Vivid Photo favored in Colonial's Patriot Trot

The 2005 Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo will make his annual pilgrimage to New Kent in seeking a new track and world record for the third straight year in the second annual $100,000 Patriot Invitational Trot Saturday at Colonial Downs.

Vivid Photo won the inaugural edition of the Patriot last fall in 1:50.2, tying the fastest trotting mile in the sport’s history at the time. The SJ’s Photo gelding won his only other start at the one-turn mile, an open handicap in 2005, in track and world record time of 1:52.3.

Now five, Vivid Photo is still at the top of his game with six wins and $688,769 in earnings from 14 starts this season but Roger Hammer’s trotter comes into the Patriot off a loss in his division of the Allerage on Oct. 6. Vivid Photo was third, beaten 3½ lengths by Giant Diablo, who trotted the mile in 1:50.1 to lower Vivid Photo and Tom Ridge’s 1:50.2 record mark. 

Vivid Photo drew the rail for the Patriot and will be driven as always by trainer and co-owner Roger Hammer. The winner of 33 races and $2,796,708 for Hammer and co-owner Todd Schadel, Vivid Photo has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite.

Buck I St. Pat and Gabby Glide are the other trotters with single-digit morning line odds.  Buck I St. Pat is the 7-2 second choice off an amazing finish to get second in her Allerage division. The 4-year-old Jailhouse Jesse mare trotted her final quarter in :26.3 to pass four horses and make up four lengths in the stretch. Buck I St. Pat is the field’s only female and its second-leading money winner with $577,303 in purses.

Gabby Glide rides a three-race win streak into the Patriot, not surprising for a gelding with 18 wins from just 26 lifetime starts. Gabby Glide has earned $135,625 this season despite having never raced for more than a $30,000 purse. Sam Beegle trains Gabby Glide and the 4-year-old Yankee Glide gelding will get the services of Tim Tetrick, the nation’s leading driver.

Colonial Downs will also have an Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday with food and beverage specials and a 10-piece German band. The first 2,000 paid admissions will receive a free Colonial Downs folding chair. The Patriot is the seventh race on an eleven-race card that begins at 5 pm. 

Complete Patriot Invitational Trot Field:

(Colonial Downs)

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