The Grand Circuit action kicks into full gear on Wednesday (Sept. 19) at Delaware with the $230,700 Jugette for three-year-old filly pacers, the $82,200 Buckette for three-year-old filly trotters, the $40,918 Standardbred for two-year-old filly trotters and the $39,318 Standardbred for two-year-old filly pacers.
The Thursday (Sept. 20) card at Delaware is highlighted by the $642,000 Little Brown Jug, the third leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds. Also on tap that day is the $107,000 Miss Versatility final for older trotting mares, the $111,075 Old Oaken Bucket for three-year-old male trotters, the $48,218 Standardbred for two-year-old colt trotters and the $40,418 Standardbred for two-year-old colt pacers.
Grand Circuit racing at Hoosier Park will be held on Friday (Sept. 21) with the $200,000 Caesars Classic for Open trotters, the $236,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management stakes for two-year-old filly trotters, the $207,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management stakes for two-year-old filly pacers, the $177,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for Open pacers, the $172,000 Moni Maker for three-year-old filly trotters, the $155,000 Jenna’s Beach Boy for three-year-old colt pacers, and the $120,000 Elevation for two-year-old colt pacers.
Grand Circuit action at Woodbine Mohawk Park will be held on Saturday (Sept. 22) with the $890,000 Metro final for two-year-old open pacers, the $590,000 She’s A Great Lady for two-year-old filly pacers and the $255,000 Milton for older pacing mares.
Last time: The Grand Circuit spotlight was on Woodbine Mohawk Park this past Saturday, with the finals of four major stakes, led by the 2018 Canadian Trotting Classic. It was a hoof-to-hoof heavyweight battle from start to finish, with Crystal Fashion coming out on top in the final strides.
Saddled with the daunting post 10, Crystal Fashion, a bay son of Cantab Hall, needed a little racing luck and plenty of grit to get the job done in Canada’s richest trotting event of 2018 and the Jim Campbell trainee had plenty of the latter.
Sent off as the 5-2 second choice to 3-5 Mets Hall, Crystal Fashion, piloted by Tim Tetrick, was full of trot as the gate took off from the field of 11 sophomore stars. After taking his rivals through an opening quarter in :27.3, Crystal Fashion then found himself sitting in the second spot once Met’s Hall, with Andy Miller driving, went from second to first.
The see-saw tussle between the leaders continued through a half in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:25, with the final round coming as the field straightened for home. Down the stretch, Crystal Fashion, on the outside, and Mets Hall, to his inside, put on a show for the packed house at Mohawk.
At the wire, Crystal Fashion ($7.90 to win) eked out a hard-fought half-length triumph over his rival, in 1:52.1. Fiftydallarbill was third, while Lawmaker was fourth.
“It worked out good today,” said Tetrick who two races earlier teamed with Green Manalishi S to win the William Wellwood Memorial. “We got out of there good and got on the right foot. He crossed over well, in-hand, and the favorite came and we had to let him go, so I got a dream trip.”
It was lifetime win No. 13 from 25 starts for the bay gelding, owned by Fashion Farms. In 13 starts this year, Crystal Fashion, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, has nine wins and a trio of seconds.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2018, 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 2018 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend.
Drivers: 1. Tim Tetrick – 910.5; 2. Yannick Gingras – 862.5; 3. David Miller – 571.5; 4. Scott Zeron – 409; 5. Jordan Stratton – 288.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 712.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 664; 3. Tony Alagna – 464; 4. Jim Campbell – 296; 5. Erv Miller – 267.
Owners: 1. Fashion Farms – 209; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 158.2; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 151.9; 4. Brittany Farms - 149.9; 5. Brad Grant – 124.3.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Lexington’s historic Red Mile. There will be eight Bluegrass stakes for two- and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. Hollywood Dayton Raceway will also be hosting a pair of Grand Circuit events, the Dayton Pacing Derby and the Dayton Trotting Derby for older horses and Harrah’s Philadelphia will contest John Simpson Stakes for two-year-old pacers and trotters of both sexes.
(Grand Circuit)