The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Cleveland Classic, Northfield Park, Northfield, Ohio
Schedule of events: Northfield Park will host the final Grand Circuit stakes event of the 2013 season this Saturday night (Dec. 14) when the three-year-old pacing colts take to the track for the $126,000 Cleveland Classic.
Last time: Meadowlands Racetrack featured the $48,878 W.N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes this past Saturday evening, and on this night Twilight Bonfire asserted his class, making a long move to the lead for pilot Tim Tetrick and they scored in a sharp 1:51.4.
Twilight Bonfire was joined by 2012 Breeders Crown freshman champion Rockin Amadeus, who has re-found his form in his last few starts and was a solid second at the finish, just a neck behind the winner. Magic Tricks finished third.
Twilight Bonfire is owned by Bob Key and trained by Paul Reid. The victory was his fourth of the season and lifted his 2013 earnings to $633,242.
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 – 1,862; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,645; 3. David Miller – 1,233; 4. Brian Sears – 781.5; and 5. Ron Pierce – 729.5.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,813.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,221.5; 3. Linda Toscano – 515.5; 4. Jonas Czernyson – 507.5; and 5. Tony Alagna – 471.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 409.45; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 380; 3. Frank Bellino – 268.5; 4. Brittany Farms – 263.05; and 5. WJ Donovan – 244.
Looking ahead: This is the final Grand Circuit stakes event of the 2013 season. The 2014 Grand Circuit schedule will be released in January.
(Grand Circuit)