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

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action begins on Friday (Aug. 4) at Meadowlands Racetrack with two $20,000 divisions of the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old colt trotters, 2-year-old filly trotters and 2-year-old filly pacers and a single $20,000 division for 2-year-old colt pacers.

Then on Saturday (Aug. 5) The Meadowlands hosts 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 $278,000 John Cashman Memorial for older trotters, two divisions in the $258,750 Sam McKee Memorial for older pacers, the $171,400 Lady Liberty for older pacing mares, the $131,250 Dr. John Steele Memorial for older trotting mares, the $315,750 Cane Pace, the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, and the $100,000 Shady Daisy for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

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

Last Time: As the field turned for home in Saturday’s (July 29) $350,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, two questions remained before the house: Could Cannibal find the Lightning Lane in enough time to speed by the trio vying for the lead? Would he have enough pop to overtake them?

Cannibal soared through the Lightning Lane and gobbled up his foes to win the 57th edition of the Adios. Chris Gooden photo.

The answers were he could and he did, as Cannibal poured through the Lightning Lane to capture a head victory in 1:49 in the 57th edition of the Adios.

It’s My Show, the favorite who set a world record 1:47.4 in his elimination, quarter-poled to the top for Scott Zeron but was forced to a swift :53.3 front half. That was the signal for Redwood Hanover to move first-over from fifth while Seven Colors picked up live cover. As they thundered down the stretch, all four had victory within reach. But Cannibal and Yannick Gingras took advantage of the best trip, downing Redwood Hanover by a head, with Seven Colors a close-up third. It’s My Show had to settle for fourth.

Gingras said he wasn’t confident he had enough racetrack left to get the job done.

“I liked the spot I got in early in the race, and I could see It’s My Show getting a little tired,” he said. “But when I saw Palone’s horse (Seven Colors), I was a little worried that I wouldn’t get there in time. It’s actually exactly how I saw the race unfold. About once every hundred races, it does unfold the way you see it.”

It was the second Adios title for Gingras, who triumphed in 2013 with Sunfire Blue Chip for trainer Jimmy Takter, a Hall of Famer and the father of Saturday’s winning conditioner, Nancy Takter.

Cannibal, a son of Sweet Lou-No More Losses, has won six of seven starts this year, tasting defeat only in the Meadowlands Pace final. He now has banked $369,978 for owner-breeder Diamond Creek Racing.

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

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2023, 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 2023 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 7-29-23):

Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 468; 2. Yannick Gingras – 452; 3. Scott Zeron – 363; 4. Tim Tetrick – 311; 5. David Miller – 282.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 525; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 362; 3. Linda Toscano – 245; 4. Nancy Takter – 243; 5. Marcus Melander – 186.

Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 141.7; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 103.7; 3. Mark Ford – 98; 4. Ken Jacobs – 90.5; 5. Jorgen Sparredal Inc. – 81.3.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at MGM Northfield Park with the Carl Milstein Memorial for 3-year-old pacers; at Harrah’s 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.