The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.
THIS WEEK: Messenger eliminations, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.; Nassagaweya, Eternal Camnation, and Maple Leaf Trot eliminations, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ontario; and W.N. Reynolds Memorial, Tioga Downs, Nichols, N.Y.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: This Saturday (Aug. 24), Yonkers Raceway will host a pair of $40,000 eliminations in the Messenger Stakes for sophomore pacers, the second leg of the sport’s pacing Triple Crown. The top four horses in each elimination will return for the $500,000 final on Aug. 31.
Also, on Saturday, Grand Circuit action at Woodbine Mohawk Park will feature a single division in the $228,100 Nassagaweya for two-year-old pacing colts, two divisions in the $224,478 Eternal Camnation for two-year-old pacing fillies; and a pair of $40,000 eliminations in the Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters.
On Sunday (Aug. 25), Tioga Downs will card four sets of W.N. Reynolds Memorial events for freshman pacers and trotters.
LAST TIME: Greenshoe (Brian Sears) rebounded from his defeat in the Hambletonian to win the $330,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for three-year-old open trotters on Saturday night (Aug. 17) at Vernon Downs. To read a complete recap, click here.
GRAND CIRCUIT STANDINGS: In 2019, 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 2019 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following this past weekend:
DRIVERS: 1. Tim Tetrick – 731; 2. Yannick Gingras – 566; 3. David Miller – 444; 4. Dexter Dunn – 409; 5. Brian Sears – 344.
TRAINERS: 1. Ron Burke – 673; 2. Tony Alagna – 282; 3. Marcus Melander – 279; 4. Jim King Jr. – 274; 5. Ake Svanstedt – 231.
OWNERS: 1. Fashion Farms – 182; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 127.1; 3. Courant Inc. – 122.5; 4. Weaver Bruscemi – 114.6; 5. Jo Ann Looney-King – 101.2.
LOOKING AHEAD: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Yonkers Raceway and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Yonkers will feature the Yonkers Trot, Messenger Stakes, Hudson Filly Trot and Lady Maud. Woodbine Mohawk will offer the Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot, as well as Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old colt pacers and Champlain Stakes for two-year-old colt and filly trotters.
(With files from the Grand Circuit)