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East Rutherford, NJ — One thing was certain at the conclusion of Saturday night’s (May 15) $141,250 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands: Manchego is not the retiring type.

The 6-year-old mare went a herculean mile in taking the 24th edition of the event for free for all trotters, scoring in 1:51.1. Pretty good for a horse who had called it a career after taking the TVG Open Trot last November over arch-rival Atlanta to sew up divisional honors.

Manchego overcame a tough first over trip to win the $141,250 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for free for all trotters. Lisa photo.

“She had a swoon last year,” said owner Barry Guariglia (Black Horse Racing), “so I thought we should finish the season and be done with it. But then she rallied (winning the TVG and Breeders Crown) but we retired her anyway.”

Then, trainer Nancy Takter got involved.

“Nancy said Manchego is happier on the racetrack than in a paddock,” said Guariglia of his decision to bring the two-time Dan Patch Award and three-time Breeders Crown winner back to the races. “Obviously, it is so far, so good. I’m happy with my decision to race her.”

So are her fans.

Manchego was extremely wide into the first turn after leaving the gate from post nine in the 10-horse field. Early leader Guardian Angel As yielded the top briefly to Felicityshagwell S before making a second move to the lead and hitting the half in :54.4, leaving Manchego — who never saw the rail at any point — first-over.

But despite the fact the daughter of Muscle Hill-Secret Magic was off a mediocre qualifier for her seasonal debut, she showed why she has been one of the top trotters in the sport since 2017.

“I was thinking at the half that she’s getting tortured,” said Guariglia, “but the way (driver) Dexter (Dunn) was sitting, I could tell she wasn’t done.”

Manchego continued to inch closer to Felicityshagwell S as they made their way on and around the far turn as Majestic Player A followed live cover from the eventual winner. After a thrilling three-horse, stretch-long battle to the wire, Manchego prevailed by a hard-earned nose over a determined Majestic Player A. Guardian Angel As was third. Lindy The Great, the even-money favorite, did not fire after a third-over trip and finished eighth.

In registering her 34th career victory from 57 starts, Manchego lifted her lifetime earnings to $2,790,276. As the 9-2 second choice in the wagering, she returned $11.60 to her backers.

“I’m lucky she’s got the turn of foot she’s got,” said Dunn. “She was truly brave tonight.”

Great Graduates: Poseidon Seelster went a three-hole trip and found just enough room late along the inside to register a 14-1 upset in a lifetime-best 1:47.4 in the first of two $50,000 divisions of the second leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old Open pacers.

Poseidon Seelster went a three-hole trip and found just enough room late along the inside to register a 14-1 upset in a lifetime-best 1:47.4. Lisa photo.

Warrawee Vital, the 8-5 favorite, led at every call until the last and was resilient through the stretch to miss by a nose. Right there at the finish was the pocket-sitting Tattoo Artist, who was another nose back in the three-horse photo.

“He certainly proved himself tonight,” said winning driver George Brennan, who has teamed with trainer Nik Drennan to be one of the most prolific driver-trainer teams at The Big M. “The trip could not have worked out any better. I wasn’t sure I got up at the wire.”

Ruthless Hanover stayed perfect in two Graduate starts by scoring decisively in the second Graduate split as the even-money public choice in a lifetime-best 1:48. Despite getting roughed up while parked past the half in :53.4, the Tom Cancelliere trainee won his third straight at the mile oval in sub-1:49 dating back to December, holding off Save Me A Dance by a length. Chief Mate was third.

“It was a rough half,” said winning driver Andy McCarthy. “But he does what he has to do. He’s an incredible horse.”

Blazing A Trail: One week after equaling Stars Align A’s national-season’s record of 1:48, American History lowered that mark by stopping the clock in 1:47.2 in a high-end conditioned pace as the 1-2 favorite.

“He’s been terrific,” said McCarthy, who was in the sulky behind the Tony Alagna trainee. “He’s starting to find his rhythm now.”

Huge Handle Again: All-source wagering totaled $4,088,468, the fifth time in 2021 that betting has busted the $4 million barrier. It also marked the seventh time this year that weekend action exceeded the $7 million plateau.

A Little More: For the third time in the last four race cards, McCarthy registered four wins, giving him 13 victories over that span. The 35-year-old pilot now has 60 wins on the year, good for second in the Big M standings behind Dunn, who has 79.

Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.