The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly preview for the upcoming weekend's Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Currier & Ives (colt and filly divisions), The Meadows, Washington, Pa.; Armbro Flight, Elegantimage, North America Cup, Fan Hanover and Goodtimes eliminations, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario; and Roll With Joe and Artiscape, Tioga Downs, Nichols, NY.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit will take place at three locations this week.
Action begins on Wednesday (June 5) at The Meadows with three divisions in the $108,000 Currier & Ives for three-year-old filly trotters. Grand Circuit racing will continue at The Meadows on Friday (June 7) with three divisions in the $134,426 Currier & Ives for three-year-old colt trotters.
Mohawk Racetrack will also host Grand Circuit racing on Friday (June 7) with two $35,000 eliminations in both the Armbro Flight for trotting mares and the Elegantimage for three-year-old trotting fillies. The Saturday (June 8) card at Mohawk features a trio of $50,000 eliminations for the North America Cup for three-year-old pacing colts, two $30,000 eliminations in the Goodtimes for three-year-old trotting colts and a single $35,000 elimination in the Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Tioga Downs will host a pair of Grand Circuit events on Sunday (June 9) with the $200,000 (est.) Roll With Joe for open pacers and the $200,000 (est.) Artiscape for pacing mares.
Last time: Last weekend’s Grand Circuit action was highlighted by the Molson Pace for older pacers at The Raceway at the Western Fair District, the Art Rooney and Lismore at Yonkers Raceway, the Golden Girls and TVG FFA series at Meadowlands Racetrack and the Somebeachsomewhere at Mohawk.
State Treasurer was a winner on Friday night (May 31) in the $145,500 Molson Pace in London, Ont. State Treasurer scored for Randy Waples in 1:51.1. Betterthancheddar, who was dying for room down the stretch, took second for George Brennan while Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) had to settle for third.
Doctor Butch (George Brennan) finished what he started Saturday night (June 1), winning Yonkers Raceway's $275,000 final of the Art Rooney Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings. Doctor Butch's final margin was a diminishing half-length over Lonewolf Currier (Brian Sears) in 1:51.2. Third went to Sir Carys Z Tam (Pat Lachance).
Pocket-sitting JK Black Beauty (Brian Sears) took home the ladies loot Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $117,060 Lismore Pace for three-year-old fillies. JK Black Beauty ducked in and went by a tiring leader, winning by a half-length in 1:54.1. Freetime (Jordan Stratton), coupled with Handsoffmycupcake as the Scott DiDomenico-trained 3-2 favoured entry, closed inside for second, with Offintothesunset (Brent Holland) crossing the line third.
Feeling You and Rocklamation won divisions of the $183,400 Golden Girls for pacing mares at Meadowlands Racetrack on Saturday night (June 1).
Feeling You, the 2-1 second choice, edged Anndrovette, the 1-2 favourite, by a nose in the $90,450 first division. Andy Miller drove for trainer Amber Buter as the six-year-old won for the eighth time in 13 starts this season. The time for the mile was a lifetime-best 1:48.4, equalling the stakes record set by Burning Point in 2005.
Rocklamation has a big finishing kick and Yannick Gingras timed it perfectly in the $92,950 second division. Rocklamation got all the money with a powerful :26 final quarter and scored in a time of 1:49.3. Krispy Apple (Andy Miller) rallied for second and Drop The Ball (Corey Callahan) was third.
In the $50,000 TVG Free For All, Fred And Ginger (Ron Pierce) split rivals in deep stretch to win in 1:47.3, the fastest race mile ever by an older pacing horse on a mile track. Sweet Lou (Yannick Gingras) was second by a head with Modern Legend (Andy Miller) a neck back in third.
Vegas Vacation, driven by Scott Zeron, set a new Somebeachsomewhere Stakes record in the $72,750 first split when the talented youngster got under the wire first in 1:48.3. Sweet Talkin Satin (Rick Zeron) finished second, with Tarpon Hanover (Jody Jamieson) third.
In the other $72,750 division, Sunshine Beach, driven by Chris Christoforou, scored at odds of 6-1 in 1:49.2. Varadero Hanover (Jody Jamieson) finished second, with Fool Me Once (Sylvain Filion) third.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2013, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will 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). Hanover Shoe Farms is the sponsor for the 2013 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend:
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 419.5; 2. Tim Tetrick – 256; 3. Brian Sears – 199.5; 4. Andy Miller – 127; and 5. David Miller – 121.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 473.5; 2. PJ Fraley – 108; 3. Linda Toscano – 87; 4. Jimmy Takter – 82.5; and 5. Mark Harder – 78.5.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 95.6; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 92.9; 3. KDM Stables Corp. – 60; 4. Bamond Racing – 59.5; and 5. Our Horse Cents Stable – 54.7.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will again take place at Mohawk and Tioga Downs next weekend. Mohawk will host its five stakes finals, led by the $1 million North America Cup, on Saturday night (June 15), while Tioga has four Historic stakes for three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits on Sunday (June 16).
(Grand Circuit)