The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly story that recaps and previews Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Confederation Cup, Flamboro Downs, Dundas, Ontario.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit will visit Flamboro Downs on Sunday and will feature the $244,000 Confederation Cup for four-year-old pacers. U.S. Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit headlines the field of nine and will start from the second tier in Post 9. The George Teague stable star is by far the richest horse in the field with $2.3 million in earnings.
Last time: Ake Svanstedt says Dante possesses the ability to cover short distances extremely quickly. On Saturday (May 7), the colt used that skill to win the $140,800 Dexter Cup at Freehold Raceway.
Starting from Post 7, Dante and trainer-driver Svanstedt blazed to the front prior to the first turn and coasted from there, winning the Dexter Cup by one and three-quarter lengths over Cufflink Hanover. Credevie finished third. The time for the mile was 1:59.4 over a track labelled ‘good.’ Dante, part of the favoured entry with Dominion Beach, paid $4.20 to win.
Dante benefited from several horses – including Dominion Beach – going off stride in the first turn, which enabled Svanstedt and his horse to separate from the field by several lengths. Dominion Beach rallied from more than a dozen lengths back, going three wide at the halfway point, to get alongside Dante on the backstretch, but was unable to sustain his drive in the stretch. Dominion Beach finished fifth, beaten by more than four lengths.
Dante, a son of Credit Winner out of the stakes-winning mare Michelles Angel, was purchased as a yearling for $355,000 at the 2014 Lexington Selected Sale. He is a full brother to millionaire Archangel. Svanstedt, trains Dante for owner Anders Strom’s Courant A B stable.
Almost immediately after Resolve crossed the finish line four and a quarter lengths in front of runner-up Bee A Magician in the inaugural $150,000 Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff on Sunday (May 8) at the Meadowlands, his number ‘4’ began to blink on the infield toteboard with the word ‘Inquiry.’
Resolve, driven and trained by two-time Elitlopp champion Ake Svanstedt, had just scorched a field of top-class trotters in 1:51.2, but had clearly gone inside three pylons turning into the stretch. After a lengthy judges’ inquiry, Resolve was disqualified and placed ninth while Bee A Magician was elevated to the victory. Gural Hanover finished third and was placed second while longshot Obrigado was elevated to third.
The victory was the second of the season in two starts for Bee A Magician, a six-year-old daughter of Kadabra-Beehive. Owned by Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee, the Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman trainee has now banked $3,803,615 in her career.
Hannelore Hanover and Solar Sister notched Grand Circuit victories on closing day of the 2016 Miami Valley Raceway meet on Sunday (May 8). The pair of $100,000 races were highlights of the 88th and final program of Miami Valley's third season.
Hannelore Hanover kept her 2016 season perfect in her fifth start by wiring a classy field of North America's best older trotting mares in 1:52.3, a new track record for four-year-old female square-gaiters. Despite facing a full field with lifetime earnings north of $4 million in the $100,000 Miami Valley Distaff, the winning daughter of Indiana sire Swan For All was dispatched as a prohibitive favourite and driver Ricky Macomber Jr. guided her accordingly.
Hannelore Hanover increased her career bankroll to $405,324 with her 14th win in 26 lifetime starts. She is owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and Frank Baldachino.
Solar Sister had to survive a lengthy judge's inquiry before being named the official upset winner of the $100,000 Chip Noble Memorial for the continent's top pacing mares. Although it appeared that Solar Sister and driver Doug McNair may have forced at least one other horse wider when they vacated the pylons down the backstretch, the judges ultimately decided that the confusion was caused by a tiring frontrunner (Lady Shadow) who was simultaneously drifting into the outer flow.
Solar Sister emerged victorious following a thrilling stretch drive that resulted in a three-horse photo finish in 1:51.2. Favorite Yagonnakissmeornot (Daniel Dube), who won the inaugural Noble Memorial in 2014, was parked much of the mile and finished just a head behind, with Purrfect Bags (Victor Kirby) third across the wire, just another head behind in her first seasonal start.
Gregg McNair trains the winning four-year-old daughter of Mach Three for David Willmot and Clay Homer. She now sports 11 career triumphs and $681,387 in earnings.
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:
Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 161.5; 2. Daniel Dube – 115; 3. George Brennan – 96; 4. Jason Bartlett – 90; 5. Tim Tetrick – 69.
Trainers: 1. Peter Tritton – 134.5; 2. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 128; 3. Ron Burke - 123; 4. Rene Allard – 120; 5. Richard Banca - 42.
Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch - 134.5; 2. Bamond Racing – 75; 3. Courant A B - 40; 4. Allard Racing – 39.55; 5. Durazzano Stable – 35.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next weekend at the Meadowlands (Graduate Series first legs for four-year-old pacers and trotters); the Meadows (Currier & Ives races for three-year-old trotters); Northfield Park (Battle of Lake Erie for older pacers); and Yonkers Raceway (Art Rooney and Lismore eliminations for three-year-old pacers).
(Grand Circuit)