The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Graduate Series fourth leg, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J., and Ben Franklin Pace, Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, Max C. Hempt Memorial and James M. Lynch Memorial eliminations, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action opens this week on Friday (June 21) at The Meadowlands with two $50,000 divisions in the fourth leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old open trotters.
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will host four sets of stakes eliminations on Saturday (June 22). There will be two $35,000 eliminations in the Ben Franklin for older pacers; a pair of $25,000 eliminations in the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for three-year-old trotters; three $25,000 eliminations in the Max C. Hempt Memorial for three-year-old male pacers; and three $20,000 eliminations in the James M. Lynch Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers.
Last time: Captain Crunch delivered a stunning Canadian record 1:47.2 performance to win the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday night (June 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Complete recaps of the weekend races are available 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 – 305; 2. Yannick Gingras – 157; 3. Jason Bartlett – 154; 4. Scott Zeron – 127; 5. Dexter Dunn – 124.
Trainers: 1. Jim King Jr. – 189; 2. Ron Burke – 187; 3. Tony Alagna – 106; 4. Rene Allard – 77; 5. Richard Banca – 71.
Owners: 1. Jo Ann Looney-King – 68.6; 2. Tim Tetrick LLC – 65.1; 3. Richard Poillucci – 55.1; 4. Brad Grant – 54.3; 5. J L Benson Stables – 53.2.
Looking ahead: Next weekend Grand Circuit action will be taking place at four different tracks. Pocono will have the finals for the Ben Franklin (older pacers), Earl Beal Jr. Memorial (three-year-old trotters), Max Hempt Memorial (three-year-old male pacers) and James Lynch (three-year-old filly pacers); Northfield Park will host the Cleveland Trotting Classic for older trotters; Tioga Downs will offer Tompkins-Geers stakes for three-year-old colt and filly pacers; and The Meadowlands will feature the fourth leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old open pacers.
(With files from the Grand Circuit)