The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Spirit of Massachusetts, Plainridge Park, Plainville, Mass.; Delvin Miller Adios final, Adioo Volo and Arden Downs, The Meadows, Washington, Pa.; Hambletonian Oaks, Peter Haughton Memorial and Jim Doherty Memorial eliminations and Reynolds Memorial, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action will kick off this Friday (July 28) at Plainridge Park with the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot for older trotters. Headlining the field are 2016 Dan Patch Award Trotting Mare of the Year Hannelore Hanover and 2016 Dan Patch Award Trotting Horse of the Year Obrigado.
Also on Friday, the Meadows will feature three divisions in the $49,564 Arden Downs for two-year-old colt trotters and three divisions in the $49,290 Arden Downs for two-year-old filly trotters. The Saturday (July 29) card at the Meadows features the $400,000 Delvin Miller Adios final for three-year-old colt pacers, two divisions in the $125,950 Adioo Volo for three-year-old filly pacers, two divisions in the $57,356 Arden Downs for three-year-old filly trotters, two divisions in the $57,350 Arden Downs for two-year-old colt pacers, two divisions in the $47,630 Arden Downs for two-year-old filly pacers and a single $45,000 division in the Arden Downs for three-year-old colt trotters.
Meadowlands Racetrack will offer three sets of elimination races this week, with all the finals slated for the Hambletonian Day card of Saturday (Aug. 5). On Friday, the Meadowlands will host two $20,000 eliminations in the Jim Doherty Memorial for two-year-old filly trotters and a pair of $20,000 eliminations in the Peter Haughton Memorial for two-year-old colt trotters. On Saturday the program will feature two $40,438 eliminations in the Hambletonian Oaks for three-year-old filly trotters as well as the $49,580 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for three-year-old male trotters.
Last time: Bit Of A Legend N (Bettors Delight-Sokys Legend) was the runner-up in the 2016 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace contested at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The Peter Tritton-trained standout wound up second best to 2015 Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit.
On Saturday night (July 22), Bit Of A Legend N was dismissed at odds of 15-1 as he took part in his second consecutive $260,000 Gerrity Pace and collected the victory.
Driver Jordan Stratton sat patiently with the talented eight-year-old as a grueling pace was set. There wasn’t a dull moment throughout as top rivals were slugging it out from the word ‘go.’ The opening quarter went in :26.4 before the first half was clocked in :54.3. The field bunched up after three-quarters in 1:21.2 and longshot Bit Of A Legend N powered up three-wide around the final turn.
From fifth at the head of the stretch to first at the wire, Bit Of A Legend N stopped the timer in 1:50.3 exacting his revenge from last year’s defeat in the Gerrity with an impressive win in the ninth annual installment of the race in honor of the former chairman of the board at Saratoga who passed away in 2005.
Mach It So, a 36-1 shot (David Miller), came on for second while Boston Red Rocks (Brett Miller) earned the show spot.
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 July 22.
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 423; 2. David Miller – 350; 3. Tim Tetrick – 308; 4. Scott Zeron – 290; 5t. Jason Bartlett – 236; 5t. Jordan Stratton - 236.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 363; 2. Jimmy Takter – 248; 3. Rene Allard – 159; 4. Ray Schnittker – 157; 5. Peter Tritton – 152.
Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch Stable – 123.5; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 80.9; 3. Jeff Snyder – 75; 4. J&T Silva Stables – 74.2; 5. Determination – 67.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack. The track will host ten Grand Circuit events, led by the $1 million Hambletonian, the first leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds, and the $300,000 Cane Pace, the first leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds.
(Grand Circuit)