Vivid
Photo found another burst of speed in deep stretch to repel challenges on both
flanks to win the $100,000 Patriot Invitational Trot in track and world record
time for the second straight year Saturday at Colonial Downs.Vivid Photo trotted the mile in 1:50.4, two-fifths slower than his 2006 Patriot score, but easily lowering the track and world record for aged gelding trotters on a greater than one mile track. Delft N held the old mark of 1:53.
Vivid Photo was quickest off the gate from post position one but Buck I St Pat rushed up to apply pressure from the start. Buck I St Pat got a nose in front after a furlong but Vivid Photo and Roger Hammer were intent on the lead, immediately surging ahead to regain control.
Vivid Photo was just a quarter-length in front of Buck I St Pat after an opening quarter in 26.4 but was able to extend out to a 1¼-length advantage at the five-eighths pole.
Vivid Photo crossed the half in 55.4 to lead the single-file field into the turn. Buck I St Pat settled into a pocket trip with longshot Rompaway Wally tracking in third. Gabby Glide broke the procession when driver Tim Tetrick sent him on a powerful first-over move from fourth. Gabby Glide made up two lengths in the blink of an eye to move into third, just 1½ lengths behind Vivid Photo at the top of the stretch.
Gabby Glide loomed large in upper stretch as Vivid Photo drifted a bit off the rail. Driver Jim Morrill, Jr. sent Buck I St Pat to the opening Vivid Photo left on the rail and the front stepper was suddenly surrounded by challengers.
Both Gabby Glide and Buck I St Pat got within a length of Vivid Photo but the 5-year-old S J’s Photo gelding shrugged off the challenges with a burst of speed inside the sixteenth pole to draw off to a 1¾ length score over Gabby Glide. Buck I St Pat was another half-length back in third.
Saturday’s score was Vivid Photo’s 34th from 67 lifetime starts and improved his bankroll to $2,846,708 for Hammer and co-owner Todd Schadel.