The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview of upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Graduate Series Trot first leg, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.; and Art Rooney and Lismore eliminations, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action takes place this Saturday (May 20) at Meadowlands Racetrack with a single $75,000 division in the first leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old open trotters.
Also on Saturday, Yonkers Raceway will host a single $40,000 elimination in the Art Rooney for three-year-old open pacers and two $20,000 eliminations in the Lismore for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2017, 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 2017 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders through and including the races on May 8.
Drivers: 1. Jason Bartlett – 148; 2. Yannick Gingras – 114; 3t. Jordan Stratton – 96; 3t. Matt Kakaley – 96; 5. Tim Tetrick – 63.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 96; 2. Peter Tritton – 92; 3. Richard Banca – 86; 4. Rene Allard – 79; 5. Scott DiDomenico - 39.
Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch Stable – 73.5; 2. Fred Monteleone Stable – 32; 3. Carolyn Atherton – 30; 4t. Burke Racing Stable – 25.7; 4t. Weaver Bruscemi – 25.7.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Mohawk Racetrack (first leg of the Miss Versatility for trotting mares); The Meadows (Currier & Ives for three-year-old filly trotters); The Raceway at Western Fair District (Molson Pace for open pacers); Yonkers Raceway (Art Rooney and Lismore finals for three-year-old pacers); and Harrah’s Philadelphia (Maxie Lee Memorial for open trotters, Ben Stafford Jr. for open pacers, and Betsy Ross for pacing mares).
(Grand Circuit)