by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy series second legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (March 24) in the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (March 25) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the second round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers. Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: Yonkers Raceway’s George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series for Free-For-Allers began Saturday night (March 18), with a quartet of $50,000 divisions over a ‘sloppy’ surface.

Mike Lizzi photo

The opening Levy event saw Missile J (Tim Tetrick) charge from sixth in the lane to win going away in 1:54.1.

The opening event saw 3-2 choice Missile J (Tim Tetrick) charge from sixth in the lane to win going away in 1:54.1. Unhurried from post position two, he rolled late, whipping a pocketed Blood Brother (Jason Bartlett) by 1-1/2 lengths. Third went to a rallying Guantanamo Bay (Scott Zeron), with Burning N (Ron Cushing) and a pace-setting Keystone Velocity (Dan Dube) settling for the remainder.

For Missile J, a 4-year-old American Ideal gelding trained by Scott DiDomenico for co-owners John McGill and Brian Carsey, it was his fifth win in six seasonal starts.

Saturday night’s second Levy grouping saw Long Live Rock (Dube) author a decisive, first-over upset. Moving from fourth, from post two, he dismissed 1-2 favorite McWicked (Zeron), then drew off to win by three lengths in 1:54.1. Season-debuting All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley) couldn’t match the winner’s tow but finished second, with Mattamerican (Brett Miller) third. Santa Fe Beachboy (Jordan Stratton) and Melmerby Beach (Tetrick) grabbed the minors. McWicked, caught three-deep early, wound up a badly-beaten seventh.

For Long Live Rock, an 8-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding owned and trained by Rene Allard, it was his first win in six seasonal starts.

The evening’s third series soiree had Provocativeprincen (Stratton) — from post two — prevail in a blanket finish. Away third, he engaged Bettor’s Edge (Miller), then outgamed a pocketed Rockin Ron (Yannick Gingras) by a head in 1:54.2. Mach It So (Tetrick) in his first seasonal start, was third, beaten a neck, with Bettor’s Edge and Texas Terror N (Mark MacDonald) earning the lesser loot.

Provocativeprincen, a 7-year-old Down Under Grinfromeartoear gelding owned by Harry von Knoblauch Stable and trained by Peter Tritton, is now 4-for-4 to begin the season.

The first round’s final foray offered the fastest feet as Soto (Kakaley), pacing from the pocket, was able to get ‘first run’ against defending series champion Bit Of A Legend N (Stratton). The former, from post three, whipped the latter by a half-length in 1:53.3. Bit Of A Legend N, as the 2-5 choice, was second-up and may have waited a tad too long. Pace-setting Somewhere In L A (Bartlett), Wakizashi Hanover (Tetrick) and Always At My Place (Gingras) rounded out the payees.

For Soto, a 5-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven trained by Eric Ell for co-owners Ken Wood, William Dittmar Jr. and Stephen Iaquinta, it was his fifth win in nine ’17 starts.

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

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 following the opening weekend at Yonkers:

Drivers: 1. Jason Bartlett – 27; 2. Matt Kakaley – 20; 3. Jordan Stratton – 15; 4. Scott Zeron – 14; 5. Tim Tetrick – 12.

Trainers: 1. Richard Banca – 17; 2. Peter Tritton – 15; 3. Scott DiDomenico – 12; 4t. Rene Allard – 10; 4t. Keith Armer – 10; 4t. Eric Ell – 10; 4t. Heidi Gibbs – 10; 4t. Ron Burke – 10.

Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch Stable – 15: 2t. Rene Allard – 10; 2t. Fred Monteleone Stable – 10; 4t. Brian Carsey – 5; 4t. Ron Cushing – 5; 4t. Jesmeral Stable – 5; 4t. Legacy Racing of DE – 5; 4t. John McGill – 5; 4t. Kevin Sywyk – 5.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy over the next three weekends. The finals and consolations for both events will be held on April 22.