Classic Photo wins Review

Classic Photo got just what his trainer Erv Miller wanted, an easy, uncontested race and a 1:56.4 victory in the $50,000 Alexander Memorial 3-year-old trot at the Illinois State Fair late Tuesday afternoon in Springfield.



The Grand Circuit card of Review Stakes finally got underway at 3 p.m. after a three hour delay to get the racetrack in racing condition following three days of rain. Monday's program, which included the Alexander, was raced first and then the Tuesday program began at approximately 5:45 p.m. The last of the Review Stakes was completed at 7:30 with two overnites and an amateur race moved to the end of Wednesday's program, which will begin a noon. Thursday's races will also have a noon start time.



"When I warmed him up I thought he warmed up as good as he has, so I went ahead and took the shot to get a nice easy start in him and get his confidence built right back up," Miller said of Classic Photo.



Erv Miller's brother, Andy, wearing his red, white and blue world driving championship colors, settled third past the opening quarter in :28.4 then hustled the son of SJ's Photo into the lead and easily trotted through fractions of :59 and 1:29.4 en route to the colt's seventh victory of the season in 11 starts for owners Bill Wright, Dennis and Kevin Lakomy's Mystical Marker Farm and Jack and Peggy Hood. Self Possesion sat second and finished 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner with Jimmy Takter driving. Norvelous and Mark O'Mara were third.



Classic Photo's next start will be the American National Aug. 27 at Balmoral Park where he will likely meet Vivid Photo, who defeated him in the Hambletonian. The connections of both horses are also considering the World Trotting Derby Sept. 3 at DuQuoin.

« Back