Meadowlands: Resolve takes Cutler Memorial in return to the United States

Making his first start since finishing second in the Elitlopp, Resolve got away with an easy middle half and sprinted a 26 3/5 final quarter win the $200,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for older trotters on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Driven by trainer Ake Svanstedt, Resolve cleared Wind Of The North (Dave Miller) for the front before the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Svanstedt then slammed on the brakes, getting to the half in just 57 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:25 4/5. Obrigado (Mark MacDonald) came first-over out of fourth just before the half and was just a length behind the leader at three-quarters.

Resolve began to open up on Obrigado as the group raced into the lane, and he was up by over two lengths at the eighth pole. Flangan Memory (Brett Miller) had a strong rally through the lane after a third-over trip, but Resolve remained clear, winning by a length over that foe. Obrigado wound up third.

"He came home, and he was a little skinny, but he ate well. He came back to normal in about two weeks," Svanstedt said about how Resolve has fared since returning to the United States. "We hadn't trained so much, so I didn't know how he was today before the race, but he raced good. It was an easy win, but the horse was very good. He was going very fast in the last quarter."

Hans Enggren owns Resolve, a 5-year-old horse by Muscle Hill. Resolve won for the 11th time in his career, and he has now earned $1,175,398. The even-money favorite, Resolve paid $4.20 to win.