Spotlight On The Grand Circuit
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The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Yonkers Raceway, Meadowlands Racetrack and The Meadows.
This Week: MGM Yonkers Trot and MGM Grand Messenger eliminations, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York; Graduate Series leg, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey; and Currier & Ives three-year-old filly trot, The Meadows, Washington, Pennsylvania.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit weekend kicks off on Friday (June 24) at Yonkers Raceway, with a pair of $40,000 eliminations in the MGM Yonkers Trot, the first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown for three-year-olds, and a pair of $40,000 eliminations in the MGM Grand Messenger, the first leg of the Pacing Triple Crown for three-year-olds.
Grand Circuit racing shifts to The Meadowlands on Saturday (June 25) for the third leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers and trotters. There will be a pair of $50,000 divisions in both the Open Pace and Open Trot, and single $40,000 divisions in both the Mare Pace and Mare Trot.
Also on Saturday, The Meadows will host the $57,335 Currier & Ives for three-year-old filly trotters.
Entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.
Last Time: Odds-on favourite Pebble Beach sailed for the lead midrace and soared to shore to post a 1:50 tour of force in winning the 39th edition of the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday (June 18) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. For complete recaps and replays, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2022, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2022 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on June 18, 2022):
Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 197; 2. Jordan Stratton – 171; 3. Yannick Gingras – 162; 4. Tim Tetrick – 142; 5. Jason Bartlett – 126.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 217; 2. Brett Pelling – 97; 3t. Ake Svanstedt – 77; 3t. Tony Alagna – 77; 5. Jen Bongiorno – 67.
Owners: 1. Jesmeral Stable – 62; 2. Mark Ford – 60; 3. The OK Corral – 57; 4. Hot Lead Farm – 45; 5. Team Tritton Inc. – 40.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Yonkers Raceway, The Meadowlands, Hoosier Park and Goshen Historic Track. Yonkers will have the finals for the MGM Yonkers Trot for three-year-old open trotters and the MGM Grand Messenger for three-year-old open pacers, as well as the Park MGM Pace and NY-NY Mile for sophomore fillies. The Meadowlands will feature four events for the older set, the Roll With Joe for open pacers, the Crawford Farms for open trotters, the Perfect Sting for pacing mares and the Six Pack for trotting mares, plus Reynolds Memorial races for three-year-old colt and filly trotters. Hoosier will host the Nadia Lobell for three-year-old filly pacers. Goshen Historic Track will card eight Landmark Stakes events for two- and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.
(With files from Grand Circuit)