The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at tracks in Massachusetts and New Jersey.
This Week: Dexter Cup and Lady Suffolk, Freehold Raceway, Freehold, N.J.; Paul Revere Pace, Plainridge Park, Plainville, Mass.; and Miss Versatility Series opening leg, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.
Schedule of Events: Grand Circuit action begins Thursday, May 2 at Plainridge Park with the $100,000 Paul Revere Pace for three-year-old pacing males.
Freehold Raceway will host Grand Circuit stakes on Saturday, May 4 with the $134,900 Dexter Cup for three-year-old male trotters and two divisions in the $64,576 Lady Suffolk for three-year-old filly trotters.
Also on Saturday, The Meadowlands has a $40,000 first leg division in the Miss Versatility Series for open trotting mares.
Complete entries for the races can be found on the U.S. Trotting Association website.
Last Time: Hellabalou joined a select list of horses to win the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final in back-to-back seasons at Yonkers Raceway by taking Monday night's (April 22) $626,027 championship, while Canadian-bred and owned Lit De Rose took the $378,356 Blue Chip Matchmaker final for the ladies. Click here to read the complete recap.
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 April 22, 2024):
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 109.5; 2. Matt Kakaley – 107; 3. Jason Bartlett – 81.5; 4. George Brennan – 59; 5. Jordan Stratton – 55.
Trainers: 1. Travis Alexander – 82; 2. Ricky Bucci – 52; 3. Per Engblom – 50.5; 4. Cory Stratton – 50; 5. Pat Lachance – 47.
Owners: 1. Guy Corbeil – 57; 2. Kathy Cecchin – 45; 3. Mark Ford – 42; 4. Flatland Racing – 30; 5. Betty Clegg – 24.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place at Plainridge Park on May 16 with the Battle of Bunker Hill Trot and at The Meadowlands on May 18 with the Arthur Cutler Memorial for older trotters.
(Grand Circuit)