The annual Grand Circuit meeting at the Red Mile commences on Thursday, September 29 with six divisions of the $334,500 Bluegrass Stakes for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters.
Race four gathers six trotters for the first division. Long Tom, a Muscle Hill colt from the Windsongs Legacy mare Ilia, starts from post one for owner Amg Stable Oy and trainer Marcus Melander. He enters off a lifetime-best 1:56.1 effort in a conditioned race at the Meadowlands.
Stormy Kromer also enters off a lifetime-best performance, drawing post six after a 1:58.4 win from first over as the favourite in the $37,547 Ohio Breeders Championship at the Delaware County Fair. He’s owned by Gene Oldford Farms LLC, Wrenn Racing LLC, and Kales Co. LLC.
Division two features another field of six. Signal Hill, who finished seventh in the $266,000 William Wellwood final after a runner up finish in his elimination, competes against Moonshiner Hanover, who finished second in both the $260,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship at Harrah’s Philadelphia and the $32,050 Standardbred Stakes at the Delaware County Fair.
Moonshiner Hanover will start from post two for owner-trainer Chris Beaver along with partners Synerco Ventures Inc. and Bill Manes. Signal Hill races from post five for owners Brittany Farms, David Mc Duffee, Marvin Katz, and Adriano Sorella.
International Moni headlines the third division, attempting to obtain the first win of his career. He ships in off a third-place finish in the William Wellwood Memorial along with Mountain Of Love, who finished eighth following a break at the start. Winless in six starts, International Moni, by Love You out of Moni Maker, has amassed $43,165 in earnings for owner Moni Maker Stable and trainer Frank Antonacci.
The fourth division collects seven trotters. Julie Miller sends Fly On, by Muscle Hill from the Credit Winner mare Calchips Finisher, from post four for his tenth start this season. Winning five of his nine starts and finishing third in his other four starts, he has earned $60,622 this season for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Arden Homestead Stables and Gaitway Stable.
Opposing Fly On is Lars Perry for trainer Jimmy Takter, entering off a break as the 8-5 favourite in a $32,050 division of the Standardbred Stakes at the Delaware County Fair. He’ll race from post seven in pursuit of his first win of the season. He races for owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, Mellby Gard, and Hatfield Stables.
Division five features Peter Haughton champion What The Hill. Sent off the 9-5 favourite in the William Wellwood Memorial, he broke into the last turn, finishing sixth. Winning three of eight starts this season, he has compiled $236,378 in earnings for owners Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, Jerry & Theresa Silva Stables and Deo Volente Farms.
What The Hill races from post six against New Jersey Viking, an Ake Svanstedt-trainee who has won three of six starts this year including a $55,780 division of the Reynolds at Tioga Downs and the $29,000 Harold Dancer Memorial. Also in the mix is Muscles Jared, a George Ducharme-trained son of Muscle Massive who has won four of seven starts this year and exits the $252,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Championship off a fourth-place finish as the 3-5 favourite. New Jersey Viking and Muscles Jared start from posts four and two respectively.
Capping the card and Bluegrass splits is a field of seven highlighted by the Jimmy Takter-trainee King On The Hill. The colt by Muscle Hill from the Viking Kronos mare Lantern Kronos enters from a fourth-place finish in the William Wellwood Memorial. Earning $86,963 over nine starts this year and two wins -- coming in an elimination for the Peter Haughton and a preliminary for the Kindergarten -- King On The Hill will start from post one for owners Christina Takter, Goran Falk, Goran Andberg, and Hatfield Stables.
Thursday’s program is the first of four Grand Circuit cards this week. Friday’s card will feature divisions of the Bluegrass for two-year-old filly trotters. The program on Saturday, October 1 will include divisions of the Bluegrass for two-year-old colt and filly pacers, and Sunday’s card will feature divisions of the Bluegrass for three-year-old colts and fillies of both gaits.
First race post for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday’s cards is 7:00 p.m. Sunday’s card begins the matinee post time of 1:00 p.m, which will carry through the remainder of the meeting.
(with files from The Red Mile)