The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Dover Downs, Hoosier Park and The Meadowlands.
This Week: Matron Stakes, Bally’s Dover, Dover, Delaware; Carl Erskine, Monument Circle, Crossroads of America and USS Indianapolis, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Indiana; and Kindergarten Series finals, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit heads to Dover this Thursday, Nov. 2 for a pair of Matron Stakes for two-year-olds. The two-year-old colt pace carries a purse of $145,000 and the two-year-old filly trotters will race for $138,000. Events for two-year-old filly pacers and two-year-old colt trotters did not fill.
On Friday night, Nov. 3, Harrah’s Hoosier Park will host the $205,000 Carl Erskine for three-year-old open trotters, the $190,000 Monument Circle for three-year-old colt pacers, the $115,000 Crossroads of America for three-year-old filly trotters and the $105,000 USS Indianapolis for three-year-old filly pacers.
The Meadowlands on Saturday, Nov. 4 will offer the finals of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The two-year-old colt trot carries a purse of $267,500, the two-year-old filly trotters will race for $241,300, the purse for the two-year-old filly pace is $205,900 and the two-year-old colt pacers will race for $179,200.
Complete entries for the races are available on the USTA website.
Last Time: Karl, driven by Yannick Gingras, was at his best Friday night (Oct. 27), winning the $700,000 Breeders Crown for freshman colt and gelding trotters with a track and stakes record 1:51.4 performance at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. To read the complete story and all recaps of the 2023 Breeders Crown championships, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2023, 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 2023 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on Oct. 28, 2023):
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,193; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,100; 3. Dexter Dunn – 1,054; 4. David Miller – 992; 5. Scott Zeron – 905.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,498; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 1,298; 3. Tony Alagna – 595; 4. Nancy Takter – 590; 5. Linda Toscano – 484.
Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 402.6; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 298.1; 3. Hudson Standardbred Stable – 210.8; 4. Weaver Bruscemi – 207.8; 5. Brad Grant – 187.4.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Bally’s Dover as the track will feature the Matron Stakes for three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.
(Grand Circuit)