The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Red Mile Grand Circuit, the Red Mile, Lexington, Ky.
Schedule of events: The second week of Grand Circuit action at the Red Mile kicks off on Thursday (October 3) with three divisions in the $266,500 International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old filly trotters. The Friday (October 4) card features three divisions in the $260,500 International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old colt trotters and three divisions in the $223,900 International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers. On Saturday (October 5), the Red Mile will offer the $600,000 (est.) Tattersalls Pace for three-year-old colt pacers, the $400,000 (est.) International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old colt pacers and the $350,000 (est.) Glen Garnsey Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers. The week concludes on Sunday (October 6) with the $600,000 (est.) Kentucky Futurity, the third and final leg of trotting’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds, the companion $350,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity for three-year-old filly trotters, a pair of $180,000 (est.) Allerage finals for both open pacers and open trotters, and $75,000 (est.) Allerage races for older pacing mares and older trotting mares.
Last time: The opening week of Grand Circuit racing at the Red Mile featured many memorable moments, including a trio of world records.
Designed To Be was the star of the opening night last Thursday as she won the $96,200 final Bluegrass division in a world record clocking of 1:52.2, breaking the previous mark of 1:52.4 for a freshman trotting filly on a mile track set by Snow White in 2007 at the Red Mile. Bred and owned by Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, the daughter of Donato Hanover-Sheer Soul is trained by Julie Miller and was driven to victory by Andy Miller. The win was the fourth in seven lifetime starts for Designed To Be, who has now earned $286,186.
On Friday night in the $90,100 third and final Bluegrass division for the freshman trotting males, Outburst (Ron Pierce) nailed Southwind Spirit (Yannick Gingras) at the wire in 1:53.1, the fastest race mile ever for a freshman trotting gelding on a mile track. Owned by Adam Victor & Son Stable, Mirva Bogucki, and trainer Noel Daley, the son of Explosive Matter-Exquisite Lady posted his fourth win in seven lifetime efforts, lifting his career earnings to $89,154.
Arch Madness equalled his own world record for an older trotting gelding on a mile track by posting a 1:50.2 score in the $10,000 elimination for the Allerage Farms Open Trot on Sunday afternoon. Owned by Marc Goldberg and Willow Pond LLC, the nine-year-old Balanced Image-Armbro Archer gelding won for just the second time in 14 starts this year, while increasing his 2013 bankroll to $214,827. Trainer Trond Smedshammer was in the bike as Arch Madness won for the 33rd time in his brilliant career. He has earned just shy of $4 million lifetime.
The defending Pacer of the Year, Captaintreacherous, went past the $1.5 million plateau in 2013 earnings when he captured his $95,500 division of the Bluegrass Stakes for three-year-old pacing males on Saturday night. Tim Tetrick was in the bike for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Captaintreacherous Racing as the son of Somebeachsomewhere-Worldly Treasure posted his ninth win in 10 season's starts with a lifetime best 1:47.1 mile. He is now 17 for 20 lifetime with a career bankroll at $2,422,276.
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 – 1,226; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,119; 3. David Miller - 792; 4. Brian Sears - 563.5; and 5. Andy Miller – 555.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,215.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 832.5; 3. Linda Toscano – 438.5; 4. Julie Miller – 314; and 5. Tony Alagna – 299.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 264.3; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 246.6; 3. Frank Bellino – 198.5; 4. Brittany Farms – 187.6; and 5. WJ Donovan – 159.5.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next weekend at Pocono Downs and Balmoral Park. Pocono will host 12 sets of Breeders Crown eliminations for two-year-olds, three-year-olds and older horses of both sexes and gaits. Balmoral will offer Hanover Stakes for two-year-old colt and filly trotters.
(Grand Circuit)