The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.

This Week: Review Stakes, Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Ill.; Fox Stake, the Ralph Wilfong, the Horseman Stakes and the Hoosier Stakes, Indiana State Fair, Indianapolis, Ind.; Historic-Acorn, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Chester, Pa.; Gold Cup and Saucer final, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino, Charlottetown, PEI; Joe Gerrity final, Saratoga Casino and Raceway, Saratoga Springs, NY.; Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ont.; and Battle of the Brandywine, the Colonial and the Valley Forge, Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Schedule of events: An extremely busy week of Grand Circuit action kicks off on Monday (Aug. 12) at the Illinois State Fair with the $43,000 Review Stake for two-year-old trotters, the $26,500 Review Stake for two-year-old filly pacers and the $20,000 Review Stake for two-year-old colt pacers. The Tuesday (Aug. 13) program features the $30,500 Review Stake for three-year-old pacers and the $20,500 Review Stake for three-year-old trotters.

The Indiana State Fair will host one day of Grand Circuit racing on Wednesday (Aug. 14) with the feature being the $45,738 Fox Stake for two-year-old colt pacers. The co-featured event is the $37,339 Ralph Wilfong for two-year-old colt trotters. The Hoosier Stakes for two-year-olds will see two divisions in both the $26,572 2-year-old colt trot and the $24,184 two-year-old filly trot and single divisions in the $22,942 2-year-old colt pace and $22,095 two-year-old filly pace. The Horseman Stakes for three-year-olds features single divisions in the $31,639 three-year-old colt trot, the $29,384 three-year-old filly pace, the $26,854 three-year-old colt pace and the $22,784 three-year-old filly trot.

Also on Wednesday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, there will be four divisions in the $99,824 Historic-Acorn for two-year-old filly trotters.

Then on the weekend, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino will host the C$60,000 (est.) Gold Cup and Saucer for older pacers on Saturday (Aug. 17) and a C$20,000 (est.) consolation on Friday (Aug. 16).

Pocono Downs will host the Grand Circuit 'Super Stakes Saturday' event on Saturday (Aug. 17). Featured are the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine for three-year-old open pacers, the $500,000 Colonial for three-year-old open trotters, and the $350,000 Valley Forge for three-year-old filly pacers. Each of these races will also offer a pair of lucrative consolations.

Also on Saturday, Saratoga Casino and Raceway will feature the $270,000 (est.) final of the Joe Gerrity for open pacers and Mohawk Racetrack will contest the C$250,000 (est.) Nassagaweya for two-year-old colt pacers and the C$200,000 (est.) Eternal Camnation for two-year-old filly pacers.

Last time: Ken Klein, Old Block Stables, Steve Elliott and the Estate of Angelo Frassetto’s Exodus Hanover (Andover Hall-Exotic Destination) won the fastest of three $32,441 divisions of the Historic-Harriman Cup for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 7) at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Exodus Hanover, driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Steve Elliott, grabbed the lead before the half and went on to win in 1:57.2, defeating Chocolate Day and Explosive Cash.

The opening split was won by Andy Miller Stables and Black Horse Racing’s Sumatra (Muscles Yankee-Lola Seelster), who Miller drove to a 1:58.1 win over Amped Up Hanover and Gangio and the middle division went to Jeff and Mike Snyder and Mark Silva’s Cherry Hill Park (Muscle Hill-Pick Me Up), who made a late-mile move for driver Corey Callahan and won in 1:59.1 over Dominum Deo and Hot Type.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2013, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will 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). Hanover Shoe Farms is the sponsor for the 2013 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 844; 2. Tim Tetrick – 662; 3. David Miller - 470; 4. Brian Sears – 378.5; and 5. Andy Miller – 353.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 855.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 464.5; 3. Linda Toscano – 331.5; 4. Ray Schnittker – 214; and 5. Julie Miller – 177.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 186.75; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 171.55; 3. Frank Bellino – 103.5; 4. Our Horse Cents Stable – 98.1; and 5. Brittany Farms – 97.85.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week on Aug. 21 at Hoosier Park with the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake for two-year-old filly trotters; on Aug. 24 at Mohawk Racetrack with eliminations in the Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers, the Metro for two-year-old colt pacers and the Shes A Great Lady for two-year-old filly pacers; on Aug. 25 at Tioga Downs with eliminations for the Cane Pace for three-year-olds, a leg of the Miss Versatility for older trotting mares and legs of the Kindergarten for two-year-old colt and filly trotters; and on Aug. 25 at Vernon Downs with the Zweig Memorial for three-year-old colt trotters and the companion event for three-year-old filly trotters.

(Grand Circuit)