by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Ben Franklin Pace, Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, Max C. Hempt Memorial and James M. Lynch Memorial finals, The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Cleveland Trotting Classic, Northfield Park, Northfield, Ohio; Tompkins-Geers, Tioga Downs, Nichols, N.Y.; and Landmark Stakes, Historic Track, Goshen, N.Y.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit spotlight will once again be on The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono this Saturday night (July 1) as the track will host four lucrative stakes finals in the $500,000 Ben Franklin for older pacers, the $500,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old trotters, the $500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial for 3-year-old male pacers and the $300,000 James M. Lynch Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Also on Saturday, Northfield Park will host the $185,000 Cleveland Trotting Classic for older trotters.

On Sunday (July 2), Tioga Downs will host the $66,000 (est.) Tompkins-Geers for 3-year-old male pacers and the $53,000 (est.) Tompkins-Geers for 3-year-old filly pacers.

The long holiday weekend of Grand Circuit racing will conclude on Monday (July 3) as Historic Track will card eight Landmark Stakes for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.

Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: Ariana G, Mel Mara, and Downbytheseaside were impressive in victories in the Sun Stakes eliminations Saturday (June 24) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in a night with a healthy dose of favorites and a sprinkling of longshots as victors.

Each of this week’s (July 1) championship events on the $2 million Sun Stakes Saturday card — the $500,000 Ben Franklin Free-For-All Pace, the $500,000 Earl Beal 3-year-old trot, the $500,000 Max C. Hempt 3-year-old colt pace, and the $300,000 James Lynch 3-year-old filly pace — had enough entrants to necessitate three elimination divisions, with the top three finishers returning for their respective championship event.

Curtis Salonick photo

Ariana G won her Beal elimination in a time of 1:53.4.

Perhaps the most respected thing a harness horse can be is a 3-year-old trotting filly taking on and defeating colts. If that’s true, Ariana G is the most respected harness horse racing, as the superstar filly raced against colts in a Beal elimination and couldn’t have been more impressive, or an easier winner.

The daughter of Muscle Hill worked her way to the lead before the time of :27.3 went up for the first quarter and such was the respect she engenders that she was allowed a :57.4 half. Bill’s Man came up to challenge uncovered before the 1:26.1 three-quarters, but driver Yannick Gingras looked over unconcerned, letting his filly trot home in :27.3 to complete a 1:53.4 mile. Bill’s Man held gamely for second, 1-1/2 lengths off the winner, with Moonshiner Hanover rallying to nip Muscles Jared for third and a spot in the final. The Jimmy Takter trainee is perfect in three starts this year and is 12 for 14 lifetime with earnings of $816,467 for owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

Mel Mara looked as impressive as anyone on the card, drawing clear through the stretch to win his elimination in 1:48.4. Rockin Ron rallied up the inside for second, while Rock N’ Roll World kept on going to just nip Luck Be Withyou for third. Mel Mara, a son of Lis Mara, now has three wins and a second in four seasonal starts, with earnings of $751,464. Corey Callahan was in his usual perch in the sulky for trainer Dylan Davis and the ownership of Robert Cooper Stables and J&T Silva Stables.

Downbytheseaside continues to show a one call at all of his three-quarter calls, but never did he have to work harder to get this one, as he went a tough first-over trip then still prevailed in 1:49.2. The victorious son of Somebeachsomewhere showed gameness in the lane, as Pennsylvania Stallion Series champion Donttellmeagain cleared between horses in the lane and came with a head of steam, only to miss by a half-length. Eddard Hanover rallied from the pocket to be third behind the winner of $875,606, owned by Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo, and Diamond Creek Racing. Brian Sears drove for trainer Brian Brown.

Complete recaps of the weekend races, including the other Pocono stakes eliminations, 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 through and including the races on June 24.

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 283; 2. David Miller – 198; 3. Matt Kakaley – 155; 4. Jason Bartlett – 150; 5. Tim Tetrick – 147.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 292; 2. Peter Tritton – 132; 3. Rene Allard – 129; 4. Brian Brown – 90; 5. Richard Banca – 86.

Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch Stable – 103.5; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 67.8; 3. J&T Silva Stables – 57.2; 4. Weaver Bruscemi – 55.7; 5. Determination – 42.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Meadowlands Racetrack and Yonkers Raceway. The Meadowlands will host the Graduate Series finals for 4-year-old pacers and trotters, Meadowlands Pace eliminations for 3-year-olds, a Reynolds division for 3-year-old filly trotters, and the first leg of the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old colt and filly trotters. Yonkers features Lawrence Sheppard eliminations for 2-year-old pacers.