Vivid Photo, Ponder favored

Vivid Photo and Ponder will start from rail in their respective races, the $175,000 Arthur Cutler Memorial final and the $225,000 Graduate final, respectively, on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Vivid Photo, who has won two straight races by a nose over Hellava Hush, including their Cutler elimination, has been installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite in the Cutler final, written for free-for-all trotters. The 2005 Hambletonian winner is now a perfect two-for-two this year with trainer and co-owner Roger Hammer in the sulky.

“He’s matured a lot and not throwing in steps like he did last year,” Hammer said after last Friday’s victory. “The last two starts here he’s been perfect.”

The 4-year-old gelded son of SJ’s Photo has banked more than $1.5 million for Hammer and his partner, Todd Schadel. He won his Cutler elimination in 1:52.3 and Hez Striking annexed the other elimination, by one-half length over Sand Vic, in 1:54.3.

Sand Vic, the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, and New York Yank are both trained by Trond Smedshammer but will not be coupled in the wagering.

Ponder was made the 2-1 morning line favorite for the Graduate final, written for free-for-all pacers following his elimination win in 1:48.3. The 5-year-old son of The Panderosa is trained by Bob McIntosh, who co-owns the Canadian Pacing Derby winner in partnership with CSX Stables and John Fielding.

“He was a real nice colt last year, but for some reason this horse really grew during the break,” winning driver Ron Pierce said after the Graduate elimination. “He must have got five inches taller, eight inches longer, and put on 200 pounds. He’s really filled out nice.”

Quality Western, the longshot winner of the other Graduate Elimination, drew post two and is 6-1. on the line. Here are the fields:

The Arthur Cutler Memorial Final – Purse $175,000
PP - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Line
1 - Vivid Photo - Roger Hammer - Roger Hammer - 9-5
2 - Hez Striking - Ron Pierce - Richard Norman - 5-1
3 - Sand Vic - Brian Sears - Trond Smedshammer - 3-1
4 - Musclesextrodinair - George Brennan - Charles Crissman - 30-1
5 - New York Yank-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer-30-1
6 - Mystical Sunshine - David Miller - Chris Ryder - 15-1
7 - Great George Two - Jonathan Roberts - Bib Roberts - 10-1
8 - Self Professed - Michel Lachance - Mark Ford - 20-1
9 - Hellava Hush - Cat Manzi - William Gallagher - 4-1
10 - Elegant Man - George Brennan - Robert Bencal - 15-1

Graduate Final – Purse $225,000
1 - Ponder - Ron Pierce - Robert McIntosh - 2-1
2 - Quality Western - Michel LaChance - Richard Johnson - 6-1
3 - Mypanmar - John Campbell - Virgil Morgan Jr. - 8-1
4 - Hop Sing - Cat Manzi - Ettore Annunziata - 7-2
5 - Whodunit - Andy Miller - Jake Huff - 20-1
6 - Jenna’s Choice - Brian Sears - Mark Silva - 8-1
7 - Georgia Pacific - Andy Miller - Randy Bendis - 20-1
8 - Casimir Camotion - George Brennan - Bruce Saunders - 5-1
9 - Pacific Renegade - Yannick Gingras - Tom Fanning - 15-1
10 - Leading X Ample - David Miller - Richard Banca - 12-1
(Meadowlands)

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