This year's North America Cup winner, Nijinsky headlines a trifecta of Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final winners seeking more stakes success as the Grand Circuit heads to Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday, Nov. 1.
Nijinsky (pictured above) is among 10 horses in the $180,000 USD Monument Circle for three-year-old male pacers. The millionaire will leave from post three with Louis-Philippe Roy driving for trainer Anthony Beaton. The son of Bettors Delight-Pirouette Hanover has finished no worse than second in 13 of 14 races this season, winning 10 and earning $1.44 million. The colt’s victories include the North America Cup and Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final. He's 6-5 on the morning line.
Also in the field are Indiana Sire Stakes champion Noblesville, Ohio Sire Stakes champion Clever Cody and Circle City winner Play Action Pass. Noblesville will leave from post two with Chris Page listed to drive for trainer Ron Burke. Clever Cody will start from post 10 in the second tier with Aaron Merriman in the sulky for Dr. Ian Moore while Play Action Pass will leave from post five with Michael Oosting driving for Missy Essig. The Monument Circle is slated for Race 10 on Friday night, and has an illustrious list of champions that includes superstars such as Bulldog Hanover, Always B Miki and Bythemissal along with Indiana standouts such as Freaky Feet Pete, Always A Prince, and last year’s champion, Coach Stefanos.
Burke-trained T C I is among six horses in the $175,000 USD Carl Erskine for three-year-old trotters. The 2023 O'Brien Award-winning colt, who missed by a nose to Sig Sauer in the Breeders Crown, will leave from post three with David Miller in the sulky. The son of Cantab Hall-Nicoles Promise has won six of 12 races this year and earned $693,615 to propel him past the $2 million mark lifetime. T C I is the 1-5 choice.
T C I's main competition comes from two colts with regional success: Gruesome Twosome and Paquet. Gruesome Twosome is undefeated in nine starts at Harrah’s Hoosier Park this season, with his lone four defeats coming against Grand Circuit company out of state. Daryl Bontrager co-owns, trains and drives the son of You Know You Do-All Set Lets Go who rides a four-race win streak into the Erskine. Gruesome Twosome will leave from the rail as the 7-2 second-choice.
On the far outside in the field of six is Ontario Sires Stakes champion, Paquet. The lightly-raced three-year-old rookie son of Muscle Mass-Darjeeling makes his first start since winning the OSS Super Final on Oct. 12 at Mohawk. Jody Jamieson will make the trip south of the border to drive for father, Carl, enlisted as the 9-2 third choice on the morning line.
The $100,000 USD USS Indianapolis Memorial for three-year-old female pacers features Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final champion Odds On Platinum, with the inside post and Roy listed, for Moore and the Burke-trained O'Brien Award winner Pass Line, who will start from post five with David Miller.
Hoosier Park’s card also features the $110,000 USD Crossroads of America for three-year-old female trotters
Racing begins at 6:15 p.m. (EDT) on Friday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. For Friday’s complete entries, click here.
(With files from USTA and Harrah's Hoosier Park)