The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of racing on the Grand Circuit.
This Week: Peaceful Way and William Wellwood Memorial finals, Somebeachsomewhere, Champlain Stakes and Simcoe Stakes, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ont.
Schedule of Events: Another busy weekend of Grand Circuit action at Woodbine Mohawk Park will kick off this Friday (Sept. 11) with two divisions in the $177,789 Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old filly trotters (featuring Hambletonian champion Ramona Hill) and a single $167,511 Simcoe Stakes division for three-year-old male trotters.
The Saturday (Sept. 12) Mohawk Park card is led by the $535,000 William Wellwood Memorial final for two-year-old male trotters and the $335,000 Peaceful Way final for two-year-old filly trotters. Also on the card will be two divisions each in the $187,518 Champlain Stakes for two-year-old male pacers, the $177,789 Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers, the $173,328 Champlain Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers and the $155,000 Somebeachsomewhere for three-year-old male pacers.
Last Time: Atlanta bounced back from a miscue in her last start to win the $560,000 Maple Leaf Trot in 1:50.4 on Saturday night (Sept. 5) at Woodbine Mohawk Park (for a complete recap, click here). Driver James MacDonald engineered his second consecutive Canadian Pacing Derby stunner, guiding Dorsoduro Hanover to a 40-1 upset at Woodbine Mohawk Park (for a complete recap, 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 – 508; 2. Tim Tetrick – 284; 3. Andrew McCarthy – 257; 4t. Dexter Dunn – 239; 4t. Brian Sears – 239.
Trainers: 1. Nancy Takter – 390; 2. Ron Burke – 376; 3. Tony Alagna – 277; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 234; 5. Marcus Melander – 233.
Owners: 1. Determination – 125; 2. Brad Grant – 105.4; 3. S R F Stable – 92.5; 4. Crawford Farms Racing – 85.6; 5. Courant Inc. – 84.5.
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 Canadian Trotting Classic and Elegantimage for sophomore trotters and eliminations in the Metro Pace and Shes A Great Lady for freshman pacers and the Milton for older pacing mares. The Meadowlands will host the first leg of the Kindergarten Series for freshman pacers and trotters.
(With files from the Grand Circuit)