With just three weeks remaining until the eliminations for the Arthur Cutler Memorial, the top trotters are beginning to gear themselves up for the first major test on the Free For All trotting calendar.
Of the eight trotters entered in the Meadowlands Racetrack’s $30,000 Open Handicap on Friday night, five are eligible to the Arthur Cutler Memorial. The top trotter thus far in 2015, Meladys Monet, will be qualifying on Saturday after Kevin McDermott reported that his start trotter tied up last week.
The entry of Master Of Law and Lindys Tru Grit, both of whom are eligible to the Cutler, will begin as the 2-1 morning line favourite. Lindys Tru Grit, trained by Julie Miller, rallied boldly from well back to just miss last week, while the Jimmy Takter-trained Master Of Law was a solid third in his first start off a five-week freshening. Both trotters are owned in part by Lindy Racing Stable and are coupled in the wagering.
Last week’s winner of the Open Trot, Wind Of The North is a close 5-2 second choice while starting from the outside, Post 8. Trained by Daryl Bier, Wind Of The North is also eligible to the Cutler and is riding a two-race win streak into the Friday night feature.
Appomattox and Opening Night are the other Cutler-eligible trotters in the field. Appomattox has found his best stride once again, winning two of his last three in upper-level conditions, while Opening Night is returning off a five-month layoff, but has qualified well in preparation for his return and finished 2014 in excellent form, including a runner-up effort in the Dayton Derby.
The $30,000 Open Trot is race six on the 13-race card and closes out the Early Pick 4, which has averaged a pool of over $50,000 this meet.
Sophomore trotters will also take to the track in the Spring Preview, including Whom Shall I Fear, a $475,000 full-brother to Father Patrick. He is the 2-1 morning line favourite from Post 8 in the second race $15,000 Spring Preview.
Marion Millionair headlines the three year old filly Spring Preview trot in Race 4 for $15,000, after her dominant win at the Meadowlands the previous week. She is the 5-2 morning line choice and will be challenged by the Julie Miller trained Rileys Dream who makes her return off a sharp qualifier.
The GSY Amateur Series continues Friday as well, with all eyes on amateur star Hannah Miller, who won again in an amateur event at Yonkers Thursday night. She pilots the morning line favourite, Cassanova Lindy, in the second amateur event in race three. Miller also will sit behind Jacks To Open in the first race, who is the second choice on the morning line. Miller has won four of 14 starts this year and 10 of her last 26 as an amateur driver.
There are two carryovers on the Friday program, both of the Jackpot Super Hi-5 variety. The fifth race Hi-5 carryover has grown to $80,594 and the last race carryover stands at $46,357. The average payout has been over $2,500 and the jackpot has been hit once this year for $200,000.
Post time for the Friday card is 7:15 p.m.
(Meadowlands)