The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of racing on the Grand Circuit.
This week: Meadowlands Pace, Hambletonian Maturity, W.R. Haughton Memorial, Mistletoe Shalee, Stanley Dancer Memorial, Delvin Miller Memorial, Dorothy Haughton Memorial, and Miss Versatility, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J. and Arden Downs, The Meadows, Washington, Pa.
Schedule of events: The stakes-heavy Saturday (July 18) Grand Circuit card at the Meadowlands Racetrack will feature the $636,650 Meadowlands Pace for three-year-olds, the $464,900 Hambletonian Maturity for four-year-old trotters, the $391,300 W.R. Haughton Memorial (and $123,100 consolation) for free for all pacers, two divisions in the $284,500 Stanley Dancer Memorial for three-year-old male trotters, the $253,500 Delvin Miller Memorial for three-year-old filly trotters, the $194,400 Mistletoe Shalee for three-year-old filly pacers, the $172,850 Dorothy Haughton Memorial for older pacing mares, and a $40,000 division of the Miss Versatility for older trotting mares.
Saturday Grand Circuit action also includes the $42,610 Arden Downs for three-year-old male trotters at The Meadows.
Last time: Hurrikane Emperor provided an upset in the $250,000 Graduate Series final for four-year-old pacers while 1-5 favourite Gimpanzee took care of business in the $250,000 Graduate Series final for four-year-old trotters Saturday night (July 11) at the Meadowlands. For complete recaps of both races, including race replays, click here.
Grand Circuit standings: In 2020, 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 2020 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following this past weekend:
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 155; 2. Brian Sears – 72; 3. Dexter Dunn – 67; 4. Tim Tetrick – 62; 5. Scott Zeron – 42.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 170; 2. Marcus Melander – 69; 3. Ake Svanstedt – 67; 4. Nancy Takter – 60; 5. John McDermott – 32.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 32.1; 2. Crawford Farms Racing – 28; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 27.1; 4. S R F Stable – 25; 5. J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby – 23.8.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next weekend at Saratoga Casino Hotel, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, the Meadows, the Meadowlands and Plainridge Racecourse. Saratoga will have the Joe Gerrity for older pacers; Hoosier will host the Nadia Lobell for three-year-old filly pacers; the Meadows will have eliminations for the Adios for three-year-old colt pacers; the Meadowlands will host the Tompkins-Geers for three-year-old colt and filly trotters; and Plainridge will feature the Spirit of Massachusetts for open trotters and the Clara Barton for pacing mares.
(With files from the Grand Circuit)