The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly story recapping and previewing Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Breeders Crown finals, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit will be at Meadowlands Racetrack this Friday (Nov. 21) and Saturday (Nov. 22) for 12 Breeders Crown championships.
The Friday card features four of the Breeders Crown events: the $593,750 Three-Year-Old Filly Pace, the $500,000 Three-Year-Old Filly Trot, the $500,000 Two-Year-Old Filly Trot and the $250,000 Mare Trot.
The Saturday card offers eight Breeders Crown races: the $531,250 Three-Year-Old Colt Pace, the $500,000 Open Trot, the $500,000 Three-Year-Old Colt Trot, the $500,000 Two-Year-Old Colt Trot, the $500,000 Two-Year-Old Colt Pace, the $500,000 Two-Year-Old Filly Pace, the $400,000 Open Pace and the $281,250 Mare Pace.
Last time: Seven classes competed in Breeders Crown eliminations this past weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights:
On Friday, JK Shesalady stretched her unbeaten streak to 11 with new driver Tim Tetrick, winning a $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for two-year-old filly pacers in 1:51.1. JK Shesalady did it the hard way, with a prolonged first-over grind. She faced Sassa Hanover in the stretch, than pulled away to a two and three-quarter-length victory.
Colors A Virgin captured her three-year-old filly pace Breeders Crown elimination, finishing in 1:51, one and a half lengths ahead of second-place finisher Precocious Beauty. Colors A Virgin extended her winning streak to seven with the victory. The Jugette winner is coming into the final in top form following this first-over victory with Trace Tetrick in the sulky.
On Saturday at the Meadowlands, the Breeders Crown eliminations continued with Maven and driver Yannick Gingras finishing on top in a $25,000 Open Trot elimination race in 1:52.2. Maven was the only mare in the race, starting from Post 10 to win by a neck over Your So Vain and driver Ake Svanstedt. Maven, who was purchased for $750,000 earlier this month at the Standardbred Mixed Sale, was making her first start for new owner Herb Liverman and trainer Jimmy Takter.
Always B Miki ran his winning streak to five as he and driver David Miller captured their $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination race on Saturday at the Meadowlands, finishing in 1:50. This win means that Always B Miki has earned a chance to win back his $62,500 supplement fee this Saturday in the $531,250 final. JK Endofanera and driver Ron Pierce moved to the lead early but ended up finishing second, a neck behind Always B Miki.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2014, 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 2014 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend.
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 2,157; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,127; 3. David Miller – 988.5; 4. Ron Pierce – 797.5; 5. Corey Callahan – 642.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 2,345.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,828; 3. Erv Miller – 446.5; 4. Joe Holloway – 406; 5. Tony Alagna – 332.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 514.23; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 464.23; 3. 3 Brothers Stable – 332; 4. Brittany Farms – 294.45; 5. Robert Key – 272.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will once again take place next week at Meadowlands Racetrack with the TVG Series championships for older pacers and trotters, while Dover Downs will host eliminations in the Progress Pace for three-year-old male pacers.
(Grand Circuit)