by
Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST
RUTHERFORD, NJ – Displaying
no ill effects after being away from the races for almost a month, Resolve
powered down the road to an easy 1-length win in the $200,000 Arthur J. Cutler
Memorial Final for trotters at the Meadowlands Friday night.
The
winner’s last start came in the May 29 Elitlopp at Solvalla (Sweden) when the
5-year-old son of Muscle Hill finished second to Nuncio.
“The
horse was very good,” said winning trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt. “He came back
home (from Sweden) and it took him two weeks to get back to normal.”
Too
bad for his foes.
Resolve,
the even-money favorite, was sent away fast from post seven and had the lead at
the quarter in :27.1.
Svanstedt
did a masterful job of rating the second fraction, which was timed in a sleepy
:30 as they hit the half in :57.1. Obrigado, the 2-1 second choice fresh off
wins in the Maxie Lee and Hill Memorial, vacated the four hole at the
seven-sixteenths and grinded his way into contention at three-quarters, which
went in 1:25.4.
Then
Svanstedt hit the gas and Resolve responded with a final quarter of :26.3,
leaving Obrigado behind while opening up a safe lead. Flanagan Memory, who went
a third-over trip, closed well through the stretch to end up a no-threat
second. Obrigado held third. Early-season sensation JL Cruze was fourth.
Resolve
trotted the mile in 1:52.2 and paid $4.20 to win for owner Hans G Enggren.
HAIL
THE QUEEN: Medusa
won her second straight $25,000 Open Handicap Mares pace in determined
wire-to-wire fashion for driver Brett Miller and trainer Andrew Federico Jr.
The 5-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight went the mile in a lifetime-best
1:49.2 and paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.
STILL GROWING: The 5th
race 20 cent Jackpot Super High Five did not have a single-ticket winner,
increasing the carryover to $20,452.28, while the 11th race version
of the wager, unhit since the beginning of the meeting in November, saw its carryover
swell to $264,140.15. Both pots of gold will be up for grabs on the next
program. … Live racing resumes at the Big M Saturday at 7:15 p.m.
