The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Monument Circle, Carl Erskine Trot, Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, Nadia Lobell and Moni Maker, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind. and Artiscape, Muscle Hill and Kindergarten finals, Vernon Downs, Vernon, N.Y.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action this week will get underway on Friday (Oct. 31) at Hoosier Park with five stakes races on the card. Leading the way is the $275,000 Monument Circle for three-year-old colt pacers. Also on tap will be the $230,000 Carl Erskine Trot for three-year-old colt trotters, the $211,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for older pacers, the $193,000 Moni Maker for three-year-old filly trotters and the $176,500 Nadia Lobell for three-year-old filly pacers.
The Saturday (Nov. 1) card at Vernon Downs features the $250,500 Kindergarten Series final for two-year-old trotting fillies, the $240,500 Kindergarten Series final for two-year-old trotting colts, the $178,000 Artiscape for older pacing mares and the $178,000 Muscle Hill for older trotting mares.
Last time: Yonkers Raceway, Woodbine Racetrack and Hollywood Dayton Raceway all had major stakes last weekend during an extremely busy Grand Circuit weekend.
In an already long race – at the nontraditional distance of one and a quarter miles – Natural Herbie went even longer to win Saturday’s $250,000 International Trot Preview Invitational at Yonkers Raceway.
Racing on the outside much of the way, Natural Herbie battled through a field of international stars to win in 2:24.4 at odds of 9-1. European standout Commander Crowe finished second, three-quarters of a length behind, and Bee A Magician, the lone female in the field of eight, was third. Obrigado was fourth and Arch Madness fifth.
Natural Herbie, purchased by trainer/driver Verlin Yoder just prior to the start of his racing career as a two-year-old, has won 12 of 23 races this year and 24 of 46 lifetime, with earnings of $749,841.
Nuncio won Saturday’s $500,000 Yonkers Trot for three-year-olds at Yonkers Raceway, giving trainer Jimmy Takter a sweep of the Trotting Triple Crown. Sent off at odds of 1-9, Nuncio (Andover Hall-Nicole Isabelle) and driver John Campbell won the Yonkers Trot by two and a quarter lengths over Datsyuk in 1:56. Resolve finished third.
Takter, who won the Hambletonian with Trixton, picked up the Kentucky Futurity and Yonkers Trot with Nuncio. Owned by Stefan Melander’s Stall TZ Inc., Nuncio has won 10 of 15 races this year and earned $1.29 million. He finished second in the Hambletonian.
All Bets Off went to the front as soon as the gate opened and never was challenged on his way to winning Saturday’s $500,000 Messenger Stakes for three-year-old pacers at Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by Matt Kakaley for trainer Ron Burke, All Bets Off (Bettors Delight-Armbro Penelope) won by two and three-quarter lengths over Luck Be Withyou in 1:51.1, with McWicked third. The time was the fastest ever for a Messenger Stakes at Yonkers.
The finest two-year-olds in harness racing were on display Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack for the Fall Four Stakes. Made up of the Governor's Cup, Valley Victory, Three Diamonds and Goldsmith Maid, the Fall Four Stakes has been an annual showcase of the best freshmen in the sport.
Leading the winners of the four stakes was JK Shesalady, who improved to a perfect 10 for 10 with another victory in the $377,360 Three Diamonds for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Sent off as the heavy 1-5 favourite, JK Shesalady and Yannick Gingras got away fifth and sat along the rail until the midway point of the race. Around the final turn, Gingras sent JK Shesalady first up to challenge the leader, The Show Returns, as the fillies were on even terms at the three-quarters pole in 1:24.
JK Shesalady came off the turn and quickly created separation with the field and cruised home to an impressive-looking one and a half-length victory in 1:52.1. Solar Sister took the place spot, while Ideal Nuggets finished third.
A daughter of Art Major-Presidential Lady, JK Shesalady is trained by Nancy Johansson for owners 3 Brothers Stable. She returned $2.50 to win.
On Friday at Hollywood Dayton Raceway, the night was supposed to belong to Foiled Again and Creatine, but although each raced very creditably, neither was able to capture a Grand Circuit Dayton Derby. Instead, stablemate Clear Vision literally nosed out Foiled Again in the $122,000 Dayton Pacing Derby, lowering the track record to 1:49, and Market Share pulled a mild upset in the $162,000 Dayton Trotting Derby, establishing a new track trot standard with the 1:52.4 clocking.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2014, 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 2014 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend.
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,925; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,062; 3. David Miller – 894.5; 4. Ron Pierce – 635.5; 5. Corey Callahan – 613.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 2,122.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,599; 3. Erv Miller – 441.5; 4. Joe Holloway – 349; 5. Tony Alagna – 332.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing - 478.55; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 428.55; 3. 3 Brothers Stable – 317; 4. Robert Key – 272; 5. Brittany Farms – 258.45.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Dover Downs with eight Matron Stakes for two and three-year-old colt and filly pacers and trotters set for Thursday (Nov. 6).
(Grand Circuit)