Let the rivalry begin

The rivalry between 2005’s leading sophomore trotters Vivid Photo and Strong Yankee is about to continue as the two will meet for the first time in 2006 as 4 year olds at the Meadowlands Friday night, lining up behind the gate in the sixth race, a $35,000 Open Trot.

“It’s going to be like a revenge match, but both of us might get our butts kicked,” Vivid Photo’s trainer-driver and co-owner Roger Hammer told harnessracing.com Thursday afternoon. “Who knows?”

Vivid Photo, who captured the Hambletonian last year, has already made four starts this year, coming up a winner three times. He is coming off a 6 ¼-length romp in 1:54 at Rosecroft in a $15,000 Invitational. This will be the first start of 2006 for Yonkers Trot, Kentucky Futurity and Breeders Crown winner Strong Yankee, who has two qualifiers under his belt for trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer.

In nine match-ups last year, Vivid Photo had three wins, while Strong Yankee was victorious four times. The two competed in a memorable Kentucky Futurity race-off at The Red Mile last October, with Strong Yankee coming up a winner in the duel. Despite Strong Yankee’s overall slight edge in head-to-head battles last year, he lost divisional Dan Patch Award honors to Vivid Photo by a vote of 120-75.

“We’re having a test run Friday night,” said Hammer. “He’ll be alright; we’ll be ready. I just need to try and keep him sharp the next two months.”

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