Vivid Photo, Armbro Dancer score

August 17, 2007

Vivid Photo lowered the all-time track trotting record at Vernon Downs to 1:52.1, and Armbro Dancer trimmed two-fifths of a second off the track's overall 54-year-old pacing yardstick with her 1:50.1 score, in stakes action on Thursday night.

The 2005 Hambletonian winner, Vivid Photo lowered Vernon�s all-age trotting standard by winning the $154,000 Credit Winner challenge, while Armbro Dancer's electrifying 1:50.1 effort came in the $124,000 Artiscape contest.

Part-owner, trainer Roger Hammer drove Vivid Photo to the victory over the track rated "good" due to a late afternoon thunderstorm. They took control of the mile after a :26.2 opening quarter, then powered on to a 5-1/4 length victory. It was the fourth score in nine starts this year for Vivid Photo.

The time not only eclipsed Enough Talk�s 1:53.3 (4-year-old mare�s) former all-age record, but it also demolished the 1:55.1 mark for aged trotting geldings. Todd Schadel also shares ownership of Vivid Photo, a 5-year-old son of S J�s Photo, who now sports career winnings of more than $2.5 million.

In a post-race winner�s circle interview following the exciting effort, Hammer said that first-place money was his top priority, not the track record. �I was definitely going for the money, but I got the track record, too,� Hammer exclaimed. �Vivid Photo is a good horse. He shrugs off his aches and pains and gives you his best effort every time he hits the track. I had a good hold on him to the quarter, but he wanted to trot on, so I let him and he came home strong. I couldn�t be more pleased.�

In a similar mile, Armbro Dancer flashed up to first following a :27 opening panel and held sway the rest of the way en route a 3-1/4 length triumph in the eighth event, her third straight score and fourth in nine current appearances. Fresh from a career-best 1:49.3 victory in the $212,200 Golden Girls Pace at the Meadowlands in late July, the 4-year-old daughter of Blissful Hall raised her lifetime earnings to $780,907 for owner Louie Camara.

Armbro Dancer bettered Vernon�s former 1:50.3 all-age standard, established by the then 3-year-old Oye Vay in 1996, and it shattered the 1:51.2 mark for 4-year-old mares, set by Bunny Lake in 2002.

Ron Pierce drove Armbro Dancer to the victory. �(Trainer) Jimmy (Takter) has done a great job getting Armbro Dancer back in top flight form,� Pierce pointed out. �She�s really sharp right now, and seems to be getting better with every start.�

The Credit Winner Trot was sponsored by Blue Chip Farms, while the Artiscape Pace was backed by Brittany Farms and the Artiscape Syndicate. (Vernon Downs)

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