Meadowlands: Venerate storms to Arthur J. Cutler Memorial title

Venerate, the 2020 Mohawk Million champion, became a millionaire in his 5-year-old debut, capturing the $155,200 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands on Saturday night in a career best 1:50 1/5 clocking.

Venerate and Brian Sears left with purpose from the pole position in the field of 11 but could not out-sprint Hillexotic and Yannick Gingras, who left explosively from post 10 and cleared the front into the first turn. It's Academic, with David Miller, tucked in front of Venerate on the opening bend, leaving Rattle My Cage and Ake Svanstedt parked in pursuit of the front.

Following a 26 4/5 first fraction, Rattle My Cage was able to gain command but only briefly as Gingras re-moved Hillexotic before the half to seize control at the 54 4/5 clocking. It's Academic moved when Hillexotic did, and David Miller urged him to gain control five-eighths of a mile into the action. Sears had Venerate, a 7-2 proposition, on the move without cover on the final bend, tracked intently by Bella Bellini.

At three-quarters in 1:22 4/5, It's Academic had control of the race, but Venerate was gaining momentum with every stride. Sears drove him confidently to pass in the stretch and sprint off to victory. It's Academic held on to the place spot, with Rattle My Cage finding room between horses for the show. Hillexotic held fourth across the wire, with Bella Bellini, not yet tight, finishing fifth.

Venerate was making his debut for trainer Marcus Melander after a purchase brought the son of Love You to his stable last fall.

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"He's been training great," said Melander following the victory. "That first qualifier I wasn't happy with his gait. We made some adjustments, and his second qualifier was great (May 13 a 1:51 2/5 mile) since the track wasn't that fast that day.

"I think Brian was pretty confident in the horse as well. He said he was going to push out of there and see what happens. He's a very strong horse, so he had no problem going first-over, and it definitely helped that they were going at it on the front. His next stakes race is in the beginning of July here, so he'll probably race in an Open in two or three weeks."

Owned by Courant Inc., Holly Lane Stud East, Kemppi Stable Oy and Venerate Partners, Venerate has now won 12 times in 33 career starts, and, with the victory in the Cutler, pushed his career earnings to $1,014,335. As a 7-2 offering Venerate paid $9.60 to win.

Walner fillies dominated two $30,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes second leg divisions for sophomore trotters, with 2022 Breeders Crown champion Special Way effortlessly capturing her division for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt in a 1:53 4/5 mile at the expense of Walner Payton. In the first division Secret Volo and driver Brian Sears out-sprinted Mambacita in the homestretch for a career-best 1:53 2/5 mile for trainer Marcus Melander.

Up Your Deo broke his maiden in capturing the lone New Jersey Sire Stakes for sophomore male trotters. The son of Walner scored in 1:52 at odds of 43-1 for driver-trainer Ake Svanstedt, upsetting Oh Well on the wire. It was Up Your Deo's first start of 2023 after going winless in eight tries last year.