Heza Challenger beats Vivid Photo in 1:54.1

Heza Challenger outkicked Vivid Photo in the $20,000 Open/Preferred Handicap Trot on Thursday at The Meadows, though he had to set a track record of 1:54.1 to beat the champ.

Coming off a worrisome eighth place finish in his seasonal debut in the Classic Series, Vivid Photo was assigned the outside post and was sent right to the lead by Roger Hammer. However, Heza Challenger and Randy Tharps trotted with them, settling into the pocket behind Vivid Photo.

They remained in that order until the stretch when Heza Challenger fired up the “Lightning Lane” to defeat Vivid Photo by three-quarters of a length, with Dyno Trevor a game third.

The time of 1:54.1 shattered the previous track record of 1:55.2 for 4-year-old gelding trotters held jointly by Durgin Hanover and Primo Spur. Bruce Riegle trains Heza Challenger, a son of Chip Chip Hooray, for Robert Kauffman.

In the $13,000 second leg of the Chartiers Township Trot for 3-year-old fillies, Charged Freight made it four wins in seven career starts by erasing an eight length deficit to triumph in 1:58.3 for trainer/driver Ray Paver. Elizabeth Lane was second by three-quarters of a length while Olivia's Jewel trotted evenly to secure show.

Samuel A. Raneri III owns Charged Freight, a daughter of SJ's Photo. The series final is set for April 24. (Meadows)

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