Spotlight On The Grand Circuit

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Published: September 6, 2017 02:44 pm EDT

The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of Grand Circuit races.

This Week: Jim Ewart Memorial and Jug Preview, Scioto Downs, Columbus, Ohio; Kindergarten Series and Miss Versatility, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.; Simcoe Stakes and Maple Leaf Trot, Canadian Trotting Classic, Elegantimage, and Milton eliminations, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action will kick off on Friday (Sept. 8) at Mohawk with a pair of $40,000 eliminations in the Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters and two $35,000 eliminations in the Milton for older pacing mares. The Saturday (Sept. 9) card will be highlighted by the $163,872 Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old filly pacers, the $162,838 Simcoe Stakes for three-year-old colt pacers, two $40,000 eliminations in the Canadian Trotting Classic for three-year-old open trotters and two $35,000 eliminations in the Elegantimage for three-year-old filly trotters.

Grand Circuit racing at the Meadowlands will also be held on Friday (Sept. 8) with a $40,000 leg of the Miss Versatility for trotting mares, and a pair of $10,000 divisions each in the Kindergarten Series for two-year-old colt trotters, two-year-old filly trotters, two-year-old colt pacers and two-year-old filly pacers.

On Saturday (Sept. 9), Scioto Downs will host the $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial for older pacers and the $125,000 Jug Preview for three-year-old colt pacers.

Last time: World champion Downbytheseaside (driven by Brian Sears) withstood a late charge from two rivals to win the $500,000 Messenger Stakes final for three-year-old colt pacers in 1:52.1 on Saturday (Sept. 2) at Yonkers Raceway by a nose. Sears completed the Messenger/Yonkers Trot double when he steered Top Flight Angel to victory by the very same margin in the aforementioned contest later on a card that also included the Hudson Filly Trot and Lady Maud Pace.

Downbytheseaside and Sears got away from the gate to make the lead just past the :27.1 first quarter, with Blood Line (Mark MacDonald) tucked in behind. Downbytheseaside led the field to the half in :56 and to the three-quarters in 1:24.1. He was still on top at the head of the stretch but a charge was developing from horses on both sides.

Art Scene (Jordan Stratton) came charging on the inside late and was second and Funknwaffles (Corey Callahan) was third on his outside. Downbytheseaside held them off to win by a nose.

Downbytheseaside is owned by Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo and Diamond Creek Farm; he’s trained by Brian Brown. The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Sprig Hanover improved his 2017 record to 12-8-1-2, with earnings of $956,216.

Top Flight Angel (Sears) was a nose the best in the $500,000 Yonkers Trot for three-year-olds in 1:56.3.

Devious Man and Andy Miller got away with the lead off the gate to hit the quarter-mile mark in :28.4 and held that lead to the :58.4 half, with Yes Mickey (Ake Svanstedt) along the rail in second racing with a new Murphy Blind on the left side and Top Flight Angel in third.

Devious Man was still on the lead at the 1:27.3 three-quarters, but there was a gathering storm behind him, with both Yes Mickey (along the inside) and Top Flight Angel (on the outside). In the end it was a win by a nose for Top Flight Angel over Yes Mickey, with Devious Man in third.

The win earned Top Flight Angel an automatic invitation for the Yonkers International, to be held Oct. 14, and improved his seasonal slate to 12-3-1-3, with earnings of $331,916. Top Flight Angel is owned by Legendary Standardbred Farm of New York and trained by Julie Miller.

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 Sept. 2.

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 760; 2. David Miller – 598; 3. Tim Tetrick – 503; 4. Scott Zeron – 395; 5. Jason Bartlett – 288.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 617; 2. Jimmy Takter – 529; 3. Brian Brown – 275; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 221; 5. Ray Schnittker – 187.

Owners: 1. Emerald Highlands Farm – 155; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 143.9; 3. Determination – 137; 4. Diamond Creek Racing – 132.1; 5. Harry Von Knoblauch Stable – 123.5.

Looking ahead: A busy schedule of Grand Circuit racing will be taking place next week at Mohawk, Hoosier Park, the Meadowlands, Harrah’s Philadelphia and the Delaware County Fair. Mohawk will host finals in the Maple Leaf Trot, the Canadian Trotting Classic, the Elegantimage, and the Milton, as well as eliminations in the Metro Pace, the Shes A Great Lady, the Peaceful Way and the William Wellwood Memorial; Hoosier Park will host the Nadia Lobell for three-year-old pacing fillies; The Meadowlands will card another leg of the Kindergarten Series for freshman trotters and pacers; Harrah’s Philadelphia will race Simpson stakes for three-year-old male pacers and trotters; and Delaware will have Standardbred stakes for two-year-old colt and filly pacers.

(Grand Circuit)

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