The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly story that recaps and previews Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Dexter Cup eliminations, Freehold Raceway, Freehold, N.J.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Freehold this week features three $16,000 Dexter Cup eliminations for three-year-old open trotters. A total of 18 horses entered the Dexter Cup, so each elimination will feature six horses. The first two finishers in each elimination will return for the final. The remaining two finalists will be drawn by lot from the three horses finishing third in the eliminations.
Last time: The George Morton Levy Series for open pacers and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for open pacing mares wrapped up this past weekend at Yonkers Raceway.
Odds-on favourite Bit Of A Legend N (driven by Jordan Stratton) was the best Free-For-Aller entering and the best exiting this past Saturday night, as he won the $609,000 final of the Levy.
Bit Of A Legend N, after having won all five of his series prelims, drew Post 2 in the final. He was away third early, behind pole-sitting Take It Back Terry (George Brennan) and that one’s stablemate, All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley). All Bets Off, from Post 5, paid a :27 price for the first lead. Stratton, wanting no part of a three-hole, quickly moved Bit Of A Legend N to the front, finding a :55.2 intermission.
Take It Back Terry then took out of third, trying his luck down the backside the second time, with P H Supercam (Jason Bartlett) happily accepting that one’s tow. However, Take It Back Terry never came close to Bit Of A Legend N who maintained an open lead in and out of a 1:23.1 three-quarters.
The advantage was one and a half lengths entering the lane and Bit Of A Legend N was about to close the sale. All Bets Off ducked in but never threatened as the people’s preference won by a length in a lifetime-best 1:51. Texican N (Yannick Gingras), stablemate of the winner, rallied for third, with P H Supercam and Take It Back Terry earning the minor cash.
For Bit Of A Legend N, a seven-year-old son of Bettors Delight owned by Harry von Knoblauch and trained by Peter Tritton, it was his eighth win in 10 seasonal starts.
Yagonnakissmeornot (Daniel Dube), second-best in this race a season ago, rolled from off the pace Saturday night and won Yonkers Raceway’s $309,800 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker for pacing mares.
Unhurried early from Post 4, Yagonnakissmeornot watched as Krispy Apple (Jason Bartlett) was launched from behind the eight-ball. She was met by Sell A Bit N (Jordan Stratton), with the latter retaking before a :27.1 opening quarter-mile.
Sell A Bit N continued to lead at the :55.3 half as Lady Shadow (Corey Callahan) took out of third. That one moved toward the leader while Yagonnakissmeornot had some ground to make up from second-over. A :27.4 third quarter (1:23.2) did enough to make the leader and challenger a bit susceptible, though Sell A Bit N had one and a half lengths in and out of the final turn. As that was happening, Yagonnakissmeornot was getting the memo and roaring through the lane. She picked off the pacesetter, whipping Sell A Bit N by a pair of going-away lengths in a life best 1:51.4. Sell A Bit N held second, with a third-over Al Raza N (David Miller) third.
For Yagonnakissmeornot , a seven-year-old daughter of The Panderosa co-owned as Allard Racing by trainer Rene Allard. Yves Sarazin and Kapildeo Singh, it was her fourth win in seven seasonal starts.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2016, 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 Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend at Yonkers:
Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 161.5; 2. Daniel Dube – 100; 3. George Brennan – 96; 4. Jason Bartlett – 90; 5. Tim Tetrick – 69.
Trainers: 1. Peter Tritton – 134.5; 2. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 128; 3. Rene Allard – 105; 4. Ron Burke – 93; 5. Richard Banca - 42.
Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch - 134.5; 2. Bamond Racing – 75; 3t. Durazzano Stable – 35; 3t. Allard Racing – 35; 5t. Burke Racing Stable – 25.45; 5t. Weaver Bruscemi – 25.45.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next weekend at Freehold Raceway, Meadowlands Racetrack, Miami Valley Raceway and Flamboro Downs. Freehold has the Lady Suffolk for three-year-old filly trotters and the Dexter Cup for three-year-old open trotters on Saturday (May 7). Meadowlands Racetrack will host the Elitlopp Playoff for older trotters on Sunday (May 8), Miami Valley Raceway will feature the Miami Valley Distaff for older trotting and pacing mares that same day, while Flamboro Downs will host eliminations for the Confederation Cup for four-year-old open pacers as part of their May 8 card.
(Grand Circuit)