The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of racing on the Grand Circuit.
This Week: Zweig Memorials, Vernon Downs, Vernon, NY; North America Cup and Fan Hanover eliminations, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ont., and Gold Cup and Saucer final, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino, Charlottetown, PEI.
Schedule of Events: Grand Circuit action kicks off this Friday (Aug. 21) as Vernon Downs will host the $330,000 Zweig Memorial for three-year-old open trotters and the $160,140 Zweig Memorial for three-year-old filly trotters.
On Saturday (Aug. 22), Woodbine Mohawk Park will host a pair of $50,000 eliminations in the North America Cup for three-year-old open pacers and a pair of $35,000 eliminations in the Fan Hanover for three-year-old filly pacers.
Also on Saturday, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino will host the $60,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final for older pacers.
Last Time: Last year’s Indiana Sires Stakes champion, Odds On Osiris, left the Hoosier State for the first time to compete, and made it count by winning the $250,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday night (Aug. 15). For more, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2020, 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 2020 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following this past weekend:
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 327; 2. Tim Tetrick – 244; 3. Andrew McCarthy – 237; 4. Dexter Dunn – 229; 5. Brian Sears – 219.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 316; 2. Nancy Takter – 250; 3. Marcus Melander – 203; 4. Tony Alagna – 192; 5. Ake Svanstedt – 164.
Owners: 1. S R F Stable – 82.5; 2. Brad Grant – 82.4; 3, Courant Inc. – 67; 4. Burke Racing Stable – 66.3; 5. Crawford Farms Racing – 59.7.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit racing will be taking place next week at Woodbine Mohawk Park with the North America Cup final for three-year-old open pacers, the Fan Hanover final for three-year-old filly pacers, the Roses Are Red for open pacing mares and the Armbro Flight for older trotting mares leading a busy week of stakes action. Mohawk will host a total of 10 stakes over three days.
(With files from the Grand Circuit)