Three racetracks will host Grand Circuit action this week with the richest event featuring older trotters vying for the winner's share of a $200,000 purse in the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands.
This Week: Dexter Cup and Lady Suffolk, Freehold Raceway, Freehold, New Jersey; Arthur Cutler Memorial and Graduate Pace first leg, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, New Jersey; and Miami Valley Distaff and Chip Noble Memorial, Miami Valley Raceway, Lebanon, Ohio.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit at Freehold this week features the $143,737 Dexter Cup for three-year-old open trotters and two $36,850 divisions in the Lady Suffolk for three-year-old filly trotters on Saturday (May 6). Meadowlands Racetrack offers the $200,000 Arthur Cutler Memorial for older trotters and two $50,000 divisions in the first leg of the Graduate for four-year-old pacers, also on Saturday. Miami Valley Raceway will feature the $86,400 Miami Valley Distaff for older trotting mares on Sunday (May 7) and the $100,000 Chip Noble Memorial for older pacing mares on Monday (May 8).
Last Time: A pair of $24,000 Dexter Cup eliminations were contested on Saturday (April 29) afternoon at Freehold Raceway and two sons of Chapter Seven, Another Chapter and Lord Cromwell, served notice they are prepared for their sophomore seasons as each triumphed in his respective contest.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2017, 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 2017 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend:
Drivers: 1. Jason Bartlett – 148; 2. Jordan Stratton – 96; 3. Matt Kakaley – 91; 4. Tim Tetrick – 61; 5. Daniel Dube - 59.
Trainers: 1. Peter Tritton – 92; 2. Richard Banca – 86; 3. Rene Allard – 59; 4. Scott DiDomenico - 37; 5. Ron Burke – 36.
Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch Stable – 73.5; 2. Fred Monteleone Stable – 32; 3. Bamond Racing – 22.5; 4t. Carmen Iannacone – 21.7; 4t. D’Elegance Stable IX – 21.7; 4t. T L P Stable – 21.7.
Looking Ahead: There will be no Grand Circuit racing next week. Action resumes on May 20 at The Meadowlands with the first leg of the Graduate for four-year-old open trotters and at Yonkers Raceway with eliminations in the Art Rooney for three-year-old open pacers and the Lismore for three-year-old filly pacers.
(With files from Grand Circuit)