The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Currier & Ives filly division, the Meadows, Washington, Pa; Armbro Flight, Goodtimes, North America Cup, Fan Hanover and Roses Are Red eliminations, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ont.; Charlie Hill Memorial, Scioto Downs, Columbus, Ohio; and the Hanover Stakes (three-year-old colt and filly trot), Balmoral Park, Crete, Ill.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit will take place at four locations this week. Action will begin on Wednesday (June 4) at the Meadows with three divisions in the $93,860 Currier & Ives for three-year-old filly trotters.
Mohawk Racetrack will host Grand Circuit racing on Friday (June 6) with two $35,000 eliminations in the Armbro Flight for trotting mares and two $30,000 eliminations in the Goodtimes for three-year-old trotting colts. The Saturday (June 7) card at Mohawk features a trio of $50,000 eliminations for the North America Cup for three-year-old pacing colts and two $35,000 eliminations in the Roses Are Red for pacing mares and the Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Scioto Downs will offer its second Grand Circuit stakes event of the season on Saturday, with the $200,000 Charlie Hill Memorial for Open trotters, while Balmoral Park will host a pair of Grand Circuit events on Saturday with the $35,000 (est.) Hanover Stake for three-year-old colt trotters and the $35,000 (est.) Hanover Stake for 3-year-old filly trotters.
Last time: Last weekend’s Grand Circuit action was highlighted by the Molson Pace for older pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District, the Art Rooney at Yonkers Raceway and the Roll With Joe at Tioga Downs.
In one of the most exciting editions of The Raceway at Western Fair District’s signature race, the $138,000 Molson Pace, last year’s winner, State Treasurer, defended his title despite a terrible start and an inquiry on May 30 at the London half-mile track.
Driver Chris Christoforou had State Treasurer three wide down the backside and picked up the cover of Apprentice Hanover and Jody Jamieson heading into the stretch. It was a great race to the finish with State Treasurer getting up on the outside to win by a neck in 1:51.4. Apprentice Hanover was a close second followed by the always game Foiled Again, just a half-length back in third.
The winning connections, trainer Dr. Ian Moore and owners Sally MacDonald and Paul MacDonald, had to wait out an inquiry regarding the start before the race was declared official.
“I sweated a little bit last year, too, but this is a little different this year,” noted Moore. “He’s a real good little horse, he tries his heart out and he showed that tonight for sure.”
Odds-on favourite All Bets Off (driven by Matt Kakaley, and who returned $2.60 to Win) was both anxious and effective on May 31, winning the $300,000 final of Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings.
All Bets Off collared leader Maxi Bon early in the lane, then held off a rallying Some Playa by one and a half lengths in 1:52.2. Maxi Bon held third.
All Bets Off, a son of Bettors Delight-Armbro Penelope that is co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Frank Baldachino, Panhellenic Stables and Rosemary Shelswell, is now three-for-four this season with earnings of $180,250.
“Oh, yeah, I was worried,” Kakaley said. “I thought giving up the lead (to Stevensville) was the right thing to do. Then I saw Danny’s (driver Dan Dube, with Maxi Bon) coming fast and I knew I was in trouble. I was lucky to get out. If I don’t, I’m shuffled out, and probably last.
“He’s (All Bets Off) handy enough for the half-mile, but I think he can carry his speed to bigger tracks, too. Every start (All Bets Off) has been on his toes. Give Ronnie (Burke) and his crew an ‘A-plus.’ I’m just fortunate to have the drive.”
Utilizing a powerful push clear in the far turn, Sweet Lou could not be caught in the $160,000 Roll With Joe Open Pace at Tioga Downs on June 1, turning in an impressive 1:48.3 victory.
The five-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser floated forward to track Bolt The Duer in the early stages, brushing to the front after a :26.2 first quarter and keeping the pace solid en route to a :53.4 half-mile. On the backstretch, Ron Pierce pushed clear with Sweet Lou, putting four lengths on the field in a :26.3 third quarter.
Approaching the final 200 yards, it seemed the pace may have been too taxing, as Sweet Lou was all-out through the stretch and Heston Blue Chip found room to chase after being locked in. Sweet Lou dug in late, staving off Heston Blue Chip to prevail by one and three-quarter lengths. Bolt The Duer stayed on to be third.
Ron Burke trains Sweet Lou for the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC, Larry Karr, and Phil Collura.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2014, 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 2014 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend.
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 291; 2. Tim Tetrick – 255; 3. George Brennan – 164.5; 4. Ron Pierce - 143: 5. Brian Sears – 121.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 485.5; 2. PJ Fraley – 155; 3. Joe Holloway – 117; 4. Jimmy Takter – 95; 5. Julie Miller- 80.
Owners: 1. Bamond Racing – 128.5; 2. Burke Racing - 111.05; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 103.55; 4. 3 Brothers Stable – 60; 5. Brad Grant – 49.5.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place at Mohawk and the Meadowlands next weekend. Mohawk will host its five stakes finals, led by the $1 million North America Cup, on Saturday night (June 14), while the Meadowlands will card the Meadowlands Maturity for four-year-old Open pacers and a leg of the TVG Free For All series for open trotters on Friday (June 13).
(Grand Circuit)