The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights the upcoming races at Yonkers Raceway.
This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series fourth legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York. These series are 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 8) in the fourth round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday (April 11) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the fourth round of the MGM Borgata Pacing series for open pacers. Each series offers five preliminary rounds leading to the finales, both set for Monday (April 25).
Last Time: Three longshots — Semi Tough, Poseidon Seelster, and Funatthebeach N — and two favourites — Leonidas A and Nicholas Beach — were victorious in the five $50,000 divisions of the third leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday night (April 4) at Yonkers Raceway.
If horseplayers were looking for drama, they found it Friday night (April 1) in the first of three $40,000 divisions in the third leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series 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 4, 2022):
Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 67; 2. Jason Bartlett – 54; 3. Dexter Dunn – 49; 4 Yannick Gingras – 44; 5. George Brennan – 38.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 70; 2t. Erv Miller – 37; 2t. Jen Bongiorno – 37; 4. Cory Stratton – 35; 5. Shane Tritton – 25.
Owners: 1. Team Tritton Inc. – 25; 2. The OK Corral – 22; 3t. Mystical Marker Farms – 20; 3t. Jesmeral Stable – 20; 5. Karen Hauver – 15.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with the final leg of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata next week. The finals for both events will be held on April 25.
(With files from Grand Circuit)