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 2023 Grand Circuit season.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers on Monday, April 24 features the $511,000 MGM Borgata final, a $100,000 consolation and a $50,000 consolation in the event for open pacers, and the $328,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker final and $75,000 consolation in the event for open pacing mares. Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking here.
Last Time: This Is The Plan, Idealsomemagic A, and Covered Bridge emerged victorious from the final leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 17) at MGM Yonkers Raceway. Click here for a complete recap.
Lucky Artist A and driver Braxten Boyd cut lively fractions, then held off a determined bid by Mabalene N to capture the first of three $40,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker divisions at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (April 14). The 10-year-old mare by Artistic Fella scored in a season's-best 1:51.2 in the final qualifying leg of the series. Click here for a complete recap.
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 April 17, 2023):
Drivers: 1. Matt Kakaley – 88; 2. Yannick Gingras – 77; 3. Jordan Stratton – 72; 4t. Dexter Dunn – 46; 4t. Jason Bartlett – 46.
Trainers: 1. Jeff Gillis – 67; 2. Ron Burke – 62; 3. Travis Alexander – 52; 4. Shane Tritton – 41; 5t. Linda Toscano – 40; 5t. Cory Stratton – 40.
Owners: 1. Mark Ford – 63; 2. Robert Di Nozzi – 39; 3. Team Tritton Inc. – 27; 4t. The OK Corral – 25; 4t. Flatland Racing – 25.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will be held at Freehold Raceway on Saturday, April 29 with the $40,000 (est.) eliminations in the Dexter Cup for three-year-old open trotters.
(The Grand Circuit)