The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Dover Downs.
This Week: Matron Stakes, Bally’s Dover, Dover, Delaware.
Schedule Of Events: The Grand Circuit returns to Dover this week for the Matron Stakes for two-year-olds. The $116,100 USD two-year-old filly trot will be contested on Monday, Nov. 11. The $133,100 USD two-year-old filly pace will be raced on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The Thursday, Nov. 14 program will feature the $145,000 USD (est.) two-year-old colt pace. The Matron for two-year-old trotting colts slated for Tuesday, Nov. 12 did not fill.
Complete entries for the races are available at ustrotting.com.
Last Time: Odds-on favourite and millionaire Maryland stayed resolute under an intense far-turn blitz and emerged a 1:53.4 winner in the $240,694 Kindergarten Series final for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings, one of four Kindergarten finals contested on Saturday, Nov. 9 at The Meadowlands. To read the complete recap, click here.
For a list of 2024 race winners on the Grand Circuit, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2024, 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 Farm is the sponsor for the 2024 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on Nov. 9, 2024):
Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 1,767; 2. Yannick Gingras – 962.5; 3. David Miller – 850; 4. Scott Zeron – 743; 5. Todd McCarthy – 717.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,302; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 971; 3. Marcus Melander – 620; 4. Nancy Takter – 609; 5. Noel Daley – 429.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 304.7; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 249.3; 3. Determination – 237; 4. Ake Svanstedt Inc. – 207.2; 5. Caviart Farms – 162.1.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at The Meadowlands and Bally’s Dover. The Meadowlands will feature eliminations for the Fall Four stakes for two-year-old pacers and trotters. Dover will host the Progress Pace eliminations for three-year-old open pacers.
(With files from Grand Circuit)