Patriotic trotters at Colonial

Connections of 2005 Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo and 2006 Breeders Crown and Nat Ray winner Sand Vic have accepted invitations to the inaugural $100,000 Patriot Trot at Colonial Downs Oct. 13, highlighting an Octoberfest celebration at the track.

The stake, which will be an annual event, is an invitational, open to trotters age three and up. Director of racing Craig Andow has commitments from eight thus far, including Vivid Photo and Sand Vic.

Roger Hammer’s Vivid Photo trotted a 1:52.3 mile at Colonial last October, which at that time was an all-age track record for geldings. The mark lasted only 16 hours though as Farmer Jones shaved a tick off that mark the following afternoon. Vivid Photo has purse winnings of over $1.8 million and a 1:52.2 life mark, set as a 3 year old.

Sand Vic, a 5-year-old Mr. Vic horse, edged Vivid Photo by a neck in this year’s $800,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot July 29 at the Meadowlands in 1:52.3. One week later, Sand Vic captured the $300,000 Nat Ray, also at the Meadowlands, in 1:51.3. He beat Ripped, who is also slated to appear in Colonial’s Patriot Trot, by a head. Ironically, Sand Vic went winless in his 2005 campaign. In 14 starts (as a 4 year old), he took six seconds and three third-place finishes.

Other trotters scheduled to appear include JM Van Gogh, Med Vac, Dunkster, Putthemonhold, and Lolique. Andow hopes to attract several more as well. (Colonial Downs)

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