The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of racing on the Grand Circuit.
Schedule of Events: This week’s Grand Circuit racing will open on Friday (July 10) at the Meadowlands Racetrack with the $40,000 second leg of the Miss Versatility for open trotting mares. Cutler Memorial champion Atlanta leads a field of nine into the race.
The Saturday (July 11) card at the Meadowlands features the $250,000 Graduate Series finals for four-year-old open pacers and trotters; a single $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination for three-year-old pacers; the $61,000 Reynolds Memorial for three-year-old filly trotters; and two divisions in the $88,800 Reynolds Memorial for three-year-old colt trotters.
Yonkers Raceway will host the $104,250 MGM Springfield Stakes final for two-year-old pacing colts next Monday (July 13). A pair of elimination races for the stakes were held this past Monday.
Last Time: In what is now unquestionably harness racing’s best rivalry, Atlanta bested Manchego in Saturday night’s (July 4) $170,900 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for free-for-allers at the Meadowlands in Round 2 of the rabid duel between the top two trotters in training. To read a recap of the race and to view the replay, 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 – 95; 2. Tim Tetrick – 52; 3. Dexter Dunn – 47; 4. Brian Sears – 42; 5. Aaron Merriman – 30.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 160; 2. Marcus Melander – 34; 3t. Nifty Norman – 20; 3t. Norm Parker – 20; 3t. Nancy Takter – 20.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 32.1; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 27.1; 3. J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby – 23.8; 4. Black Horse Racing – 20; 5. L & L Stables – 12.
Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will once again be taking place next weekend at the Meadowlands. The massive July 18 Meadowlands card will offer the Meadowlands Pace final, the William Haughton Memorial, the Hambletonian Maturity, the Stanley Dancer Trot, the Del Miller Memorial, the Mistletoe Shalee, the Dorothy Haughton Memorial and the third leg of the Miss Versatility.
(With files from the Grand Circuit)