Spotlight On The Grand Circuit

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Published: September 25, 2019 04:18 pm EDT

The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.

This Week: Bluegrass Stakes, Red Mile, Lexington, Ky.; Dayton Pacing Derby and Dayton Trotting Derby, Hollywood Dayton Raceway, Dayton, Ohio; and John Simpson Stakes, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Chester, Pa.

Schedule of Events: Grand Circuit action kicks off on Thursday (Sept. 26) at the Red Mile with three divisions in the $315,500 Bluegrass for two-year-old colt trotters. The Friday (Sept. 27) card at the Lexington oval will feature four divisions in the $330,000 Bluegrass for two-year-old filly trotters and two divisions in the $280,500 Bluegrass for two-year-old filly pacers. On Saturday (Sept. 28), the Red Mile will offer the $350,000 (est.) Bluegrass for two-year-old colt pacers and the $200,000 (est.) Bluegrass for three-year-old filly pacers. Sunday (Sept. 29) at the Red Mile will feature the $200,000 (est.) Bluegrass events for three-year-old male and female trotters and male pacers.

On Friday night, Hollywood Dayton Raceway will feature a pair of Grand Circuit stakes: the $171,250 Dayton Trotting Derby for older trotters and the $151,750 Dayton Pacing Derby for older pacers.

On Sunday (Sept. 29), Harrah’s Philadelphia will contest $75,000 (est.) John Simpson Stakes for three-year-old colt pacers and trotters.

Last Time: After using a sustained first-over drive to win his elimination earlier in the day, Southwind Ozzi and driver Brian Sears came back with nearly a carbon copy effort to capture the $384,000 Little Brown Jug final for three-year-old male pacers Thursday (Sept. 19) at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. For 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 – 1,010.5; 2. Yannick Gingras – 813; 3. David Miller – 642; 4. Dexter Dunn – 516; 5. Andrew McCarthy – 484.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 873; 2. Tony Alagna – 513; 3. Marcus Melander – 394; 4. Jim King Jr. – 346.5; 5. Ake Svanstedt – 337.

Owners: 1. Fashion Farms – 192; 2. Brad Grant – 182.6; 3. Courant Inc. – 172.5; 4. Burke Racing Stable – 170.2; 5. Weaver Bruscemi – 157.7.

Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Lexington’s historic Red Mile and Harrah’s Philadelphia. Featured at the Red Mile will be the Kentucky Futurity, the third leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds, Also on tap will be the companion Kentucky Filly Futurity for the sophomore fillies, the Tattersalls Pace and the Glen Garnsey Memorial for three-year-old pacers, four International Stallion Stakes races for two-year-olds of both sexes and gaits, and four Allerage contests for open pacers and trotters. Harrah’s Philadelphia will contest John Simpson Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers and trotters and two-year-old colt pacers and trotters.

(With files from the Grand Circuit)

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