The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly story that recaps and previews Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Arthur Cutler Memorial, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, NJ 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: The Grand Circuit spotlight will shine on Meadowlands Racetrack on Friday (June 24) with the $200,000 Arthur Cutler Memorial for older trotters. A field of seven will head to post for Race 7.
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will host four sets of Sun Stakes eliminations on Saturday (June 25). There will be three eliminations in the Ben Franklin for older pacers and a pair of eliminations in the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for three-year-old trotters, the Max C. Hempt Memorial for three-year-old pacers and the James M. Lynch Memorial for three-year-old filly pacers.
Last time: Last weekend’s Grand Circuit action was highlighted by the $780,000 Pepsi North America Cup for three-year-old pacers at Mohawk Racetrack.
Betting Line, driven by David Miller, demonstrated his off-the-pace talent by flying from fifth to first to win the North America Cup on Saturday (June 18) by one length in a stakes, track and Canadian record equalling score of 1:47.4.
The stakes record was originally set at Mohawk by Thinking Out Loud in 2012. Betting Line’s win in the 33rd edition of the Cup is also the 19th time that an elimination winner has also won the final. With the win, trainer Casie Coleman, who just celebrated her 36th birthday, earned her second career North America Cup title.
“This was all I wanted for my birthday and Betting Line made it come true,” said the Cambridge, Ontario resident, who won her first Cup in 2010 with Sportswriter.
Betting Line, the even-money favourite, settled into fifth while driver Randy Waples marched Control The Moment off the gate from Post 9 towards the front. The Brad Maxwell trainee made the front ahead of Racing Hill to post a :26.4 opening quarter.
Heading to the half, driver Sylvain Filion took a shot at the lead with Lyons Snyder from third, but Waples kept the tempo hot and parked the first-over challenger to the half in :53.4.
Around the final turn, Lyons Snyder began to fade away first-up while Control The Moment continued to power along on the lead. Racing Hill circled around the tiring Lyons Snyder as Betting Line was moving up into the action on the outside from fifth.
After a three-quarter clocking of 1:20.3, Control The Moment brought the field into the lane with a pair of challengers ready to battle. Racing Hill overtook the lead with less than an eighth of a mile to go, but Betting Line was in striking range pacing powerful strides just a few lengths back. Betting Line surged by Racing Hill in deep stretch to win. Control The Moment faded to third.
The son of Bettors Delight-Heathers Western notched his 10th victory in 17 career outings and lifted his lifetime purse earnings to $863,280 for owners West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol.
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 current leaders:
Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 191.5; 2. Yannick Gingras – 152; 3. David Miller – 141; 4. Tim Tetrick – 136; 5. Daniel Dube – 120.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 218; 2. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 170; 3. Peter Tritton – 139.5; 4. Rene Allard – 125; 5. Clyde Francis - 92.5.
Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch - 139.5; 2. Bamond Racing – 112; 3. Burke Racing Stable – 63.85; 4. Weaver Bruscemi – 58.85; 5t. George Teague Jr. Inc. – 46.25; 5t. Teague Racing Partnerships – 46.25.
Looking ahead: Next weekend's Grand Circuit action will be taking place at five different tracks. Pocono will have the finals for the Ben Franklin (older pacers), Earl Beal Memorial (three-year-old trotters), Max Hempt Memorial (three-year-old pacers) and James Lynch (three-year-old filly pacers); Northfield Park will host the Cleveland Trotting Classic for older trotters; Mohawk will host a leg of the Miss Versatility for older trotting mares; Tioga Downs will offer Tompkins-Geers stakes for three-year-old colt and filly trotters; and Historic Track will feature Landmark Stakes for two and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.
(Grand Circuit)