Resolve’s impressive victory Friday in the $200,000 Cutler Memorial final at The Meadowlands got the headlines, but there was also celebration in the barn of Ontario-based runner-up Flanagan Memory.

The second-place finish put the hard-trying six-year-old son of Kadabra over the $1 million mark in career earnings. His total now stands in excess of $1.03 million for trainer Rene Dion and Quebec co-owner Liette Flanagan.

“I was very happy to see it finally happen. He deserved it and I’m very proud of him,” said Dion. “He’s always been a good horse and he’s been very good so far this year. Right now, he’s really strong.”

Flanagan Memory was closing fastest of all in the Cutler, rallying four-wide from the back to finish a length short of Resolve in 1:52.2. In his previous start, the $210,000 Charlie Hill Trot at Scioto Downs, he also came from the back of the pack to get third behind Obrigado and Natural Herbie.

“He can race with these horses. He just needs a trip. Nothing’s easy when you compete at that calibre," said Dion.

Flanagan Memory now gets a bit of a breather from stakes action. His next scheduled stakes appearance is the John Cashman Memorial at The Meadowlands in August –- a race he won last year.

“He’ll have a lot of his plate in August and September. The idea now is just to keep him fresh,” Dion said.

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)