The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Battle of Lake Erie, Northfield Park, Northfield, Ohio; and Graduate Series second leg and Somebeachsomewhere, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ont.
Schedule of Events: Grand Circuit action will take place on Saturday (June 2) at two venues. Northfield Park will host the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie for open pacers and Woodbine Mohawk Park will feature three $60,000 divisions in the Somebeachsomewhere for three-year-old pacing colts, a pair of $63,500 second leg divisions in the Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers and a single $95,250 race in the second leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old trotters.
Last time: The polls have closed and it’s officially Trump Nation. The colt by that very same name proved quite the best Saturday night (May 26), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $300,000 Art Rooney Pace.
The 28th Rooney saw six three-year-old colts and two geldings start, but seven ended up chasing in vain.
From Post 4, Trump Nation (Jason Bartlett, $6.80) was forwardly placed, as was Babes Dig Me (driven by Brett Miller). The latter made the first lead, before the former played leapfrog. Trump Nation seized the day (night?) just after a :27.3 opening quarter-mile.
Trump Nation, who won the second of last week’s two elimination races, then rated a :29 next subsection (:56.3 half), which would serve him well. Along came 3-5 favourite Springsteen (Brian Sears), first-up from fifth, and the race was underway in earnest. Kwik Talkin (George Brennan) slipped out to race second-over, but gapped badly.
Meanwhile, the leader and his ‘prompter’ rolled through a :26.4 third quarter (1:23.2), with the people’s preference packing it in readily. Trump Nation owned a one and three-quarter-length lead in and out of the final turn. Babes Dig Me edged from the pocket, while Minnie Vinnie had room after sitting third.
However, Trump Nation was up to the challenge, defeating Minnie Vinnie by one and a quarter lengths in 1:51.3 – a life’s best by a good number. Babes Dig Me was clearly third, with 124-1 rank outsider Major Authority (Mark MacDonald) and Decoy (David Miller) rounding out the payees. Kwik Talkin, Springsteen and Jimtastic (Eric Goodell) completed the order.
For second choice Trump Nation, a statebred son of Betterthancheddar co-owned by Evan Katz and Crawford Farms Racing and trained by Chris Oakes, it was his third win in four seasonal starts.
“I couldn’t have asked for the race to work out any better,” Bartlett said. “I was able to back down the half and pick it up when Springsteen came at me. I thought the two outside horses (Babes Dig Me and Decoy) had to leave, and when I saw Brett (Miller, Babes Dig Me), I let him go and retook.
“I have to say that (former trainer) Andrew (Harris) really did the right thing with him last season, wanting to race him from off the pace. He deserves a lot of credit.”
As does the chauffeur, who won his first Rooney Pace in his 11th try.
"It took me long enough,” Bartlett said.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2018, 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 2018 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend.
Drivers: 1. Tim Tetrick – 209; 2. Yannick Gingras – 149; 3. Jason Bartlett – 139; 4. Jordan Stratton - 134; 5. Daniel Dube - 75.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 158; 2. Peter Tritton – 102; 3. Jim King Jr. – 99; 4. Richard Banca – 75; 5. Rene Allard - 70.
Owners: 1. Vonknoblauch Stable - 87; 2. Richard Poillucci - 44; 3t. Burke Racing Stable – 40.3; 3t. Weaver Bruscemi – 40.3; 5. Jo Ann Looney-King – 40.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at the Meadows, Scioto Downs, Woodbine Mohawk Park, and Tioga Downs. The Meadows will card the Currier & Ives for three-year-old trotters of both sexes, Scioto will host the Charlie Hill for open trotters, Mohawk will feature five stakes eliminations, led by the North America Cup for three-year-old male pacers, and Tioga Downs will offer the third leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers and trotters.
(Grand Circuit)