Tyler Buter’s return to the Meadowlands Racetrack for the first time since a seven-race stint in 2008 got off to a winning start on January 9.

Buter, a 24-year-old Michigan native who won 351 races last season, primarily on the Chicago circuit, was victorious in his first Big M start of the new year with Jovial Jester N and later finished second, beaten by only a neck, with Jeremys Successor in the opening leg of the Presidential Series.

Buter was winless in his seven previous Meadowlands starts, which occurred over two days in May 2008 and included a fourth-place finish with Art Official in the Berry’s Creek final.

“It’s always exciting to go there,” Buter said. “All the guys there are first class. It was definitely different this time. This time I knew what to expect, so I didn’t feel so out of place. It was a lot of fun.”

Buter has averaged 368 wins and $2.24 million the last three years. In 2009, he won a career best $2.52 million thanks in part to victories in the $250,000 Orange and Blue Stakes with Fox Valley Oracle and the $180,000 American-National Stakes for three-year-old filly trotters with Southwind Wasabi.

He finished second in the driver standings at both Balmoral Park and Maywood Park in Chicago.

“I was pleased with how 2009 went and 2010 has started out well so far,” said Buter, who grew up in Manchester, Michigan, and followed his father, Todd, into harness racing. “I’m happy with where I’m at right now. (Chicago) was definitely a good move. There are first-class horses here; horses that not only do well here, but on the East Coast. I’ve gained a lot of experience here.”

Last year, Buter drove Jeremys Successor to a second-place finish in the $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie in June at Northfield Park. Jeremys Successor ended 2009 with a win in the Open at Balmoral, also with Buter at the lines. In between, the horse raced at Yonkers, the Meadowlands and Harrah’s Chester for a number of different drivers. He won nine of 31 starts and $245,980.

“He’s a real nice horse,” Buter said. “He raced very good (in the Presidential Series). He’d just raced in Chicago a week earlier and it didn’t affect him at all. He was definitely on top of his game. He’s definitely one of the nicest horses I’ve driven.”

Jeremys Successor, trained by Dean Eckley, finished second to favourite Blatantly Good. Western Shore was third, followed by Mystery Chase, Winbak Speed, Golden Receiver, Blueridge Western, Martha Maxine, Southwestern Dream, Cheyenne Knight and Lookout Hanover. The Presidential second leg is January 16 and the estimated $125,000 final is January 23.

In addition to racing, Buter’s focus is on becoming a father for the first time. Buter’s wife, Amber, is expecting a girl on January 25, which is two days after the Presidential final.

“That’s our main concern right now,” Buter said. “We’re excited. We’ve got the room all set up.”

As for the rest of the year, Buter will take it as it comes.

“When I first started out, I set goals for wins in a year,” Buter said. “Last year, I didn’t set any goals; I just tried to improve off the year before. That’s always your main concern. You just want to try to keep getting better.”

This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S.
Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.