The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Dover Downs and The Meadowlands.
This Week: Progress Pace eliminations, Bally’s Dover, Dover, Delaware and Fall Four eliminations, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit returns to Dover Downs this Thursday (Nov. 17) for two $35,000 eliminations in the Progress Pace for three-year-old open pacers. A field of 12 will compete for eight spots in the final slated for Nov. 23.
On Saturday night (Nov. 19), Meadowlands Racetrack will host the Fall Four eliminations for freshman pacers and trotters. The Fall Four features a pair of $20,000 eliminations in the Governor’s Cup for two-year-old male pacers, and single $20,000 eliminations in the Valley Victory for two-year-old male trotters and the Three Diamonds for two-year-old filly pacers. Eliminations were not required in the Goldsmith Maid for two-year-old filly trotters. The $1.5 million finals will be held on Nov. 26.
Complete entries for the races are available by clicking here.
Last Time: Fresh off his 1:48.1 triumph in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Pebble Beach reeled off his fourth consecutive win by way of a gritty 1:51.2 score in Thursday’s (Nov. 10) $158,200 Matron Stakes for three-year-old male pacers, named in honour of Hap Hansen, at Bally’s Dover. To read a complete recap, click here.
For a list of 2022 race winners on the Grand Circuit, 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 Nov. 12, 2022):
Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 1,542; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,058; 3. Yannick Gingras – 1,017; 4. Todd McCarthy – 931; 5. David Miller – 894.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,021; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 858; 3. Tony Alagna – 778; 4. Brett Pelling – 534; 5. Marcus Melander – 441.
Owners: 1. David McDuffee – 229.7; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 196; 3. Brad Grant – 188.3; 4. Crawford Farms Racing – 182.3; 5. Caviart Farms – 180.3.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action takes place next week at The Meadowlands and Dover Downs. The Meadowlands will feature four TVG finals for older pacers and trotters and the Fall Four stakes finals for two-year-old pacers and trotters. Dover will host the Progress Pace final for three-year-old open pacers.
(Grand Circuit)