Hambletonian champ to take on six in Saturday's Patriot Invite

October 08, 2008

Vivid Photo will face six rivals as he bids to become the 16th North American Standardbred to reach $3 million in earnings and a third straight victory in $100,000 Patriot Invitational Saturday at Colonial Downs.

Roger Hammer and Todd Schadel�s Vivid Photo can reach the $3-million mark with a first or second-place finish Saturday. The 6-year-old S J�s Photo gelding is four for four at Colonial Downs, including his record 1:50.2 mile in the inaugural Patriot. The popular Hambletonian champion and trainer-driver Roger Hammer will leave from post position one for the second straight year.

Enough Talk is the solid 8-5 morning line favorite for the Patriot. The 5-year-old Enjoy Lavec gelding has earned $640,665 this season for co-owners Peter Kleinhans Racing Inc. and Jerry Silva, easily the best of the field.

Enough Talk was the 3-5 favorite for the Breeders Crown after a dominant 5 �-length elimination division win. Enough Talk finished fourth in the Breeders Crown, 2 � lengths to the better of fifth-place finisher Vivid Photo. Enough Talk also got the best of Vivid Photo last Saturday, finishing third in the Allerage, 2 � lengths clear of that rival.

Hall of Famer Ron Pierce will be in town to drive Enough Talk for trainer Kleinhans.

Trillium Racing Stable�s entry of Green Day and Instant Photo may be the third choice. The Jim Raymer-trained duo will leave from posts six and seven, respectively.

Green Day was a leading 3 year old last season, notching his signature victory in the $644,770 Yonkers Trot en route to a 12-for-22 campaign that netted $738,769. The 4-year-old Enjoy Lavec gelding has yet to replicate that form in 2008, winning just two races from 15 tries but a 1:53 win in an open handicap at Chester in August proved the ability is still there. Tim Curtin will drive Green Day in the Patriot.

Royal Wire Products Inc�s Lanson is the 7-2 third choice on the morning line. The 4-year-old Self Possessed gelding finished right behind Enough Talk and Vivid Photo in last week�s Allerage. Trainer Richard Macomber has been sensational at Colonial this fall, winning with 11 of his first 14 starters. The lightly raced Lanson has eight wins from just 23 lifetime starts.

Pamela E. Wagner and Scott D. Woogen�s Lolique is enjoying a renaissance at age five after missing all of 2007. The Tagliabue gelding blossomed in the fall of 2006, dominating the 2006 three-year-old colt and gelding Virginia Breeders final and finishing fourth, just two lengths behind Vivid Photo in the inaugural Patriot.

Lolique has five wins from 31 starts this season for trainer Manley Brown Jr and his $166,060 bankroll this year is second-best of the seven-horse Patriot field.

LT�s Best has been ultra-consistent this season, hitting the board in 14 of 17 starts, predominantly in Hazel Park Invitational Handicaps. Tom Barrett owns and trains the 5-year-old Davanti gelding. Regular pilot Vince Copeland will be in the sulky for the Patriot.

Colonial Downs will host an Oktobfest Celebration along with the 11-race Patriot Invitational card on Saturday. The Oktoberfest celebration includes special German food, Oktoberfest beer specials and live German music from the 10-piece Elbe Musikanton band. The first 1,000 paid admissions will receive a free Colonial Downs camouflage baseball cap. First post is 6 p.m. (Colonial Downs)

« Back