Vivid Photo ekes out win

Vivid Photo made his first start of his 4-year-old campaign a winning one by edging Hellava Hush at the wire in 1:54 at the Meadowlands Friday night.

With trainer and owner Roger Hammer in the sulky, the 2005 Hambletonian champion left from post two and took the early lead as New York Yank, who started from post one, broke stride at the start. Hellava Hush dropped back to fourth as Sir Valahad trotted up to take the lead.

After the first quarter was passed in :27.4, Hammer made the appropriate Meadowlands move and took the lead. Not long after Cat Manzi pulled with Hellava Hush and Hammer yielded.

Hellava Hush showed the way to the half in :55.4 and the three-quarters in 1:25.3 before Vivid Photo pulled alongside to challenge his rival. He fell back slightly in the stretch drive, but then drew even near the wire and put his nose out to break the beam.

Elegant Man rallied for third while Su Mac Lad winner Self Professed broke stride.

Vivid Photo won 16 of 25 starts last season and earned $1.4 million. The 4-year-old gelded son of SJ’s Photo is now headed to the Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands

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