In theory, it’s an Open Handicap. For Resolve, it’s also an audition.
The millionaire trotter makes a rare Yonkers Raceway appearance Saturday night, remanded outside of his six rivals in the $45,000 Open Handicap.
The weekly featured trot, going as the sixth of 12 races, brings arguably North America’s best trotter to Westchester for the first time since the 2014 Yonkers Trot (second in elim, third [to Nuncio] in half-million-dollar final).
It was Nancy Johansson training Resolve then, it’s Ake Svanstedt training and driving him now. The five-year-old son of Muscle Hill is going to be 29 days removed from his last start, a down-the-road, 1:52.2 effort in the $200,000 Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands.
The time between works nights does not concern Svanstedt.
“I'm not worried at all about he have some weeks off,” Svanstedt answered in an e-mail ‘questionnaire’ with himself and assistant trainer Oskar Florhed. “It was (26 days) between his races in the Elitlopp (second in both elim and final) and (the Cutler).
“He has trained well at home and Ake had him go faster this week, so he should be fine.”
While the winner’s share of the 45-large would pay the bills for a while, Svanstedt has his eyes gazing at a much bigger prize, as in the $1 million Yonkers International Trot Oct. 15.
“It's true,” he said. “In this race, I’m going to show everyone that he can handle a half-mile track, so hopefully he can get a invite.
“Maybe he will race in a similar (Open Handicap) race one more time before that.”
As far as any equipment changes, “Shoes this time on all four feet.
Last race, he raced barefoot upfront, but he will be fine with that, no problem.”
Here’s the field:
$45,000 Open Handicap Trot
1. Money Maven (Andy Miller)
2. E R Ellie (Larry Stalbaum)
3. Muscle Up The Goal (Brian Sears)
4. Ladys Dude (George Brennan)
5. Undercover Strike (Tyler Buter)
6. Shake It Cerry (Dan Dube)
7. Resolve (Ake Svanstedt)
(Yonkers)