This Week: Hambletonian, Hambletonian Oaks, John Cashman Memorial, Sam McKee Memorial, Lady Liberty, Dr. John Steele Memorial, Cane Pace, Shady Daisy, Peter Haughton Memorial, and Jim Doherty Memorial, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action takes place this Saturday (Aug. 7) at Meadowlands Racetrack with one of the biggest Grand Circuit cards of the season.

The afternoon program is led by the $1 million Hambletonian, the second leg of trotting’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. Other major stakes races to be contested that day are the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old filly trotters, the $269,750 John Cashman Memorial for older trotters, two divisions in the $315,600 Sam McKee Memorial for older pacers, the $191,050 Lady Liberty for older pacing mares, the $187,400 Dr. John Steele Memorial for older trotting mares, the $276,150 Cane Pace, the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, the $97,550 Shady Daisy for 3-year-old pacing fillies, the $293,450 Peter Haughton Memorial for 2-year-old colt trotters, and the $326,850 Jim Doherty Memorial for 2-year-old filly trotters.

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

Last Time: Hellabalou used a pocket trip to pull off an 81-1 upset in a Meadowlands Pace elimination. He worked out a two-hole journey with Lightning Lane brush to take his Adios elimination. He couldn’t possibly fashion another garden trip in the Adios final, could he?

Hellabalou poured through the Lightning Lane to capture the $375,000 final of the 55th edition of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids. Chris Gooden photo.

He could and he did, pouring through the Lightning Lane once more to capture the $375,000 final of the 55th edition of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids Saturday (July 31) at The Meadows.

It was the first Adios title for both Hall of Fame driver Tim Tetrick and winning trainer Eddie Dennis. The son of Sweet Lou-Magestic Blue Chip now has banked $327,136 lifetime for owner Eric Good.

Rockyroad Hanover split horses for second, 1-1/4 lengths back, with Water Sports Teen, who did most of the heavy lifting, third. Winning time was 1:48.4.

Hellabalou zipped to the front from post five in a snappy :26 but yielded to the pocket when Water Sports Teen and Joe Bongiorno pressed him for the lead. Water Sports Teen was able to resist the first-over challenge of elimination winner Abuckabett Hanover, but the effort left him vulnerable to the inside thrust of Hellabalou. Tetrick said he thought Water Sports Teen would get him to the Lightning Lane.

“I was pretty sure the pocket would hold up,” Tetrick said. “Getting to the quarter in :26 wasn’t too bad, and Joe’s horse looked really strong when I let him go. I thought if he could take me there for a little bit, it would be great.”

Teased that he had used up his allotment of pocket trips for the rest of his career, Dennis replied: “I hope I got a couple more coming.

“When I saw him get to the front and Joe was still wide, I thought we were in a good spot because I know he’ll shoot up the inside real fast. I told Tim he’s as sure-footed as anything you’ll ever sit behind. Don’t ever worry about him putting in a step.”

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

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2021, 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 2021 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 7-31-21):

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 470; 2. Dexter Dunn – 453; 3. Tim Tetrick – 362; 4. Andrew McCarthy – 349.5; 5. David Miller – 315.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 638; 2. Nancy Takter – 291; 3. Tony Alagna – 278.5; 4. Marcus Melander – 236; 5. Ake Svanstedt – 187.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 126.9; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 115.7; 3. Courant Inc. – 107; 4. Brad Grant – 88.5; 5. Black Horse Racing – 88.4.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Northfield Park with the Carl Milstein Memorial for 3-year-old pacers; at Hoosier Park with the Dan Patch for free for all pacers; at the Indiana State Fair with the Fox Stake highlighting 10 stakes; and at Charlottetown Driving Park with the Gold Cup and Saucer eliminations for older pacers.