Meadowlands: Lorentzon hoping Cutler can kick off a big year for Guardian Angel As

Stakes season for the older trotting ranks kicks off on Saturday night with the $175,200 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands. The race attracted a field of 12 and thus has been extended to one and one-eighths mile with many big names returning for their 2019 debut. Chief among the group is Guardian Angel As, a now 5-year-old that returns well-rested and primed to tackle the best trotters in North America for trainer Anette Lorentzon.

“He was really good in the first qualifier and really good in the second qualifier,” Lorentzon said of the son of Archangel that earned above $243K last year with seven wins. “We didn’t race him very much and he was sound all year.”

The management of Guardian Angel As last year also saw him taking on and being more than competitive against horses with more experience. Although he had a solid season with seven wins in 16 starts, Guardian Angel As’ best races were likely the ones he did not win.

“I think his best race last year was at Dayton,” Lorentzon said, referring to a third-place effort where Guardian Angel As made two early moves and then withstood the intense pressure of eventual world champion Homicide Hunter only to succumb late in the stretch to horses with easier journeys.

Guardian Angel As would go to Lexington next for the Allerage final and once again do much of the heavy lifting making several moves and coming into the stretch following a 1:22 three quarters with the lead. This time it was Homicide Hunter that had worked out a following trip and would get the 1:48 4/5 record with Guardian Angel As’ 1:49 2/5 three lengths shy of the record books.

Last year is over and now Lorentzon is confident she has a horse ready to face the battles and perhaps land the trips that reach the winner’s circle. Given the draw for Saturday’s ninth race Cutler, the trainer didn’t sound excited. “I’d rather be on the gate and I’d rather they were going a mile,” Lorentzon said, kind of not complaining but accepting the circumstances of Guardian Angel As’ initial start. “He won’t be on the front end so I am hoping there will be a lot of action.”

Guardian Angel As will follow the $2.7 million winning Pinkman (post 1) from the second tier and that could be a good thing considering the former Hambletonian champion does his best racing on the front end and enters the Cutler off a solid wire-to-wire victory in the first leg of the Mr. Muscleman series last week.

Trainer Marcus Melander has had a knack for coming out ready with his returning trotters and that could bode well for Cruzado Dela Noche, who last year captured the $1 million Yonkers International Trot in his first start following a pair of qualifiers.

“He had two nice qualifiers and I think he’ll be sharp in the Cutler,” said Melander of Cruzado Dela Noche, who drew post three with Brian Sears set to drive.

The 6-year-old Trolley has been managed nicely in his return and enters the Cutler following a fourth-place finish behind Pinkman last week that included his share of road trouble. Trolley has won five times already in 2019 and drew post six for the Cutler with Marcus Miller in the bike.

Trainer Julie Miller also sends out a 5-year-old by Archangel in Top Flight Angel, the runner-up in last year’s Breeders Crown finale. Andy Miller will be in the bike again in Top Flight Angel’s third start of 2019, with the pair starting from post 10. Top Flight Angel was a solid second behind Pinkman last week with Miller accepting a willing pocket.

Lorentzon is already off to a solid start in 2019 with recent Yonkers Open Handicap winner Eye Ofa Tiger As nearing $100,000 in seasonal earnings. “He was bred in Sweden and the owner wanted to race in the Swedish stakes as a 4-year-old,” Lorentzon said of the 5-year-old Eye Ofa Tiger As. “He won his first race over there but then stopped badly in his second start because he couldn’t breathe. We decided to bring him back here and do the operation and give him time to recover.”

Lorentzon believes Eye Ofa Tiger As is perfectly suited for the half-mile track and will continue to compete at Yonkers.

Lights Come On is likely heading to New York as well for Lorentzon to compete in New York Sire Stakes action. The sophomore son of Chapter Seven made his debut last week at Miami Valley with a 1:55 career best clocking giving his trainer the belief that he’ll be ready for the “bright” lights.