by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Maywood Park Grand Circuit, Maywood Park, Melrose Park, Ill. and Matron finals, Dover Downs, Dover, Del.

Schedule of events: Maywood Park will host four Grand Circuit stakes events on Friday (Nov. 15). The card is led by the $177,000 Windy City for 3-year-old colt pacers and also features the $110,000 Galt for 3-year-old colt trotters, the $87,000 Abe Lincoln for 2-year-old colt pacers and the $73,000 Cinderella for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Dover Downs will offer eight Matron Stakes finals on Sunday (Nov. 17). On the card will be the $166,650 final for 2-year-old colt trotters, the $164,250 final for 3-year-old filly trotters, the $160,388 final for 3-year-old colt pacers, the $154,575 final for 2-year-old colt pacers, the $153,225 final for 3-year-old colt trotters, the $140,100 final for 2-year-old filly trotters, the $132,525 final for 2-year-old filly pacers and the $130,650 final for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Complete entries for the races are available at this link.

Last time: Eight American-National stakes were contested this past Saturday (Nov. 9) at Balmoral Park featuring many of the top stars in the sport. Below are some of the highlights of that excellent night of racing.

Balmoral Park photo

Bee A Magician rallied to win the American-National 3-year-old filly trot in a time of 1:55.2.

Bee A Magician kept her perfect 2013 record unblemished as she stormed through the inside to win the $118,500 American-National 3-year-old filly trot in 1:55.2. The sophomore daughter of Kadabra-Beehive was driven handily by Brian Sears for trainer Nifty Norman and owners Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee. Bee A Magician posted her 16th seasonal victory. The win increased her 2013 earnings to $1,420,804 and her lifetime bankroll to $2,187,456.

Captaintreacherous battled a game Lucan Hanover all the way to the wire, gutting out a 1:49 victory in the $256,000 American-National for 3-year-old colt pacers. Tim Tetrick steered the Tony Alagna-trained son of Somebeachsomewhere-Worldly Treasure to his 13th triumph in 15 starts this season, pushing his 2013 earnings to $2,055,033.

Pet Rock stormed down the Balmoral Park stretch to win the $200,000 American-National Open Pace in a new track record clocking of 1:48.2 for driver David Miller. The 4-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Casual Beauty came flying late to overtake the hard-trying Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) by a head for owner Frank Bellino. Harnessed by trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr., Pet Rock notched his sixth win of the season in 17 starts, and his 16th career triumph. He now has $972,820 in seasonal earnings and $1,984,204 in career earnings for his connections.

Market Share wore down the leader Maven to win the $200,000 American-National Open Trot in a new track record of 1:52.1 with Tim Tetrick in the sulky. Linda Toscano trains the 4-year-old Revenue S-Classical Flirt horse, who last won his $600,000 Breeders Crown test at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. It was the 20th career victory for Market Share.

The Matron Stakes eliminations were featured on a standout Sunday (Nov. 10) program at Dover Downs. Drivers John Campbell and Corey Callahan had two wins each while trainer Jimmy Takter also had a double. This Sunday (Nov. 17), the top eight finishers in each of the eight classes return for lucrative finals.

Complete recaps of all the 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 – 1,760; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,502; 3. David Miller – 1,103; 4. Brian Sears – 699.5; and 5. Ron Pierce – 662.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,694.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,111.5; 3. Linda Toscano – 488.5; 4. Tony Alagna – 461; and 5. Jonas Czernyson – 437.5.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 385.5; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 363.55; 3. Frank Bellino – 268.5; 4. Brittany Farms – 258.05; and 5. WJ Donovan – 242.75.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack and Dover Downs. The Meadowlands will host legs of the TVG FFA Series for trotters and pacers, as well as eliminations for four 2-year-old stakes — the Governor’s Cup, Valley Victory, Three Diamonds and Goldsmith Maid. Dover will host eliminations in the Progress Pace for 3-year-old pacing colts.