by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: American-National finals, Balmoral Park, Crete, Ill. and Matron eliminations, Dover Downs, Dover, Del.

Schedule of events: Balmoral Park will host eight American-National Grand Circuit stakes events on Saturday (Nov. 9). The card will feature the $275,000 (est.) 3-year-old colt pace, the $250,000 (est.) 3-year-old colt trot, the $200,000 (est.) open pace, the $180,000 (est.) open trot, the $150,000 (est.) 3-year-old filly pace, the $150,000 (est.) 3-year-old filly trot, the $115,000 2-year-old filly pace and the $113,000 2-year-old colt pace.

Dover Downs will feature seven sets of Matron eliminations on Sunday night (Nov. 10). There will be two elimination races in the $55,550 Matron for 2-year-old colt trotters and $43,550 Matron for 3-year-old filly pacers. Single eliminations will be held in the $54,750 3-year-old filly trot, the $53,462 3-year-old colt pace, the $51,525 2-year-old colt pace, the $51,075 3-year-old colt trot and the $44,175 2-year-old filly pace. Eliminations were not required for the 2-year-old filly trotters, but a field of eight will go to the post Sunday night in a $46,700 Matron preview.

Complete entries for the races are available at this link.

Last time: Jason Bartlett and the New York-bred Ronny Bugatti out-gamed a stubborn Sunfire Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) on the money, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $450,000 final of the Messenger Stakes — final jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown — for 3-year-old colts and geldings this past Saturday night.

Mike Lizzi photo

Ronny Bugatti held off Sunfire Blue Chip to win the Messenger.

Ronny Bugatti ducked inside in the lane and stopped Sunfire Blue Chip by a head in 1:51.4 — a track record for 3-year-old pacing geldings. Twilight Bonfire (Tim Tetrick), next-to-last early, rallied for third.

Ronny Bugatti, an Art Major gelding trained by Allan Johnson for co-owners Eric Prevost, Bridget McNeese and Tom Haughton, returned $14.80 for his third win in 15 seasonal starts.

Charisma Hanover (Yannick Gingras) romped to a stakes record Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway’s $178,684 final of the Lady Maud pace for 3-year-old fillies with the greatest of ease. The final margin was 3-1/2 lengths in 1:52. Certified Ideal managed to hold second from a very loose pocket, with Scandalous Hanover, Handsoffmycupcake and Antigua Hanover rounding out the payees.

Charisma Hanover, a daughter of Dragon Again co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke and Weaver Bruscemi, returned $2.90 for her 11th win in 17 ’13 tries.

At odds of 43-1, Dedi’s Dragon pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season as he was able to wear down the overwhelmingly favored Captaintreacherous late in the stretch to win the $252,000 Monument Circle for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Nov. 1. Driver Yannick Gingras was able to work out a perfect, second-over trip to get the sophomore colt home in 1:50.4.

Notching his fourth win from 20 seasonal outings, Dedi’s Dragon established a new lifetime mark with the victory. Dedi’s Dragon has now amassed $330,043 for his connections at Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Phil Collura and Tracy Hendler.

On a night ruled by upsets, Creatine and Mike Lachance stayed true to course to pull off a slight upset in the $286,500 Carl Erskine trot at Hoosier Park. After finishing second to Spider Blue Chip in the $500,000 Breeders Crown last month, Creatine was able to reverse the charges and use a sharp, front-running effort to hold off a late charge from the recent Breeders Crown champion and score in 1:54.3.

Notching his eighth win from 16 seasonal starts, Creatine has now earned $815,459 lifetime for his connections at Diamond Creek Racing. The Kentucky Futurity champion is sired by Andover Hall and has now won 11 of 23 lifetime outings for trainer Bob Stewart.

Pet Rock and David Miller followed suit in the $223,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby by holding off Breeders Crown champion Foiled Again late in the stretch to score in 1:50.3. After finishing second to Foiled Again in the Breeders Crown Open Pace, Pet Rock and Miller turned the tables and used a similar front-running effort to get the victory.

Virgil Morgan, Jr. trains the 4-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Casual Beauty for owner Frank Bellino. Notching his fifth win of the season, the multiple world champion has amassed $880,820 this season.

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

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2013, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will 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). Hanover Shoe Farms is the sponsor for the 2013 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,710; 2. Tim Tetrick – 1,417; 3. David Miller – 1,058; 4. Ron Pierce – 662.5; and 5. Brian Sears – 654.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,644.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,111.5; 3. Linda Toscano – 468.5; 4. Tony Alagna – 431; and 5. Jonas Czernyson – 422.5.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 368.9; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 346.95; 3. Brittany Farms – 256.8; 4. Frank Bellino – 248.5; and 5. WJ Donovan – 227.75.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next weekend at Maywood Park and Dover Downs. Maywood will host four Grand Circuit stakes led by the Windy City Pace for 3-year-old colts. Dover will host eight Matron Stake finals for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.