The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Yonkers Raceway.
This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series fifth 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 three $40,000 divisions on Friday, April 14 in the fifth and final round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday, April 17 card at Yonkers will have three $50,000 divisions in the fifth and final round of the MGM Borgata Pacing series for open pacers.
The top horses by points in the five preliminary rounds will be eligible for the finales, both set for Monday, April 24.
Complete entries for the races can be found on the USTA website.
Last Time: Backstreet Shadow's 1:49.3 triumph in the first of three $50,000 flights of the fourth round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 10) at MGM Yonkers Raceway gave the venerable campaigner a share of the all-age track record. Click here to read the complete recap.
Kicking off the fourth leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series, the Quebec-owned mare Lit De Rose and driver/trainer Patrick Lachance rallied boldly to get up in the final stride and win the fastest of the three $40,000 divisions on Friday night (April 7) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Click here to read the complete recap.
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 April 10, 2023):
Drivers: 1. Matt Kakaley – 81; 2. Yannick Gingras – 67; 3. Jordan Stratton – 58; 4. Dexter Dunn – 36; 5. Scott Zeron – 35.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 52; 2. Travis Alexander – 50; 3. Jeff Gillis – 47; 4. Linda Toscano – 40; 5. Shane Tritton – 34.
Owners: 1. Mark Ford – 43; 2. Robert Di Nozzi – 30; 3t. Team Tritton Inc. – 25; 3t. The OK Corral – 25; 5. 1362313 Ontario Ltd. – 20.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with the finals of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata on April 24.
(With files from The Grand Circuit)