Vivid Photo wins first heat of the World Trotting Derby
September 3, 2005,by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA
Vivid Photo led almost from wire to wire to win the first heat of the $525,000 World Trotting Derby for three-year-old trotting colts on Saturday afternoon at he Du Quoin (Illinois) State Fair.
Tim Jones Photo
Vivid Photo held off Great George Two to win the first heat of the World Trotting Derby in 1:51.3
Saturday afternoon at the Du Quoin, Illinois State Fair.
Driven by his trainer and co-owner, Vivid Photo went to the lead out of the gate, hitting the first quarter in :27.4 with Muscle Memory (Jimmy Takter), Diesel Don (John Campbell) and Great George Two (Jonathan Roberts) lined up behind the leader. Keaton Zet (Eric Ledford) made a break at the start and was never in contention.
Vivid Photo slowed down the pace to lead the field to the half, hitting that spot in :57. Just past the half, Great George Two came off the rail, followed by Diesel Don and those two were still on the outside as Vivid Photo tripped the teletimer in 1:24.4 at the three-quarters. As the field straightened out for home, Great George Two came up alongside Vivid Photo, who responded by trotting away, barely urged, for the win by about two lengths in 1:51.3, a new career mark for the son of SJ’s Photo.
“I waited for George to come after me [in the stretch], and all I had to do was tap him once and he responded. He has a lot left in his tank,” said Hammer after the race.
Vivid Photo is owned by Hammer, of Bedford, Pennsylvania along with Todd Schadel of Gratz, Pennsylvania. Great George Two came in second and Self Professed (Tyler Stillings) was third. The field will return to race in about an hour for a second heat, with post post positions assigned by finish in the first heat. If Vivid Photo wins the second heat, he will be the 2005 World Trotting Derby winner. If any other horse wins, then that horse and Vivid Photo will come back for a third heat race off and the winner of that is the Derby winner.