The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Yonkers Raceway.
This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing Series second legs, MGM Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York. This is the opening event of the 2024 Grand Circuit season.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features three $40,000 USD divisions on Friday, March 22 in the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for open pacing mares. The Monday, March 25 card at Yonkers will have four $50,000 USD divisions in the second round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for open pacers.
Each series offers five preliminary rounds leading to the finales, both set for Monday, April 22.
Complete entries for the races can be found on the U.S. Trotting Association website.
Last Time: Desperate Man, the 2021 Horse of the Year in Canada, took the first of four $67,568 flights of the opening leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for older horses and geldings on Monday night, March 18 at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Also taking victories were Rocknroll Runa A, Covered Bridge and Linedrive Hanover. Click here for a full recap.
Lit De Rose and driver Scott Zeron converted on a pocket trip to victory in the first of three $54,054 divisions in the first leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night, March 15. Click here for a full recap.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2024, 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 2024 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on March 18, 2024):
Drivers: 1t. Yannick Gingras – 25; 1t. Scott Zeron – 25; 3. Jordan Stratton – 17; 4. Matt Kakaley – 12; 5t. Mark MacDonald – 10; 5t. Andrew McCarthy – 10.
Trainers: 1t. Michael Burke – 15; 1t. Per Engblom – 15; 1t. Jeff Gillis – 15; 1t. Cory Stratton – 15; 1t. Linda Toscano – 15.
Owners: 1. Mark Ford – 15; 2t. Kathy Cecchin – 10; 2t. Guy Corbeil – 10; 2t. Larry Stalbaum – 10.
Looking Ahead: After this weekend, Grand Circuit action will continue with legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata over the next three weeks. The finals for both events will be held on April 22.
(Grand Circuit)