The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at The Red Mile and Dayton Raceway.
This Week: Bluegrass Stakes, Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky, and Dayton Pacing Derby, Dayton Trotting Derby, Dayton Oaks Derby and Dayton Distaff Derby, Hollywood Dayton Raceway, Dayton, Ohio.
Schedule of Events: Grand Circuit action kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 28 at the Red Mile and the Lexington oval will feature five divisions in the $405,100 Bluegrass for two-year-old colt trotters and three divisions in the $290,100 Bluegrass for two-year-old filly pacers. On Friday, Sept. 29, Red Mile will offer five divisions in the $429,000 Bluegrass for two-year-old filly trotters and four divisions in the $348,000 Bluegrass for two-year-old colt pacers. The first week of racing in Lexington will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 30 with three divisions in the $234,000 Bluegrass for three-year-old colt trotters, three divisions in the $234,000 Bluegrass for three-year-old filly trotters, three divisions in the $219,000 Bluegrass for three-year-old colt pacers, and two divisions in the $159,000 Bluegrass for three-year-old filly pacers.
On Saturday, Sept. 30, Hollywood Dayton Raceway will feature four Grand Circuit stakes in the $250,000 Dayton Pacing Derby for older pacers, the $250,000 Dayton Trotting Derby for older trotters, the $250,000 Dayton Oaks Derby for older female trotters and the $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby for older female pacers.
Complete entries for the races are available on the USTA website.
Last Time: A break at the start of the Mohawk Million put T C I, in rein to David Miller, behind the eight-ball. But that was only the beginning of what would be a drama-filled fourth edition of the unique two-year-old trotting event headlining Saturday's stakes action at Woodbine Mohawk Park. For a complete recap, click here.
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 Sept. 23, 2023):
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 749; 2. Dexter Dunn – 647; 3. David Miller – 629; 4. Tim Tetrick – 600; 5. Scott Zeron – 530.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 936; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 644; 3. Tony Alagna – 366; 4. Nancy Takter – 358; 5. Linda Toscano – 347.
Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 241.8; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 190.3; 3. Mark Ford – 148; 4. Hudson Standardbred Stable – 143.3; 5. Weaver Bruscemi – 133.8.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next weekend at Lexington’s historic Red Mile, featuring 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.
(Grand Circuit)