The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights the upcoming races at Yonkers Raceway.
This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series fifth legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York. This is the opening event of the 2022 Grand Circuit season.
Schedule of Events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 15) in the fifth and final round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday (April 18) card at Yonkers will see three $50,000 divisions in the fifth and final round of the MGM Borgata Pacing series for open pacers.
The top horses by points in the five preliminary rounds will be eligible for the finales, both set for Monday (April 25).
Last Time: A neck, a half-length, a neck, and a half-length were the winning margins in four closely-contested $50,000 splits of the fourth leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 11) at Yonkers Raceway
Lit De Rose, racing with Lasix for the first time, angled off the pylons in early stretch and rallied furiously to get by favoured Easy To Please in the first of three $40,000 divisions in round four of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series on Friday night (April 8) at Yonkers Raceway.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2022, 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 2022 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on April 11, 2022):
Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 84; 2. Dexter Dunn – 68; 3. Jason Bartlett – 64; 4 Yannick Gingras – 58; 5. George Brennan – 48.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 94; 2. Cory Stratton – 45; 3. Erv Miller – 41; 4. Jen Bongiorno – 37; 5. Shane Tritton – 30.
Owners: 1. The OK Corral – 32; 2t. Team Tritton Inc. – 30; 2t. Jesmeral Stable – 30; 4. Mystical Marker Farms – 22; 5. Bukers Stable – 20.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with the finals of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata on April 25.
(Grand Circuit)