Meadowlands: Hannelore Hanover captures Cutler Memorial from post twelve

Post 12 in a mile and one eighth race at the Meadowlands could have been problematic, but not if the horse starting from there is defending Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover and the driver is Yannick Gingras. The pair converted in the $182,500 Arthur Cutler Memorial on Saturday night in what turned into a perfect trip.

All Gingras could do at the start was follow Mambo Lindy out of the gate from the second tier, and that proved to be a valuable spot as Will Take Charge and Crazy Wow left alertly along with Tuonoblu Rex and I Know My Chip. I Know My Chip had the lead first, but Will Take Charge took over in a 26 1/5 opener. Crazy Wow hustled up to take the front off the turn and was able to back down the middle fractions in 55 1/5 and 1:24 4/5. Scott Zeron pushed Mambo Lindy into the picture first-over, and that towed Hannelore Hanover in second-over.

Crazy Wow was still well-reserved with David Miller in the bike, and he passed the mile marker in 1:52 4/5 and was still resilient in the early stretch, dueling with Mambo Lindy. Hannelore Hanover and Gingras kicked off cover but was only gaining marginally in the early stretch, while Will Take Charge was moving clear to the inside.

Tim Tetrick and Will Take Charge looked to take a brief lead up the pylons, but Gingras asked last year's champion for extra, and the daughter of Swan For All kicked home sharply to get up on the wire in a 2:06 clocking for the added distance.

"I thought I was an easy winner at the head of the stretch," said Gingras. "But then Timmy's horse kicked in. She kicked in late, and I felt I had him on the wire."

Will Take Charge finished second with Crazy Wow third behind the $3.40 winner.

Ron Burke trains both the winner and third-place finisher in the Cutler. Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, F. Baldachino and J. & T. Silva own Hannelore Hanover.