The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of racing on the Grand Circuit.
This Week: Delaware Grand Circuit, Delaware County Fair, Delaware, Ohio; Caesars Trot, Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, Jennas Beach Boy, Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes, Moni Maker, The Elevation and The Madison County, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind.; Mohawk Million, Metro, She’s A Great Lady and Milton, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ontario; and Kindergarten Series, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.
Schedule of Events: Grand Circuit action kicks into full gear on Wednesday (Sept. 23) at Delaware with the $237,725 Jugette for three-year-old filly pacers, two divisions in the $82,200 Buckette for three-year-old filly trotters, the $39,406 Standardbred for two-year-old filly pacers and the $43,506 Standardbred for two-year-old filly trotters. The Thursday (Sept. 24) card at Delaware is highlighted by the $559,000 Little Brown Jug for three-year-olds. Also on tap that day is the $87,500 Miss Versatility final for older trotting mares, the $83,800 Old Oaken Bucket for three-year-old open trotters, the $54,206 Standardbred for two-year-old colt pacers and the $47,006 Standardbred for two-year-old colt trotters.
Grand Circuit racing at Hoosier Park will be held on Friday (Sept. 25) with the $221,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management stakes for two-year-old filly trotters, the $220,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management stakes for two-year-old filly pacers, the $150,000 Caesars for Open trotters, the $140,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for Open pacers, the $100,000 Jennas Beach Boy for three-year-old colt pacers, the $105,000 Moni Maker for three-year-old filly trotters, the $120,000 Elevation for two-year-old colt pacers and the $40,000 Madison County for two-year-old colt trotters.
Also on Friday, the Meadowlands Racetrack will host the second leg of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-old pacers and trotters. There will be two $20,000 divisions for all four classes — colt and filly trotters and colt and filly pacers.
Grand Circuit action at Woodbine Mohawk will be held on Saturday (Sept. 26) with the US$1 million Mohawk Million for two-year-old colt trotters, the $720,000 Metro final for two-year-old open pacers, the $455,000 Shes A Great Lady final for two-year-old filly pacers and the $215,000 Milton final for older pacing mares.
Last Time: A scramble finish with multiple breakers saw Chestnut Hill at 60-1 shoot up the rail to a stunning victory in the $560,000 Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday night (Sept. 19) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. To read a recap and watch teh replay, 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 – 615; 2. Andrew McCarthy – 389; 3. Tim Tetrick – 306.5; 4. Bob McClure – 297; 5. Dexter Dunn – 266.
Trainers: 1. Nancy Takter – 459.5; 2. Tony Alagna – 416; 3. Ron Burke – 403; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 289; 5. Marcus Melander – 263.
Owners: 1. Determination – 185; 2. Brad Grant – 152.6; 3. S R F Stable – 115.3; 4. Caviart Farms – 98.6; 5. Crawford Farms Racing – 97.3.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Lexington’s historic Red Mile. There will be eight Bluegrass stakes for two- and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. Hollywood Dayton Raceway will also be hosting a trio of Grand Circuit events for older Standardbreds — the Dayton Pacing Derby, the Dayton Distaff Derby and the Dayton Trotting Derby.
(With files from the Grand Circuit)