The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of racing on the Grand Circuit.
This Week: Maple Leaf Trot, Canadian Pacing Derby, Goodtimes final, Simcoe Stakes, Peaceful Way eliminations and William Wellwood Memorial eliminations, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ont. and Landmark Stakes, Historic Track, Goshen, N.Y.
Schedule of Events: Another busy weekend of Grand Circuit action at Woodbine Mohawk Park kicks off this Thursday (Sept. 3) with two $30,000 eliminations in the Peaceful Way for two-year-old filly trotters and two $30,000 eliminations in the William Wellwood Memorial for two-year-old colt trotters.
The Saturday (Sept. 5) Mohawk Park card is led by the $560,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters, the $540,000 Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers, and the $215,000 Goodtimes final for three-year-old colt trotters. Also on the program will be two divisions in the $227,023 Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old colt pacers. For a preview of the card, click here.
Goshen Historic Track on Sunday (Sept. 6) will feature eight Landmark Stakes events for two- and three-year-old male and female pacers and trotters.
Last Time: Tall Dark Stranger looked like a million dollars in taking the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday night (Aug. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. To read a complete recap, and to view the replay of the race, 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 – 452; 2. Tim Tetrick – 284; 3. Andrew McCarthy – 257; 4t. Dexter Dunn – 239; 4t. Brian Sears – 239.
Trainers: 1. Nancy Takter – 370; 2. Ron Burke – 336; 3. Tony Alagna – 267; 4. Marcus Melander – 228; 5. Ake Svanstedt – 224.
Owners: 1. Brad Grant – 98.7; 2. Determination – 90; 3. S R F Stable – 87.5; 4. Courant Inc. – 82; 5. Crawford Farms Racing – 78.9.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit racing will be taking place next week at Woodbine Mohawk Park and the Meadowlands Racetrack. Mohawk Park’s week will feature the finals of the Peaceful Way and William Wellwood Memorial, the Somebeachsomewhere for three-year-old colt pacers, Simcoe Stakes races for three-year-old filly pacers and sophomore colt and filly trotters, and Champlain Stakes events for two-year-old colt and filly pacers. The Meadowlands will host the fifth leg of the Miss Versatility for older female trotters.
(With files from the Grand Circuit)