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 2023 Grand Circuit season.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features four $40,000 divisions on Friday, March 24 in the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday, March 27 card at Yonkers will have four $50,000 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 24.
Complete entries for the races can be found by on the USTA website.
Last Time: Lochinvar Art A, Hellabalou, Leonidas A and Idealsomemagic A emerged victorious from the four $50,000 divisions of the opening round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for free-for-allers on Monday night (March 20) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. To read the complete recap, click here.
The Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for open pacing mares picked up exactly where it left off in 2022, as defending champion Drama Act made a triumphant return, capturing the first of three $40,000 divisions in the first leg of the series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (March 17). To read the complete recap, click here.
For a list of 2023 race winners on the Grand Circuit, 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 March 20, 2023):
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 20; 2. Jordan Stratton – 19; 3. Matt Kakaley – 17; 4t. David Miller – 10; 4t. Lauren Tritton – 10; 4t. George Brennan – 10; 4t. Austin Siegelman – 10.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 20; 2. Cory Stratton – 15; 3t. Linda Toscano – 10; 3t. Matthew Medeiros – 10; 3t. Jared Bako – 10; 3t. Andrew Adamczyk – 10; 3t. Shane Tritton – 10.
Owners: 1t. Jesmeral Stable – 10; 1t. Team Tritton Inc. – 10; 1t. The OK Corral – 10; 4. Mark Ford – 6.
Looking Ahead: 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 24.
(Grand Circuit)