The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly story recapping and previewing Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Delaware Grand Circuit, Delaware County Fair, Delaware, Ohio; Milton Stakes final, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario; and Centaur Trot, Jennas Beach Boy, Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes and The Elevation, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action will kick off on Tuesday (Sept. 22) at Delaware with the $37,200 Standardbred for two-year-old filly trotters. The Wednesday (Sept. 23) card at Delaware features the $252,250 Jugette for three-year-old filly pacers, two divisions in the $109,200 Buckette for three-year-old filly trotters and the $44,200 Standardbred for two-year-old filly pacers. The Thursday (Sept. 24) card at Delaware is highlighted by the $677,000 Little Brown Jug, the third leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds. Also on tap that day is the $126,000 Old Oaken Bucket for three-year-old colt trotters, the $100,000 Miss Versatility final for older trotting mares, the $50,000 Standardbred for two-year-old colt trotters, and two divisions in the $46,200 Standardbred for two-year-old colt pacers.
Grand Circuit action at Mohawk will be held on Saturday (Sept. 26) with the $300,000 Milton Stakes final for older pacing mares.
Hoosier Park on Saturday will host $275,000 (est.) Kentuckiana Stallion Management stakes for two-year-old filly pacers and trotters, the $225,000 (est.) Centaur for Open trotters, the $175,000 (est.) Elevation for two-year-old colt pacers and the $100,000 (est.) Jennas Beach Boy for three-year-old colt pacers.
Last time: The Grand Circuit spotlight was on Mohawk Racetrack this past Saturday, with the finals of five major stakes, led by the $680,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters.
Bee A Magician became the first trotting mare since Peaceful Way in 2006 to win the Maple Leaf Trot when she tripped the timer in 1:52.3. The five-year-old mare and 2013 Horse of the Year turned in a furious final quarter to capture the 64th edition of the race over elimination winners Resolve and Natural Herbie.
JL Cruze sprinted to the front for driver John Campbell and posted an opening quarter of :26.4. From Post 2, Bee A Magician and driver Brian Sears got away third, behind Resolve, the 7-5 favourite. There was little movement in the second quarter and JL Cruze was able to take the field by the half in :55.3. Around the final turn, trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt came out of the two-hole to challenge JL Cruze, which allowed Sears to sit in a perfect second-over striking position turning for home.
In the stretch, Resolve had the jump on Bee A Magician and the two trotters went toe-to-toe down the lane. Bee A Magician showed her heart by powering by in deep stretch to prevail by a half-length over Resolve.
Trained by Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman, Bee A Magician scored her ninth victory of the season and 40th in 60 career starts. Owned by Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee, Bee A Magician increased her career bankroll to $3.5 million with the Maple Leaf Trot victory.
Pinkman earned double millionaire status with a win in the $700,000 Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday evening at Mohawk. Trainer Jimmy Takter sent four of his trainees postward in Canada’s richest race for trotters, but it was his heavily favoured Hambletonian winner who returned to victory lane.
In the early going, Pinkman (driven by Yannick Gingras) followed behind leader Crazy Wow as they passed the quarter pole in :27.3. At the three-eighths marker, Pinkman was pulled from the pocket and rolled to the front. The gelding held command past the half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:25.1.
In the stretch, a parked-out The Bank put pressure on his stablemate and so did Crazy Wow, but they were no match for Pinkman. The gelding pulled away in deep stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.3. Crazy Wow finished second. The Takter-trained Uncle Lasse, The Bank and French Laundry finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively.
Pinkman, by Explosive Matter and out of Margie Seelster, has won 10 races in 14 seasonal starts. The 16-time career winner now boasts lifetime earnings of $2,053,925 for owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding, Joyce McClelland and Herb Liverman.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2015, 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 Farm is the sponsor for the 2015 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past week’s action:
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 909; 2. Tim Tetrick – 557; 3. David Miller – 531.5; 4. Brian Sears – 477; 5. John Campbell – 363.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,179; 2. Jimmy Takter – 818; 3. Tony Alagna – 335.5; 4. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 310; 5. Erv Miller – 216.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 270.1; 2. Bamond Racing – 245; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 244.4; 4. Christina Takter – 141.7; 5. George Teague Jr. Inc. – 140.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Lexington’s historic Red Mile. There will be eight Bluegrass stakes for two and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. Hollywood Dayton Raceway will also be hosting a pair of Grand Circuit events, the Dayton Pacing Derby and the Dayton Trotting Derby for older horses.
(Grand Circuit)