The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Hambletonian, Hambletonian Oaks, John Cashman Memorial, U.S. Pacing Championship, Lady Liberty, Peter Haughton Memorial, Merrie Annabelle and Kindergarten Series, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.; Hanover Colt Stakes and Hanover Filly Stakes, Balmoral Park, Crete, Ill; and Tompkins-Geers, Tioga Downs, Nichols, N.Y.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action kicks off this Friday (August 1) at Meadowlands Racetrack with the first leg of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-old colt trotters and two-year-old filly trotters. There will be three $10,000 divisions for the colts and five $10,000 divisions for the fillies.
The big Saturday afternoon (August 2) program is led by the $1,006,125 Hambletonian, the first leg of trotting’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds. Other major stakes races to be contested that day are the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for three-year-old filly trotters, the $300,650 John Cashman Memorial for older trotters, the $257,700 U.S. Pacing Championship for older pacers, the $177,750 Lady Liberty for older pacing mares, the $355,500 Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old colt trotters, and the $352,050 Merrie Annabelle for two-year-old filly trotters.
Also on Saturday, Balmoral Park will host the $50,000 (est.) Hanover Colt Stakes for two-year-old colt pacers and the $50,000 (est.) Hanover Filly Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers. On Sunday (August 3) the Crete oval will feature the $50,000 (est.) Hanover Colt Stakes for two-year-old colt trotters and the $50,000 (est.) Hanover Filly Stakes for two-year-old filly trotters.
Tioga Downs on Sunday will feature the $78,000 (est.) Tompkins-Geers for two-year-old colt pacers and the $67,000 (est.) Tompkins-Geers for two-year-old filly pacers.
Last time: Confronted by a challenger who would not go away, 1-5 favourite McWicked dug in, blazed the back half in an amazing :53.2 and captured this past Saturday’s (July 26) $400,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids Presented by Coors Light at The Meadows.
With the 1:49.1 victory, Casie Coleman, who conditions McWicked for S S G Stables, became the first female trainer to win an Adios final in the 48-year-history of the important test for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers.
After having started from Post 2, David Miller was able to give McWicked a rather leisurely half in :55.4 on the front. When Brett Miller moved Somewhere In L A uncovered down the backside and the pair looked McWicked in the eye, the battle was on.
However, McWicked edged away in deep stretch to triumph in 1:49.1, a length better than his gallant rival. Cammikey was a ground-saving third.
With the win, McWicked pushed his career bankroll to $798,447 and extended a prolonged roll that has seen him sweep the eliminations and final of the Max Hempt Memorial and the Adios.
Many of the sport’s stars were out on Saturday night at the Meadowlands, and none were brighter than Archangel, who won the first elimination for the John Cashman Jr. Memorial trot in a world record 1:50. The mile broke a six-way tie for the fastest mile ever by a trotter on a mile track.
Yannick Gingras sent the five-year-old millionaire son of Credit Winner out fast for the lead with a wicked :26.1 opening quarter. He then set even fractions of :54.4 and 1:22.3 in the record mile. Archangel was a geared-down one and three-quarter-length winner over Intimidate. Market Share was third. Your So Vain and Sevruga rounded out the qualifiers from this elimination for this Saturday’s Cashman final.
Ron Burke trains the winner for Legendary Standardbred Farm and Claire Semer.
Sebastian K was back to his winning ways in the second elimination for Ake Svanstedt with an easy three length score in 1:51.
The race began with Creatine flying off the wings from the outside for Mike Lachance and clearing Sebastian K as they reached the quarter in a dazzling :26. The pace slowed abruptly when Lachance took up on the lead and Svanstedt was forced to yank Sebastian K out quickly before Mister Herbie could get the jump on him from third. He got out, though the judges flashed the inquiry sign and reviewed the move, and was back to the top.
Sweet Justice mounted a final-turn challenge, but was rebuffed with a :27.3 final quarter. Mister Herbie split horses late to be second. Uncle Peter was third in his return to US soil. Appomattox was a solid fourth and Arch Madness captured the final berth in this week’s race.
The winner is trained in the Svanstedt barn for Knutsson Trotting and was winning for the sixth time this year in seven tries.
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 – 509; 2. Tim Tetrick – 443; 3. Ron Pierce – 307; 4t. Brian Sears – 205; 4t. David Miller – 205.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 884.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 444; 3t. PJ Fraley – 189; 3t. Ray Schnittker - 189; 5. Joe Holloway – 154.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing - 206.75; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 188; 3. Bamond Racing – 146.5; 4. 3 Brothers Stable – 92; 5. S S G Stables – 80.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at the Meadows with the Currier & Ives for three-year-old colt trotters; at Hoosier Park with the Dan Patch for older pacers; and at Charlottetown Driving Park with the Gold Cup and Saucer eliminations for older pacers.
(Grand Circuit)