Vivid Photo to start at Rcr

2005 Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo drew post position two in the "Elliot in the Morning/DC 101" Invitational Trot worth $15,000 at Rosecroft Raceway on Monday, June 5, and will open on the board as the 8-5 early choice.

Trained and driven by Roger Hammer, the 4-year-old gelded son of SJ's Photo has been a top performer at several tracks across North America, most recently competing at the Meadowlands with a third place finish in the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. Vivid Photo has a seasonal mark of 1:52.3 set on the mile track in New Jersey and over $1.5 million banked in lifetime earnings. Co-owned by Hammer and Todd Schadel, the gelding's 2005 season was highlighted by 16 wins and a lifetime speed mark of 1:51.2 (Du Quoin).

Last Monday, Jim's Message set a new track record for aged trotters with a win in 1:55 at Rosecroft. The 5-year-old Carry the Message gelding, marked as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, will face the talented field from post position three. Normally driven by Todd Schadel (co-owner of Vivid Photo), the gelding will have Rosecroft's leading reinsman John Wagner in the sulky for the Invitational. Trained and owned by Richard Hans, Jim's Message has five wins on the year from 11 starts and just over $52,000 in lifetime earnings.

Mighty Moses returns from the Delaware circuit as the 7-2 third choice. The 6-year-old Garland Lobell gelding, owned by the partnership of Ken and Betsy Wood, William Dittmar, Jr. and Stephen Iaquinta, drew post position six. The gelding has been successful on the half-mile oval of Harrington Raceway, finishing second for two consecutive weeks in the Open Handicap. Trainer Eric Ell has named Frank Milby to drive.

The remainder of the field is just as talented; Mr. Performer (9-2), a Garland Lobell gelding with a mark of 1:59.3 on the year, drew the rail and will have trainer Art Stafford Jr. in the sulky. Travelin Lite (Bob Corey, Jr., 10-1) will leave the gate from post three and TV Show Kosmos (8-1), a second-place finisher behind Jim's Message recently at Rosecroft, drew post five for driver Chris Offutt.

Post time for Monday's card is set for 5:35 p.m., and 11 races will be presented. Two divisions of the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund for 3-year-old filly trotters, each holding a purse of $15,800, will also highlight the card.

« Back