The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: TVG FFA Series legs, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J. and Progress Pace elimination, Dover Downs, Dover, Del.
Schedule of events: Meadowlands Racetrack will unveil its new grandstand this Saturday with a card featuring the final preliminary legs of the TVG series for older pacers and trotters. Eliminations were also scheduled in the Governor’s Cup for two-year-old colt pacers, the Three Diamonds for two-year-old filly pacers, the Valley Victory for two-year-old colt trotters and the Goldsmith Maid for two-year-old filly trotters, but will not be required. Those races will go directly to their lucrative finals on Nov. 30.
On Sunday night (Nov. 24), Dover Downs will feature a $35,000 elimination in the Progress Pace for three-year-old male pacers. The top eight pacers in the nine horse elimination will advance to the $330,000 (est.) Progress Pace final on Dec. 1.
Last time: Eight Matron Stakes finals were featured on the Sunday (Nov. 17) program at Dover Downs. The biggest night in Delaware harness racing history featured multiple track records in the Matron events with more than $1.32-million in purses at stake.
Among the horses setting a track record was three-year-old filly pacer Shebestingin, who scored in 1:49.1, besting Ms Caila J Fra (driven by Andy Miller) to the wire in a final quarter of :27.4. Joe Holloway trains the Bettors Delight-Armbro Tussle filly for Ted Gewertz, L&L DeVisser and Val D’or Farms. She won for the 11th time this season and has earned $554,876.
Matt Kakaley moved All Bets Off into the lead after a :26.1 opening quarter and was never headed, collecting a 1:50 triumph in the $154,575 Matron two-year-old colt pace final, breaking the former track mark of 1:50.4 shared by Heston Blue Chip and If I Can Dream. Ron Burke trains the winner for Frank Baldachino, Rosemary Shelswell, The Panhellenic Stable and Burke Racing Stable.
Nuncio knocked two seconds off Explosive Matter's freshman track mark of 1:55 with a powerful 1:53 decision in the $166,650 two-year-old male trot. John Campbell was at the controls as the Andover Hall-Nicole Isabelle youngster record his fifth victory in nine starts. Scott Andrews conditions the winner for Stall TZ Inc.
Maywood Park hosted four Grand Circuit stakes on their Friday night (Nov. 15) card and Word Power did all the talking in the Windy City Pace, coming up the inside lane to capture Maywood’s premiere event in 1:51.4.
Scott Zeron steered the three-year-old son of Western Ideal-Lush Limbaugh for trainer Larry Remmen and owner Brad Grant. Unraced at two, Word Power pushed his career earnings to $375,804 in securing his seventh lifetime victory in 17 trips postward. Lucan Hanover picked up second-place money, while Apprentice Hanover held on for show honours.
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 – 1,772; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,523; 3. David Miller – 1,123; 4. Brian Sears – 701.5; and 5. Ron Pierce – 672.5.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,706.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,131.5; 3. Linda Toscano – 493.5; 4. Tony Alagna – 466; and 5. Jonas Czernyson – 447.5.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 388.5; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 364.05; 3. Frank Bellino – 268.5; 4. Brittany Farms – 263.05; and 5. WJ Donovan – 242.75.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will once again take place next weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack and Dover Downs. The Meadowlands will host eight stakes, the TVG FFA Series finals for trotters and pacers; the Governor’s Cup, Valley Victory, Three Diamonds and Goldsmith Maid for two-year-olds; the Moni Maker for three-year-old filly trotters; and the Nadia Lobell for three-year-old filly pacers. Dover will host the final in the Progress Pace for three-year-old pacing colts.
(Grand Circuit)