by Bob Heyden

Named for a friend of racing and noted restaurateur Arthur J. Cutler, who died in 1998, the free for all trot has carved out a unique history for itself. Let’s take a look.

1998 — A one-time Amish buggy horse, B Cor Pete, made it all the way back to beat the best older trotters in Year One. Howard Parker handled the 9-year-old gelding.

1999 — Kick Tail, A ridgling who was third the year before in the Hambletonian, became the first 4YO to win the Cutler for 2003 HOF inductee Berndt Lindstedt.

2000-01 — Dave Miller in his first full season at The Meadowlands in 1999, won his first major stake with Magician, the $424,000 Cashman. That carried over to 2000 and 2001 as the veteran son of Royal Prestige became the very first back-to-back Cutler winner. His career bankroll of $3,579,103 was earned for trainer Earl Cruise and “Augie” aka owner William Augenstein of NY.

2002 — Fools Goal used this race as a stepping stone to consecutive Breeders Crowns for a healthy $1,000,000 and $800,000, respectively. Jack Moiseyev drove the enigmatic son of Hambletonian winner Armbro Goal. He banked an incredible $3,057,070 racing from 1997-2005 with a career unlike any other, with 28 career wins and 27 career breaks.

2003 — The 2003 winner Kadabra, had moved from Homer Hochstetler to Jimmy Takter for his 3YO season in 2002 when he banked $1,215,496 and was named Trotter of the Year. This gave Dave Miller three of the first six Cutler Memorials.

2004 — War Paint gave John Campbell his first of two Cutlers.

2005 — Mr Muscleman, the 2005 Trotter of the Year, won $1,364,220 as the richest 5-year-old trotter ever posted, was perhaps the most impressive Cutler winner. From Muscles Yankee’s first crop, he was far off the pace and backed up and very wide in the final turn. Yet, he still managed to haul in pacesetting Sand Vic with Helluva Hush third.

2006-07 — The aforementioned Sand Vic made amends in both 2006 and 2007 with Brian Sears driving for Trond Smedshammer. These were the first two Cutlers for the all-time Cutler driving king Sears (seven).

2008 — John Campbell wins his second Cutler with Corleone Kosmos with Lanson second. Ross Croghan trained the winner.

2009 — Lucky Jim, the winner, was the best trotter not named Muscle Hill in 2009 and would be HOY runner-up to him. A 17-for-18 slate can do that. Andy Miller would later double up with Sevruga in 2013.

2010 — Arch Madness ($6.80) wins in dominant fashion. The most frequent Cutler finalist of all time, banked $4.3 million in his career and defeated heavy favorite Lucky Jim in 1:51 flat.

2011 — Slave Dream gives Sears his record fourth Cutler, while Lucky Jim breaks, and three-time defending Mare Trotter of the Year Buck I St Pat was second.

2012 — The Cutler this year was all about Mister, Mister, as Mister Herbie gamely nailed Winning Mister on the wire after a long first over grind for Jody Jamieson and Jeff Gillis in 1:51.3.

2013 — A seven-horse field, the shortest in Cutler history, produced by far the most exciting finish ever. Sevruga was the one to catch and just did hold off a three-ply assault from pocket sitting Modern Family and a pair of money makers from the prior two Hambletonians, Wishing Stone (fourth in 2011) and Guccio (second in 2012).

2014 — Ake Svanstedt debuts with Sebastian K S going a stakes record 1:50.2 after pulling the 2-hole at the five-eighths. Market Share, the last trotter to eclipse $2 in a single season in 2012, made an early miscue. This was Ron Pierce’s final Cutler. After winning nine years earlier with Mr Muscleman, Pierce handled Sevruga, the defending champion, to a third-place finish.

2015 — Bee A Magician becomes the first HOY (2013) to race in, and win, the Cutler. For the second straight year, Market Share goes off-stride early. Bee A Magician made a strong backstretch move to command and safely scored over Wind Of The North.

2016 — Sam McKee’s final Cutler call. It was the first of two straight for Ake Svanstedt trainee Resolve, a son of Muscle Hill. Flanagan Memory stormed home for second for Brett Miller. Resolve later added a Yonkers International Trot score.

2017 — For the first time, the race was contested at 1 1/8 miles. It was Resolve over Crazy Wow with the then fastest trotter in Meadowlands’ history, JL Cruze (1:49.4 on July 11, 2015), third.

2018 — Defending HOY Hannelore Hanover wins over Will Take Charge with Crazy Wow third.

2019 —Cruzado Dela Noche for Brian Sears and Marcus Melander. The Yonkers International Trot upsetter, got the measure of pace-setting Trolley with Marcus Miller.

2020 — In a dream matchup, Atlanta edges by Manchego. In the sport’s greatest rivalry of the 21st century, a 1:50.1 new stakes mark was set as Manchego was stung to a Cutler fastest opener of :25.4.

2021 — Manchego (Dexter Dunn and Nancy Takter) makes her debut at age 6 and just does get the measure of Australian-bred Majestic Player A in 1:51.1. It was a long, uncovered trip for Manchego.

2022 — Ecurie D DK also went uncovered in a stunning 1:49.1 world and stakes record, and track record equaling mile driven by Ake Svanstedt. It was a strong effort from Cuatro De Julio (Andy McCarthy) who was second best.

2023 — Sears’ final drive and win. His seventh Cutler was with Venerate in 1:50.1. It’s Academic was second for Dave Miller.

2024 — Jiggy Jog S did not lose a race in 2024 (six-for-six) en route to Trotter of the Year honors. She was second over and roared home for Dexter Dunn and Ake Svanstedt in 1:50 flat.