The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Delvin Miller Adios final, Adioo Volo and Arden Downs, the Meadows, Washington, Pa.; John Cashman Jr. Memorial, Lady Liberty, Peter Haughton Memorial and Merrie Annabelle eliminations, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit actions kicks off this Friday (July 25) at the Meadows with four divisions in the $80,000 Arden Downs for two-year-old colt trotters and three divisions in the $60,000 Arden Downs for two-year-old filly trotters. The Saturday (July 26) card at the Meadows features the $400,000 Delvin Miller Adios final and $30,000 Adios consolation for three-year-old colt pacers, a single division in the $114,175 Adioo Volo for three-year-old filly pacers, three divisions in the $75,000 Arden Downs for two-year-old colt pacers, two divisions in the $75,000 Arden Downs for two-year-old filly pacers, two divisions in the $65,310 Arden Downs for three-year-old colt trotters and two divisions in the $54,952 Arden Downs for three-year-old filly trotters.
Meadowlands Racetrack will offer four sets of elimination races this week, with all the finals slated for the Hambletonian card of Saturday (August 2). On Friday, the Meadowlands will host two $20,000 eliminations in the Merrie Annabelle for two-year-old filly trotters and a single $20,000 elimination in the Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old colt trotters. On Saturday the program will feature two $50,000 eliminations in the John Cashman Jr. Memorial for older trotters and a single $40,000 elimination in the Lady Liberty for older pacing mares.
Last time: Intimidate, trained by Luc Blais and driven by Sylvain Filion, pulled off a 45-1 upset over the heavily-favoured Sebastian K in the $603,000 Maple Leaf Trot this past Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack.
Sent postward as the 1-5 favourite, Sebastian K got away in second behind Post 10 starter Modern Family, who was sent hard to the lead over the 'sloppy' track to post an opening quarter of :26.4. In the second quarter, trainer-driver Ake Svandstedt sent Sebastian K to the lead and controlled the race through the middle half with fractions of :57.3 and 1:26.4.
Intimidate got away in sixth and picked up cover in the second quarter behind Flanagan Memory and was towed around the final turn second-over and just a few lengths away from Sebastian K. In the stretch, Sebastian K continued to dig in and tried to hold off his challengers, but Intimidate in the final stride nailed the heavy favourite to win the 63rd edition of the Maple Leaf Trot in 1:54.2. Market Share, the 2013 Maple Leaf Trot winner, came off the rail and made a late charge on the far outside to finish third.
The Maple Leaf Trot victory was the third win in seven starts this season for Intimidate, a five-year-old son of Justice Hall–Fabulous Tag, owned by Determination and Judith Farrow.
In other Grand Circuit action over the weekend, Clear Vision broke the Northfield Park track record for older pacing geldings, posting a 1:49.3 win in the 29th edition of the $150,000 Battle of Lake Erie.
Clear Vision (Western Hanover-Artistic Vision) is owned by the partnership of Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, The Panhellenic Stable and James Koran. He is trained by Ron Burke, who called upon Brett Miller to drive.
Clear Vision started from Post 4 and immediately advanced a position when Bolt The Duer made an uncharacteristic break to his inside. He was still sitting third at the :26.2 opening quarter. Miller pulled Clear Vision in the second panel and he remained first-over through times of :54.2 and 1:22. Clear Vision locked horns with pacesetter Night Pro in the last turn and bested him by two lengths in the stretch, stopping the timer at 1:49.3. Foiled Again finished third.
In The Arsenal (Eric Goodell) never had an anxious moment this past Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $125,000 final of the Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace in 1:56.4.
In the Arsenal opened two and three-quarter lengths on the field in and out of the final turn. A pocketed Rock N Roll World cosmetically cut the final margin down to three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4. Third went to a stubborn Parklane Eagle.
Second choice In the Arsenal, a White Birch Farm homebred son of American Ideal-Ladyotra trained by Kelvin Harrison, returned $6.30 for his second win in three seasonal/career starts.
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 – 437; 2. Tim Tetrick – 434; 3. Ron Pierce – 292; 4. Brian Sears – 205; 5. George Brennan – 174.5.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 767.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 397; 3. PJ Fraley – 189; 4. Ray Schnittker - 184; 5. Joe Holloway – 152.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing - 177.8; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 160.3; 3. Bamond Racing – 146.5; 4. 3 Brothers Stable – 92; 5. Brad Grant – 79.5.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack, Balmoral Park and Tioga Downs. Meadowlands Racetrack will host nine Grand Circuit events, led by the $1.2 million Hambletonian, the first leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds. Balmoral Park will contest Hanover Stakes for two-year-old colt and filly pacers and trotters. Tioga Downs will race Tompkins-Geers stakes for two-year-old colt and filly pacers.
(Grand Circuit)