Sevruga Takes Photo in Cutler Thriller

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ— The KDM Stables trotter Sevruga set the fractions for the mile and held off all challengers to take the Cutler in a gate-to-wire 1:51 effort. Guccio finished alongside Wishing Stone in second and Modern Family was with the three on the wire, but got fourth.

Sevruga took the top, with Modern Family tucking into the pocket and Opening Night backing into the three-hole. Sevruga trotted the quarter in :27, at that point Dave Miller sent Undercover Strike first over. Him and Sevruga battled by the half in :55.4 (:28.4), with Modern Family third and Wishing Stone gapping cover in fourth. Sevruga was holding off Undercover Strike, as Wishing Stone tipped three wide and Mister Herbie went four wide.

Sevruga (6) defeats three rivals in Cutler photo (Lisa Photo)

Through three-quarters in 1:22.1 (:26.4), Sevruga kicked to a 2 length lead. Modern Family left the pylons and began to trot down Sevruga. Wishing Stone was coming off cover and Guccio was making up lost ground. Sevruga still had a narrow advantage over Wishing Stone and Guccio was moving up as well, with Modern Family in contention. Sevruga held on to the lead by a nose at the wire, with Guccio and Wishing Stone dead-heating for second and Modern Family finished fourth.

Sevruga ($16.60) is by SJ’s Caviar, out of the mare Stunning Lindsey by Malabar Man. He is owned by KDM Stables Incorporated, trained by Julie Miller and Andy steered the trotter to a 1:51 lifetime mark.

Also on the Cutler card was the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity for four-year-old pacers, where the Burke-trained Sweet Lou sat off a mild pace to nose-out Warrawee Needy in 1:49.

Hillbilly Hanover took the lead, with Bolt The Duer getting into the pocket and Warrawee Needy was first over in pursuit of the lead through a :27.1 quarter. Warrawee Needy cleared the front past the three-eighths and Hurrikane Kingcole began to chase down the leader. The two were wheel-to-wheel at the half in :54.4 (:27.3). Hurrikane Kingcole cleared the lead into the far turn, Mel Mara was left first over and Sweet Lou was second over.

Hurrikane Kingcole led the field by over a length at three-quarters in 1:21.4 (:27). Warrawee Needy snuck out of the pocket and took over the lead. Sweet Lou fanned off cover, closing hard down the center. Bolt The Duer was showing late pace with Domethatagain, but Warrawee Needy and Sweet Lou hit the wire together in a photo finish that Sweet Lou got in 1:49.

Sweet Lou ($11.20) is by Yankee Cruiser, out of the mare Sweet Future by Falcons Future. He is owned by Burke Racing Stables LLC, Weaver-Bruscemi, Lawrence Karr and Phillip Collura, trained by Ron Burke and Yannick Gingras piloted the four-year-old to a 1:49 victory, a seasonal-mark.