by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Maple Leaf Trot, Canadian Trotting Classic, Elegantimage, William Wellwood Memorial and Peaceful Way finals and Milton Stake eliminations, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario; and Kindergarten Series, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action kicks off at the Meadowlands on Friday (Sept. 16) with three $10,000 divisions in the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old colt trotters and two $10,000 divisions in the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old filly trotters. On Saturday (Sept. 17) the Meadowlands will offer two $10,000 divisions in the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old colt pacers and two 10,000 contests in the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old filly pacers.

Grand Circuit action at Mohawk will be held on Saturday with the C$632,000 Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters, the C$687,000 Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old male trotters, the C$436,000 Elegantimage for 3-year-old filly trotters, the C$350,000 William Wellwood Memorial for 2-year-old male trotters, the C$363,000 Peaceful Way final for 2-year-old filly trotters, and two C$35,000 eliminations in the Milton Stake for older pacing mares.

Complete entries for the Meadowlands races are available at this link. Entries for the Mohawk races are available at this link.

Last time: When the horses placed their hooves on the track for the post parade of the $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial on Saturday (Sept. 10) at Eldorado Scioto Downs, the throng lining the fence let out a roar for defending Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit. The stands were packed to catch a glimpse of an athlete that has captured the hearts and imaginations of legions of fans during his two-year career.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Always B Miki equaled his own all-age world record for pacers on a five-eighths-mile track with a 1:47 score over Wiggle It Jiggleit in the $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial.

When the horses crossed the finish line, however, all those in attendance had shifted their adulation to honor the effort of his winning rival, Always B Miki, for not only had they been privy to witness greatness, but they were present for a world record equaling performance of 1:47, that will surely become an integral component of the sport’s history.

That time equaled the all-age mark for a pacer on a five-eighths-mile oval set by Sweet Lou in 2014 and equaled by Always B Miki in both the Ben Franklin elimination and final earlier this year. Those miles all came at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

When the superb field of nine left the gate, Always B Miki, who commenced pacing from post six, was the 4-5 favorite but Wiggle It Jiggleit at 8-5 was also receiving his share of support at the windows.

Shortly after the starter allowed the horses to begin the mile, Eric Goodell sent Luck Be Withyou to the lead from post position five. Wiggle It Jiggleit and his regular reinsman Montrell Teague were not content to allow that competitor to cut the mile and made their move to the front from post position eight. Miller and Always B Miki had their own designs on the lead. The crowd was gasping at the sheer speed displayed by the pacers as Luck Be Withyou had laid down a scorching :25.2 first quarter.

Wiggle It Jiggleit brushed to the lead in front of the grandstand before Always B Miki procured the lead on the outside by the half-mile marker. The Jimmy Takter trainee appeared to pay the price for that effort when :53 flashed on the timer. As Wiggle It Jiggleit sat second, Always B Miki still maintained a head advantage after three-quarters in a sizzling 1:19.

Wiggle It Jiggleit appeared poised to come through on the inside and overhaul Always B Miki down the lane, but the 5-year-old stallion would not be denied. After a nip and tuck battle between these two champions, Always B Miki prevailed. Several hundred feet from the wire, he repelled the bid of Wiggle It Jiggleit and hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front. Luck Be Withyou raced exceptionally well to be third, while Freaky Feet Pete, who had a very tough trip, finished fourth.

Conditioned by Jimmy Takter and owned by Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Christina Takter, Always B Miki paid $3.80 to win.

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 – 899.5; 2. David Miller – 663; 3. Tim Tetrick – 638.5; 4. Brett Miller – 333.5; 5. Matt Kakaley – 291.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 831.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 775.5; 3. Tony Alagna – 388; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 276; 5. Linda Toscano – 237.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 196.47; 2. Tom Hill – 177; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 160.82; 4.Harry von Knoblauch – 149.5; 5. Marvin Katz – 147.05.

Looking ahead: A busy schedule of Grand Circuit racing will be taking place next week at the Delaware County Fair, Mohawk Racetrack, and Hoosier Park. Delaware will be hosting nine Grand Circuit events, led by the Little Brown Jug, the third and final leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds; Mohawk will feature the final of the Milton Stake for pacing mares; and Hoosier will host six Grand Circuit races, including the Centuar for open trotters and the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for open pacers.