaks and Blur claimed the Elegantimage.