The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.
This Week: North America Cup, Fan Hanover, Roses Are Red, Armbro Flight and Goodtimes finals, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ontario.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit spotlight will be on Woodbine Mohawk Park this weekend as the Ontario oval will host five lucrative stakes finals on Saturday night (June 15) led by the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup for three-year-old colt pacers. Also on the card will be the $454,000 Fan Hanover for three-year-old filly pacers, the $330,000 Roses Are Red for older mare pacers, the $256,000 Armbro Flight for older mare trotters and the $247,000 Goodtimes for three-year-old colt trotters.
Last time: None Bettor A ($6.60), a newcomer from Down Under, continues to take the U.S. by storm and won the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie on Saturday (June 8) in 1:49 at Northfield Park. The clocking tied the all-age track record at the Ohio half-mile oval. The victory marked the sixth consecutive sub-1:50 victory for the six-year-old Bettors Delight gelding. For more, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2019, 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 2019 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following this past weekend:
Drivers: 1. Tim Tetrick – 248; 2. Jason Bartlett – 154; 3. Yannick Gingras – 122; 4. Daniel Dube – 111; 5. George Brennan – 110.
Trainers: 1. Jim King Jr. – 169; 2. Ron Burke – 150; 3. Rene Allard – 77; 4. Tony Alagna – 66; 5. Andrew Harris – 64.
Owners: 1. Jo Ann Looney-King – 61.9; 2. Tim Tetrick LLC – 58.4; 3. J L Benson Stables – 53.2; 4. Richard Poillucci – 48.4; 5. Brad Grant – 47.6.
Looking ahead: Next weekend will see Grand Circuit action taking place at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and The Meadowlands. Pocono will host eliminations for the Ben Franklin (older pacers), Earl Beal Jr. Memorial (three-year-old colt trotters), Max Hempt Memorial (three-year-old colt pacers) and James Lynch (three-year-old filly pacers) on Saturday (June 22). The Meadowlands will feature the fourth leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old trotters on Friday (June 21).
(With files from the Grand Circuit)