by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Matron Stakes, Dover Downs, Dover, Del.; Carl Erskine Trot, Monument Circle, the USS Indianapolis and the Crossroads of America, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind.; and Kindergarten finals, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit heads to Dover Downs this Thursday (Nov. 3) for four Matron Stakes for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The 2-year-old colt pace carries a purse of $171,300, the 2-year-old filly pacers will race for $170,000, the purse for the 2-year-old filly trot is $148,700 and the 2-year-old colt trotters will race for $147,100.

Hoosier Park will have four stakes races on the Friday (Nov. 4) card. Leading the way is the $220,000 Carl Erskine Trot for 3-year-old male trotters. Also on tap will be the $200,000 Monument Circle for 3-year-old male pacers, the $115,000 Crossroads of America for 3-year-old filly trotters and the $112,500 USS Indianapolis for 3-year-old filly pacers.

The Saturday (Nov. 5) card at Meadowlands Racetrack features the four Kindergarten Series finals for 2-year-old pacers and trotters. The 2-year-old colt trot carries a purse of $200,600, the 2-year-old filly trotters will race for $190,200, the purse for the 2-year-old colt pace is $149,800 and the 2-year-old filly pacers will race for $149,100.

Complete entries for the races are available at this link.

Last time: Meadowlands Racetrack was in the Grand Circuit spotlight last weekend as the New Jersey oval hosted 12 Breeders Crown finals.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Always B Miki was a 1:49 winner in the Breeders Crown Open Pace.

The much-anticipated showdown between the top two pacers in the world lived up to the hype as Always B Miki forged ahead by three-quarters of a length to upend 2015 Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit to capture his second straight $421,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace on Friday (Oct. 28). The 3-5 favorite, Always B Miki, driven by David Miller and trained by Jimmy Takter, paid $3.20.

Wiggle It Jiggleit stormed to the lead right from the gate and led throughout with Always B Miki right at his heels in second place every step of the way until surging ahead to take the lead right at the wire. Wiggle It Jiggleit, with Montrell Teague aboard the 6-5 second choice, finished second and Shamballa, with Scott Zeron aboard, was third.

Always B Miki (Always A Virgin-Artstopper) won in fractions of :27.1, :55.1, 1:22.1, and a finishing time of 1:49. He is owned by Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Christina Takter.

In an impressive and record fashion, the last Breeders Crown winner of the season was Racing Hill. He took the lead with an eighth of a mile to go and held off 60-1 Manhattan Beach to capture the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings in a stakes record of 1:48 on Saturday (Oct. 29). The previous record of 1:48.3 was held by Somebeachsomewhere, which he took in 2008.

The 2-1 second choice, owned by Tom Hill, driven by Brett Miller and trained by Tony Alagna, paid $6.40 to win. For Alagna, the victory was the 1,000th training win of his career. The win was the second Breeders Crown title for both Miller and Alagna.

The duo of Tim Tetrick and Jimmy Takter did it again when Bar Hopping, the 4-5 favorite, kicked off cover and won by 1-1/2 lengths to capture the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Saturday. Split times were :28.3, :56.2 and 1:24.1, with the mile time of 1:51.4 equaling the stakes record of Father Patrick, established in 2014 (also trained by Takter). Southwind Frank, driven by Yannick Gingras, finished second. Double L Lindy, driven by Åke Svanstedt, finished third.

It was Bar Hopping’s sixth win in his last seven races, and the 30th career Breeders Crown victory posted by Takter. Bar Hopping, who won $250,000 for his efforts, paid $3.80. He is owned by Christina Takter, Hatfield Stables, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. Bar Hopping now has lifetime earnings of $1,163,033.

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

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2016, 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 Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the current leaders:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,503.5; 2. David Miller – 1,215; 3. Tim Tetrick – 1,149.5; 4. Scott Zeron – 601.5; 5. Brett Miller – 589.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,424.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,398.5; 3. Tony Alagna – 573; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 466; 5. Julie Miller – 422.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 324.42; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 269.92; 3. Marvin Katz – 268.3; 4. Tom Hill – 229; 5. Al Libfeld – 216.8.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Dover Downs, Meadowlands Racetrack and Woodbine Racetrack. Dover will host the Matron Stakes for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits; The Meadowlands will host the TVG Series finals for older trotters and pacers; and Woodbine will have eliminations for four 2-year-olds races — the Governor’s Cup, Valley Victory, Three Diamonds and Goldsmith Maid.