The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly story that recaps and previews Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Delaware Grand Circuit, Delaware County Fair, Delaware, Ohio; Milton Stakes final, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ont.; and Centaur Trot, Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, Jennas Beach Boy, Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes and The Elevation, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action resumes on Tuesday (Sept. 20) at Delaware with two $27,747 divisions of the Standardbred for two-year-old filly trotters. The Wednesday (Sept. 21) card at Delaware features the $239,400 Jugette for three-year-old filly pacers, the $86,200 Buckette for three-year-old filly trotters and the $49,200 Standardbred for two-year-old filly pacers. The Thursday (Sept. 22) card at Delaware is highlighted by the $577,000 Little Brown Jug, the third leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for three-year-olds. Also on tap that day is the $122,500 Old Oaken Bucket for three-year-old colt trotters, the $120,000 Miss Versatility final for older trotting mares, and two $32,050 divisions in the Standardbred for two-year-old colt trotters.
Grand Circuit racing at Hoosier Park begins on Friday (Sept. 23) with the $200,000 (est.) Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes for two-year-old filly trotters. On Saturday (Sept. 24) Hoosier will host the $250,000 (est.) Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes for two-year-old filly pacers, the $210,000 (est.) Centaur for Open trotters, the $175,000 (est.) Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for Open pacers, the $150,000 (est.) Elevation for two-year-old colt pacers and the $100,000 (est.) Jennas Beach Boy for three-year-old colt pacers.
Grand Circuit action at Mohawk will be held on Saturday (Sept. 24) with the $311,000 Milton Stakes final for older pacing mares.
Last time: The Grand Circuit spotlight was on Mohawk Racetrack this past Saturday, with the finals of five major stakes, led by the $480,320 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters. Resolve turned in a game effort to come away with a 1:51.4 victory. The five-year-old stallion went toe-to-toe with the outstanding mare Hannelore Hanover for the final half-mile and ultimately wore down the powerhouse to score a one and one half-length victory for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt.
Resolve, who finished second in last year’s Maple Leaf Trot, left from the rail and got away third, while Hannelore Hanover released Musical Rhythm to the lead at the opening quarter-mile in :26.4. Driver Yannick Gingras wasted little time circling Hannelore Hanover back to the front in the second quarter-mile and the trotting mare led the field by the half in :55.3.
Svanstedt started up Resolve nearing that juncture and immediately confronted the leader moving into the final turn. Hannelore Hanover and Resolve dueled to three-quarters in 1:23 and continued their battle into the lane. The Svanstedt trainee had no quit and finally edged by the gutsy mare in deep stretch for the win.
Owned by Hans Enggren, Resolve now has 14 career victories and more than $1.6 million earned. The son of Muscle Hill scored his fourth victory of the season to bring his seasonal earnings to nearly $700,000.
Bar Hopping charged home to win the $522,120 Canadian Trotting Classic by three and one half lengths Saturday night at Mohawk. The Jimmy Takter-trained colt was able to convert off a perfect second-over steer from driver Tim Tetrick to win Canada’s biggest race for three-year-old trotters.
A trio of longshots fired out for the front, while Marion Marauder, the 3-5 favourite, was unhurried and got away fourth ahead of main rivals Southwind Frank and Bar Hopping. Scott Zeron sent Marion Marauder to the front in the second quarter-mile and took the lead at the half in :55.4. Southwind Frank was pushed first-over, which allowed Tetrick to put Bar Hopping in a perfect second-over position.
Marion Marauder led the field by the three-quarters pole in 1:24.2. In the stretch, Marion Marauder created a little separation on his rivals, but that was quickly erased by Bar Hopping. The Takter trainee fired off cover and powered by in the final eighth of the mile for a 1:53.1 victory. Marion Marauder held on for second, while Bee In Charge finished third ahead of Winter Harbor.
A son of Muscle Hill owned by Christina Takter, Hatfeld Stables, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, Bar Hopping is now a five-time winner from 13 starts this season for $706,950 in earnings. His career totals are now improved to six victories and $808,188 earned. The triumph Saturday gave trainer Jimmy Takter three consecutive victories in the Canadian Trotting Classic and five overall.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2016, 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 Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the current leaders:
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 971.5; 2. Tim Tetrick – 678.5; 3. David Miller – 670; 4. Brett Miller – 348.5; 5. Scott Zeron – 299.5.
Trainers: 1. Jimmy Takter – 850.5; 2. Ron Burke – 848.5; 3. Tony Alagna – 393; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 306; 5. Linda Toscano – 249.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 200.72; 2. Tom Hill – 177; 3. Marvin Katz – 172.85; 4. Weaver Bruscemi – 165.07; 5. Harry von Knoblauch - 149.5.
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.
(Grand Circuit)