The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights its upcoming races at Northfield Park and Pocono Downs.
This Week: Courageous Lady, MGM Northfield Park, Northfield, Ohio; and John Simpson Stakes, Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Schedule of Events: Grand Circuit action will be held on Saturday night, Oct. 14 at MGM Northfield Park with the $100,000 Courageous Lady for three-year-old filly pacers. Morning-line favourite Ucandoit Blue Chip will call it a career following her start and enters Saturday’s race off a victory in the $255,000 Jugette final.
Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Monday afternoon, Oct. 16 will feature two divisions in the $109,500 John Simpson Stakes for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers and three divisions in the $91,200 Simpson for three-year-old filly trotters. On Tuesday, Oct. 17, Pocono has three divisions in the $128,900 Simpson for two-year-old colt trotters and four divisions in the $120,000 Simpson for three-year-old filly pacers. John Simpson Stakes events will continue Wednesday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 21 at Pocono.
Complete entries for the races are available on the USTA website.
Last time: In a déjà vu effort, Hambletonian champion Tactical Approach got locked at the pylons but had the red seas of clay open to the inside to give him room to dart and grab the lead in the closing strides of the $450,000 Kentucky Futurity, another Trotting Triple Crown event, on Sunday, Oct. 8 at The Red Mile. Click here to read the full story.
For a list of 2023 race winners on the Grand Circuit, click here.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2023, 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 2023 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders (through the races on Oct. 8, 2023):
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,009; 2. David Miller – 874; 3. Dexter Dunn – 837; 4. Tim Tetrick – 825; 5. Scott Zeron – 765.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,216; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 884; 3. Tony Alagna – 526; 4. Nancy Takter – 483; 5. Brett Pelling – 384.
Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 350.6; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 248.5; 3. Hudson Standardbred Stable – 185.8; 4. Weaver Bruscemi – 170.6; 5. Ken Jacobs – 150.
Looking Ahead: In addition to the Simpson Stakes at Pocono next week, Grand Circuit action will also take place at Harrah’s Hoosier Park and The Meadowlands. Hoosier will host Breeders Crown eliminations for two-year-olds, three-year-olds and older horses of both sexes and gaits and the Circle City for three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits; and The Meadowlands will feature the fourth leg of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.
(Grand Circuit)