The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly story recapping and previewing Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy Series third legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, NY.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features two $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 3) in the third round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (April 4) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the third round of the George Morton Levy Series for open pacers.
Last time: There were three repeat winners in last week’s second leg of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series at Yonkers Raceway. P H Supercam, Polak A and Beach Memories each made it two-for-two in the series by capturing their respective $50,000 events on the March 28 card.
Defending series champ P H Supercam (driven by Jason Bartlett) used the same M-O – sitting a three-hole and closing deep in the passing lane – that worked so well in the 2014 finale.
P H Supercam, from Post 4, went by a pocket-sitting Frankies Dragon to win the first grouping by one and a half lengths in 1:52.4. For second choice P H Supercam, an eight-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding owned by Bamond Racing and trained by Jeff Bamond Jr., it was his fourth win in seven seasonal starts.
The second event saw Polak A (Brian Sears) repeat what he did in the series opener, as in win the draw and make the rest of his rivals pay.
Polak A took the lead just past a :27.2 opening quarter-mile and was never caught. He dug in down the stretch, holding off both Michaels Power (by a neck margin) and Foiled Again (one and a quarter lengths) in 1:52.4. Second choice Polak A – a seven-year-old son of Pacific Fella trained by Tony O’Sullivan for co-owners Frank Bellino & Sons, Frank J. Bellino and Joseph Bellino – is now two-for-two stateside and two-for-three in ’15.
Saturday’s third Levy grouping was won by 6-5 second choice Beach Memories (Yannick Gingras). Beach Memories held off Sapphire City by a neck, with 11-10 wagering choice Mach It So a non-threatening third. For Beach Memories, a five-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding co-owned by Strollin Stable, AWS Stables, King McNamara and Country Club Acres, it was his second win in five seasonal starts.
There was also a repeat winner in the March 27 second leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series as Carolsideal vaulted to the top of the series standings with an impressive victory.
Carolsideal (Daniel Dube) owned a measured half-length lead into the lane, then widened to close the sale, winning by a couple of lengths in a season’s-best 1:53. Monkey On My Wheel held second, with Anndrovette a rallying third for the second week in a row. For Carolsideal, a six-year-old daughter of Western Ideal trained by Rene Allard for co-owners Allard Racing, Yves Sarrazin and Kapildeo Singh, it was her seventh win in eight seasonal starts.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2015, 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 2015 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend at Yonkers:
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 51; 2. Jason Bartlett – 49; 3. Daniel Dube – 40; 4. George Brennan – 35; 5. Brian Sears – 19.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 71; 2. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 53; 3t. Rene Allard – 25; 3t. Tony O’Sullivan – 25; 5. Mark Silva – 15.
Owners: 1. Bamond Racing – 46; 2t. Burke Racing - 15.9; 2t. Weaver Bruscemi – 15.9; 4. Jeff Snyder – 15; 5t. Allard Racing – 8.3; 5t: Yves Sarrazin – 8.3; 5t. Kapildeo Singh – 8.3.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy over the next two weekends. The finals and consolations for both events will be held on April 25.
(Grand Circuit)