Cutler staked an early claim to the top of Michigan's 2-year-old male division with a tactful score in the $25,000 Patrick Wood Stakes on Friday night at Hazel Park.

The Even the Score colt broke straight and settled in early behind O'Prado's Prayer on the outside and Ma's Hour on the rail. The lead pair dueled to an open lead across the backstretch, and entered the turn with an opening quarter-mile time in 24.60 seconds. They remained in front at the top of the stretch, but Cutler chipped away at the advantage through the bend.

Jockey Melissa Zajac swung Cutler three-wide coming out of the turn and blew past O'Prado's Prayer in the final sixteenth under mild left-handed urging. Cutler crossed the line 5 1/4 lengths ahead of O'Prado's Prayer, with Ma's Hour running on after losing the pace duel to finish 2 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up.

Cutler won the four-furlong Patrick Wood in 49.90 seconds over a fast track. He paid $3.20 to win as the favorite.

The colt races as a Michigan homebred for the Elkhorn Oaks program, and he is trained by James Jackson.

The Patrick Wood was Cutler's debut, giving him earnings of $15,000 after his first start. He is not eligible for the Michigan Sire Stakes, meaning this will be his only stakes opportunity as a juvenile during the Hazel Park meet.