The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Yonkers Raceway.
This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series finals and consolations, 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 on Monday, April 22 features the $457,000 USD MGM Borgata final and a $100,000 USD consolation in the event for open pacers and the $276,200 USD Blue Chip Matchmaker final and $100,000 USD consolation in the event for open pacing mares.
Complete entries for the races can be found on the United States Trotting Association's website by clicking here.
Last Time: Linedrive Hanover posted his third win in the prelims, while driver Jason Bartlett had a double with a pair of first-time victors in the three $68,493 divisions of the final round of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night, April 15 at MGM Yonkers Raceway. To read the complete recap, click here.
Quebec-owned Lit De Rose stamped herself as the one to beat in the 2024 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series as she earned her third win of the preliminary legs on Friday, April 12 at MGM Yonkers Raceway. The nine-year-old millionaire daughter of Leader Bayama won her $54,054 division in 1:53.2 for trainer/driver Patrick Lachance. To read the complete recap, click here.
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 4-15-24):
Drivers: 1. Matt Kakaley – 90; 2. Yannick Gingras – 74.5; 3. Jason Bartlett – 56.5; 4. George Brennan – 54; 5. Jordan Stratton – 53.
Trainers: 1. Travis Alexander – 75; 2. Cory Stratton – 48; 3. Michael Burke – 42.5; 4. Jeff Gillis – 42; 5. Per Engblom –40.5.
Owners: 1. Mark Ford – 42; 2. Kathy Cecchin – 40; 3. Guy Corbeil – 37; 4. Betty Clegg – 24; 5. Larry Stalbaum – 22.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will be held at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, April 27 with the $40,000 USD (estimated) eliminations in the Dexter Cup for three-year-old open trotters.
(Grand Circuit)