$170,450 Cutler Memorial won in world record time

The $170,450 Arthur J Cutler Memorial Trot took place at the Meadowlands Saturday night (May 21) and harness racing fans got to see race favorite Ecurie D DK rewrite the world record on a mile track.

The 8^th race Grand Circuit feature saw It’s Academic (Yannick Gingras) on the early lead with Ecurie D DK and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt taking the pocket seat.

Stuck on the outside was Lovedbythemasses (Tim Tetrick) and then went to the front by the first quarter in :26.3. Also on the move was 17-1 longshot Cuatro De Julio (Andy McCarthy), who cleared to the lead before the half mile marker in :54.

In the backstretch, Svanstedt came out first-over with Ecurie D DK and he was followed on the outside by Dan Patch winner Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn) to the three-quarters in 1:22.1.

As they started down the stretch, Ecurie D DK was able to collar Cuatero De Julio and go on to win by two lengths in 1:49.1. Bella Bellini was third.

The lifetime mark for Ecurie D DK was rewritten at 1:49.1, which surpassed the mark for older trotting horses of 1:50 that was co-held by Archangel and Sebastian K, both in 2014. The time also tied Atlanta (2019).

ECURIE D DK REPLAY

It was the first start of the year for Ecurie D DK, who raced with wearing any horseshoes. The six-year-old stallion by Infinitif is co-owned by Marko Kreivi Stable, Suleyman Yuksel Stable and Ake Svanstedt. He paid $3.40 to win.

“Ake (Svanstedt) thought that he could go around 1:50,” Sarah Svanstedt, Ake’s wife said. “He was very impressive and we are very proud of him. He is a happy horse when he is home on the farm, but when he comes to the racetrack, he goes into racing mode and he is all business.”

The 2021 Harness Horse of the Year, Test Of Faith, was defeated by 16-1 Watch Me Now N in the sixth race $31,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace.

Longshot Watch Me Now N and driver Dexter Dunn pushed away from the starting gate and took control of the pace from Racine Bell (Jason Bartlett) to the first quarter in :27.3. Bartlett then quarter moved Racine Bell right to the lead with Watch Me Now N content to sit the pocket seat.

There was no movement going by the half mile in :55.2. Then Amazing Dream N (Todd McCarthy) came first-over with Test Of Faith (David Miller) grabbing the outside cover to the three-quarters in 1:22.4.

Coming down the stretch, Dexter Dunn saw that Racine Bell was starting to bear out and he then ducked Watch Me Now N to the rail and she shot right to the lead and won by three quarters of a length in 1:49. It was too late for Test Of Faith, who closed well and nosed out No Win No Feed A (Scott Zeron) for second place.

WATCH ME NOW N REPLAY

It was the second win in three starts in 2022 for the New Zealand import Watch Me Now N. The six-year-old mare by He’s Watching is trained by Tony Alagna for owner Curtin Anz Stables of Bordentown, NJ. She paid $35.80 to win. Her time of 1:49 was a lifetime mark.

The fireworks of speed continued into the 10^th race $40,000 Open Pace as Nicholas Beach and driver Joe Bongiorno led from start to finish with a 1:47 lifetime mark.

It was the fastest mile of the year by any harness horse as Nicholas Beach shot right to the lead from post six with This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras) sitting in the pocket seat to the first quarter in :26.

Nandolo N (Jason Bartlett) was stuck first-over from the start and helped push Nicholas Beach to the half mile in :54. Race favorite Jack’s Legend N (Dexter Dunn) was forced three-wide in the backstretch with Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick) following his cover.

But there was no catching Nicholas Beach as he tore a :26.2 third quarter to the three-quarters in 1:20.4 and pour it on in the stretch to win going away by three lengths in 1:47. This Is The Plan was second with Jack’s Legend N third.

NICHOLAS BEACH REPLAY

It was the third win in six starts this year for Nicholas Beach. The six-year-old gelded son of Somebeachsomewhere is trained by Jenn Bongiorno and is co-owned by John Langacher, Michael Cote Gagnon and Jenn Bongiorno and paid $8.20 to win. His time was one fifth of a second off the world record.

World Champion and Hambo winner Atlanta made short work of a field of six rivals in capturing the third race $31,500 Open Handicap Trot with ease in 1:51.2.

Leaving from the assigned outside seven post, driver Yannick Gingras floated Atlanta out of the starting gate as Weslynn Quest (Brian Sears) took control of the early lead to the opening quarter mile in :27.1.

Atlanta was already on the move and by the half mile had cleared to the lead in :54.1. Yanks Dugout (David Miller) came first-over with Lady Jeter (Todd McCarthy) started up second-over. Yanks Dugout was second and coming after Atlanta by the three-quarters in 1:24.

Atlanta and Gingras then started to get clearance from the field starting down the stretch and won with ease by two and one-quarter lengths. Yanks Dugout was second with Kenziesky Hanover (Tim Tetrick) third.

ATLANTA REPLAY

It was the first win after two starts for Atlanta. The seven-year-old Chapter Seven mare is trained by Ron Burke for Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Howard Taylor. She paid just $2.10 to win. It was her 32nd career victory.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink