VIVID PHOTO SMASHES TRACK AND WORLD RECORD AT COLONIAL DOWNS

Roger Hammer and Todd Schadel’s Vivid Photo set a new track and world record of 1:52.3 for three-year-old gelding trotters on a greater than one mile track at Colonial Downs Saturday night.

Hammer sent Vivid Photo right to the front. The S J’s Photo gelding was very quick early, getting the opening quarter in 26.3 and the half in 55.1. American Tribute raced a length and a quarter back in second down the backstretch.

Vivid Photo maintained his 1 ¼ length lead over American Tribute around the turn and crossed the three-quarters in 1:23.3.

Vivid Photo was 1 ½ lengths at the top of the stretch and quickly disposed of American Tribute. Hammer let his trotter cruise down the lane with little pressure but Vivid Photo still trotted the final quarter in 29 seconds without ever appearing to fully extend himself.

Scarlet and Gray Mares winner Tady Strikes Again closed very strongly for second, making up 3 ¾ lengths in the final eighth on the Hambletonian winner to be beaten by only a length. I’m A Cool Breeze was third.

The $9,000 handicap win was the twentieth of Vivid Photo’s career. The three-year-old has now earned $1,312,902 in 27 starts.

Vivid Photo easily bettered the old three-year-old gelding trotter mark of 1:53.4 set by Farmer Jones just a week ago. Vivid Photo’s 1:52.3 clocking was the second fastest in Colonial Downs history. Kim’s Lass, driven by Hammer, trotted a mile in 1:52.1 on October 31, 2004.