By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Pulling off
upsets are Cruzado Dela Noche’s specialty, so when he won Saturday night’s
$175,200 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for free for all trotters at the Meadowlands
at odds of 8-1, it didn’t come as a shock to his driver Brian Sears.
“I was pretty confident,” said Sears.
“I wasn’t concerned that it was his first start since November since he hadn’t
raced in three or four months before the International Trot.”
In Yonkers Raceway’s International
last October, Cruzado Dela Noche and Sears pulled off a 30-1 shocker, and like
in the Cutler, never spent a moment at the rail.
Half of the bulky 12-horse field was
away from the gate quickly in the mile and an eighth Cutler, and after they
settled in after the quarter, Trolley was on the point, I Know My Chip was in
the pocket, Yes Mickey was first over, providing perfect cover for Cruzado Dela
Noche.
As Yes Mickey continued to inch
closer to the leader at three-quarters, Cruzado Dela Noche got himself into
position to pounce three-wide as they straightened away at the head of the
stretch. With confident handling from Sears, Cruzado Dela Noche made his way
past Trolley nearing the wire to record a half-length score. Will Take Charge
rallied for third. Pinkman, the 8-5 favorite, raced along the rail and never
had a chance, finishing seventh (placed sixth).
The time for the added distance of a
mile and an eighth was 2:07.3.
“This horse has raced in Europe all
his life,” said Sears. “So he’s good with the distance. He’s got enough stamina
to put himself in play and we were never really used that hard. He’s easy on
himself.”
As the fifth choice in the wagering,
Cruzado Dela Noche, who is trained by Marcus Melander, returned $19.00 to his
backers. He’s now won 16 of 60 career outings, good for earnings of $1,295,739
for owners Courant A B of Stockholm, Sweden.
GRADUATES IMPRESS: The first leg of the Graduate Series
for 4-year-old open pacers had a pair of $50,000 divisions on the Saturday
undercard.
Lather Up ($13.20 to win as the third
choice) was explosive late to score in 2:02.4 for the mile and an eighth in the
first division while 2018 Meadowlands Pace champion Courtly Choice ($3.60 as
the favorite) went parked for the final five-eighths on the way to taking the
second division in 2:01.4. Both were making their first starts of the year.
A LITTLE MORE: After a slow start at the windows
with the Kentucky Derby inquiry delaying the start of the card, betting
gathered momentum as the night wore on, and when the action was tallied,
all-source handle stood at $3,273,805, the ninth time this year wagering at the
Big M exceeded the magic $3-million mark. … Tim Tetrick guided three winners on
the card, giving him seven victories over the weekend. … Racing resumes Friday
at 7:15 p.m.
