$200,000 Arthur Cutler Memorial on Friday

East Rutherford, NJ – The $200,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial will see seven of the top harness racing older trotters currently racing convene at The Meadowlands to contest the 19th renewal of the Grand Circuit stake on Friday, June 24.

 

Mr. Cutler was a popular and successful Manhattan restaurateur. His empire of restaurants began in 1990 with Carmines (still a popular Italian family style venue) and grew to embrace several cuisines such as Ollie's Noodle Shop, Gabriela's Mexican and Virgil's BBQ. A Virgil's location is set to be opened soon by Mr. Cutler's longtime friend Jeff Gural as part of the renovations at Tioga Downs.

 

On the track (race 7) it's a quality over quantity field that includes Obrigado, who will seek to make it three consecutive memorial trots having annexed the Charlie Hill and Maxie Lee in his last two starts. A winner 37 times in 67 career starts, Obrigado is now less than $4,000 from the coveted million dollar mark in career earnings. Trainer Paul Kelley shares ownership of the classy veteran with the SRF Stable, Linwood Higgins and Stable 45 and Mark MacDonald will be in to drive.

 

Resolve is making his first start back state-side for Ake Svanstedt after an impressive showing in the Elitlopp last month where he finished second in that final to Nuncio.

 

JL Cruze will return to his favorite track as he searches for the form that made him virtually invincible in his award winning season of one year ago.

 

The Burke Stable has drawn posts one and two with Crazy Wow and Gural Hanover. Wind Of The North and Flanagan Memory are both accomplished trotters who add class and form to the contentious field.

 

Post time on Friday is 7:15 p.m.