by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Battle of the Brandywine, Colonial and Valley Forge, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Gold Cup and Saucer final, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino, Charlottetown, PEI; Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ont.; Prix d’Ete, Hippodrome 3R, Trois Rivieres, Quebec; and Kindergarten Series leg, Vernon Downs, Vernon, N.Y.

Schedule of events: An extremely busy week of Grand Circuit action kicks off on Thursday (Aug. 18) at Vernon Downs with three $10,000 divisions in the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old filly trotters and two $10,000 divisions in the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old colt trotters. On Friday (Aug. 19), Vernon will host two $10,000 divisions in the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old filly pacers and a single $10,000 race in the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old colt pacers.

Saturday’s (Aug. 20) Grand Circuit action will be led by a trio of stakes at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The Battle of the Brandywine for 3-year-old colt pacers and the Colonial for 3-year-old colt trotters both feature a $500,000 final and $200,000 and $100,000 consolations; the Valley Forge for 3-year-old filly pacers offers a $350,000 final and $150,000 consolation.

Also on Saturday, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino will host the C$60,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final for older pacers, while Mohawk Racetrack will contest two divisions in the C$211,000 Nassagaweya for 2-year-old colt pacers and two divisions in the C$211,100 Eternal Camnation for 2-year-old filly pacers.

Grand Circuit action concludes on Sunday (Aug. 21) at Hippodrome 3R with the C$200,000 Prix d’Ete for 4-year-old pacers.

Complete entries for the races at the U.S. tracks are available at this link. Entries for the Canadian tracks are available at this link.

Last time: There was a throbbing energy throughout the Friday (Aug. 12) evening that not only emanated from those in attendance at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, but from those individuals not present to witness what could very well be the most stellar field ever assembled in the 23-year-old history of the $325,000 Dan Patch Stakes and certainly no one could possess one ounce of disappointment at the outcome.

Dean Gillette photo

Wiggle It Jiggleit captured the 2016 Dan Patch Stakes at Hoosier Park.

Not only did Wiggle It Jiggleit appear defeated in mid-stretch, the defending Horse of the Year, known at times for his erratic antics off the track, displayed a new dimension in his racing style as he strode up the rail to hand Always B Miki his second consecutive defeat. The son of Mr Wiggles-Mozzi Hanover, with Montrell Teague in his customary position in the bike, tripped the timer in 1:49.1.

As expected, Wiggle It Jiggleit was placed on the lead leaving the gate from post position one, with Freaky Feet Pete, who began to pace his mile right next to him, right behind him. Wakizashi Hanover followed his colleagues in third, with the public selection Always B Miki in fourth. The gelding clicked off the contest’s first fraction in a sensible :27 and tossed down another comfortable :27.4 quarter before David Miller brushed Always B Miki straight to the lead.

Wiggle It Jiggle was content to sit in the pocket as Trace Tetrick and Freaky Feet Pete were satisfied with remaining in third. As Always B Miki hit the three-quarter pole in 1:22.4, Tetrick decided he could wait no longer to make a move and gave Freaky Feet Pete enough rein to surge alongside Always B Miki. The hometown hero, however, could not sustain his bid and failed to clear the world champion.

After Always B Miki repelled Freak Feet Pete’s challenge, it appeared the Dan Patch title would be the next revered stake to grace his resume. Wiggle It Jiggleit and Teague, however, were far from finished and coveted that accolade as their own.

Teague angled the gelding in towards the rail and Wiggle It Jiggleit gamely responded to spurt through on the inside and pull away from his rival to best him by a length. All Bets Off and Shamballa battled behind the top two, with the former pacing a sizzling :25.2 final panel to hit the wire in tandem for third place, as they could not be separated at the wire.

Betting Line ($2.40), driven by David Miller, won the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park in 1:51 on Saturday (Aug. 13).

He started from post two and sat third through a :25.4 opening quarter. Miller pulled first over in the second turn and pressed the leader, Mr Wiggle Pants, through fractions of :54.4 and 1:22.3. Betting Line bobbled around the final turn, but sprinted away after regaining composure, and bested his competition by four lengths.

Saturday’s win was Betting Line’s eighth consecutive victory. His lone loss this year was a runner-up performance in his 2016 Mowawk Racetrack debut. Betting Line (Bettor’s Delight-Heather’s Western) increased his career bankroll to $1,133,505 for owners West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol. Casie Coleman is the trainer.

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 – 550.5; 2. Tim Tetrick – 492.5; 3. David Miller – 441; 4. Matt Kakaley – 281; 5. Brett Miller – 276.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 696.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 491.5; 3. Clyde Francis – 182.5; 4. Linda Toscano – 181; 5. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 175.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 164.77; 2. Harry von Knoblauch – 149.5; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 135.82; 4. Bamond Racing – 117; 5. Tom Hill – 97.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Vernon Downs, Yonkers Raceway, Mohawk Racetrack, The Meadows and Tioga Downs. Vernon will host the Crawford Farm Trot and Muscle Hill Trot for 3-year-olds. Yonkers will contest the Lady Maud and Hudson Filly Trot, plus eliminations for the Messenger Stakes and Yonkers Trot, the second legs of the Pacing and Trotting Triple Crown. Mohawk Racetrack will contest eliminations in the Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers, the Metro for 2-year-old colt pacers and the She’s A Great Lady for 2-year-old filly pacers. The Meadows has the Nadia Lobell for 3-year-old filly pacers. Tioga Downs will offer the Artiscape for older pacing mares and Reynolds Memorial divisions for 2-year-olds.