by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Arthur J. Cutler Memorial final and Meadowlands Maturity, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J. and Miss Versatility first leg, Woodbine Racetrack, Toronto, Ontario.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Meadowlands Racetrack this week will feature two lucrative events on Saturday (May 18) with the $180,000 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial final for older trotters and the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity for 4-year-old open pacers.

Woodbine will host their first Grand Circuit race of the year on Monday (May 20) with the $40,000 first leg of the Miss Versatility Series for older trotting mares.

Complete entries for the Meadowlands races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: Yannick Gingras extended his lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings as he posted 52 points this past weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lisa photo

Muscle Mountain won his Simpson Stake division for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter.

Gingras was in the winner’s circle with True Day Dream in a division of the John Simpson Stake for 3-year-old filly trotters, Muscle Mountain in a division of the John Simpson Stake for 3-year-old colt trotters and Wishing Stone in an elimination race for the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for older trotters.

Jimmy Takter grabbed the weekly honors for trainers as his pupils racked up 30 points over the weekend. He won a division of the John Simpson Stake for 3-year-old colt trotters with Muscle Mountain and was second in the other Simpson colt trot split with Corky.

Richard Gutnick picked up 22.5 points to top the owner’s parade for the week. Gutnick’s Modest Prince was a winner in 1:56.1 over Corky in their John Simpson Stake division for 3-year-old colt trotters.

Complete recaps of the weekend races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2013, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will 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). Hanover Shoe Farms is the sponsor for the 2013 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 322; 2. Tim Tetrick – 232; 3. Brian Sears – 159.5; 4. David Miller – 89; and 5. Andy Miller –75.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 356; 2. PJ Fraley – 83; 3. Mark Harder – 71.5; 4. Amber Buter – 57; and 5. Chris Ryder – 55.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 85.15; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 82.45; 3. Joie De Vie Farms – 45; 4. Our Horse Cents Stable – 44.7; and 5. Bamond Racing – 44.5.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place at four different racetracks next weekend. The Raceway at Western Fair District will host the Molson Pace Prep on Friday (May 24); Hoosier Park offers the Dan Patch Invitational on Saturday (May 25); Yonkers Raceway offers eliminations in the Art Rooney and Lismore on Saturday (May 25); and Harrah’s Philadelphia will hold the Betsy Ross for pacing mares and the Maxie Lee Memorial for trotters on Sunday (May 26).