The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at The Meadows and The Meadowlands.
This Week: Delvin Miller Adios, Adioo Volo and Arden Downs, The Meadows, Washington, Pennsylvania; and Hambletonian eliminations, Hambletonian Oaks eliminations, Tompkins-Geers, Kindergarten Series leg and Miss Versatility Series leg, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit week kicks off on Friday, July 28 at The Meadows with three $20,000 divisions of the Arden Downs for two-year-old colt trotters and a pair of $20,000 Arden Downs divisions for two-year-old filly trotters.
The big Saturday, July 29 card at The Meadows features the $350,000 Delvin Miller Adios for three-year-old male pacers. Also on the card will be the $114,770 Adioo Volo for three-year-old filly pacers, two divisions of the $40,696 Arden Downs for two-year-old male pacers, two divisions in the $42,496 Arden Downs for two-year-old filly pacers, two divisions in the $44,654 Arden Downs for three-year-old male trotters and a single $34,505 Arden Downs division for three-year-old filly trotters.
Grand Circuit action at The Meadowlands begins on Friday with three $20,000 divisions in the Kindergarten Series for two-year-old colt pacers and two-year-old colt trotters, and two $20,000 divisions in the Kindergarten Series for two-year-old filly pacers and two-year-old filly trotters.
On Saturday, The Meadowlands has a pair of $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations for three-year-old open trotters, two $40,000 Hambletonian Oaks elimination for three-year-old filly trotters, two divisions in the $66,900 Tompkins-Geers for three-year-old male pacers, two divisions in the $63,700 Tompkins-Geers for three-year-old filly pacers and a $40,000 leg of the Miss Versatility for older trotting mares.
Complete entries for the races can be found on the USTA website.
Last Time: Idealsomemagic A and George Brennan pulled off a 27-1 upset in the $250,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace on Saturday (July 22) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Click here to read a complete recap.
For a list of 2023 race winners on the Grand Circuit, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2023, 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 2023 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on July 23, 2023):
Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 429; 2. Yannick Gingras – 347; 3. Scott Zeron – 326; 4. Tim Tetrick – 269; 5. Jordan Stratton – 229.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 376; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 347; 3. Linda Toscano – 215; 4. Marcus Melander – 172; 5. Nancy Takter – 164.
Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 101.7; 2. Mark Ford – 98; 3. Jorgen Sparredal Inc. – 81.3; 4. Ken Jacobs – 80.5; 5. Burke Racing Stable – 68.6.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at The Meadowlands, led by the finals in the Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks for sophomores. Also on the Aug. 5 card will be the Cane Pace, the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds. A total of eight Grand Circuit stakes will be on that card at The Big M.
(Grand Circuit)