by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Harness racing’s top money-winning driver, Tim Tetrick, will be driving some of the sport’s top horses Saturday as the Grand Circuit meet continues at Lexington’s Red Mile with the $510,300 Tattersalls Pace for 3-year-old male pacers, two $111,000 divisions of the Glen Garnsey Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers and four $86,000-plus divisions of the International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers.

Tetrick, who has accumulated $14.22 million in purses this year, will be sitting behind three of harness racing’s top-rated stars on Saturday: 2-year-old colt pacer Captaintreacherous, 3-year-old filly pacer American Jewel and 3-year-old colt trotter Market Share. Tetrick is on his way to leading all drivers in purses for the sixth consecutive season, as well as surpassing $15 million for the sixth consecutive campaign. Brian Sears is the only other driver in history to top $15 million in a year, having done it in 2005 and 2008.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Captaintreacherous heads into the International Stallion Stakes with six wins in seven starts and earnings of $790,478.

Captaintreacherous, who is ranked No. 5 in the sport’s current Top 10 poll, has won six of seven races this year and earned $790,478 for owners Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco and White Birch Farm. Tony Alagna trains the well-bred son of Somebeachsomewhere-Worldly Treasure.

Last week, Captaintreacherous won his division of the Bluegrass Stakes by 1-1/2 lengths over Good Day Mate in 1:51.3. Captaintreacherous, who earlier this year won the Metro Pace and Woodrow Wilson, raced on the outside for much of the mile.

“That was maybe one of his best performances all year,” Tetrick said. “He sat outside and took his time and when I called on him at the top of the lane he raced like a real professional. The trip didn’t work out perfect, but he overcame it. He’s just a plain, flat-good horse. He overcomes bad trips, bad drives, and still makes you look great.”

Captaintreacherous will start Saturday’s International Stallion Stakes division from post one. The field also includes Good Day Mate, who will leave from post two.

American Jewel, who is ranked No. 8 in the Top 10, has won six of 12 races and $806,499 this year for trainer Jimmy Takter and owner Brittany Farms. She has won 14 of 21 career starts and earned $1.48 million. She will compete in the second of the two Garnsey divisions, while stablemate Romantic Moment headlines the first split.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

American Jewel won her Bluegrass division in a time of 1:50.1.

Last week, American Jewel won her Bluegrass Stakes division by 3-1/4 lengths over Destiny’s Chance in 1:50.1. She will start her Garnsey division from post one in a seven-horse field that includes Jugette winner Darena Hanover and 2-year-old divisional champion Economy Terror.

“She raced good last week,” Tetrick said. “I was happy with her. She showed good speed around the last turn, so I was happy with that. Hopefully we get a good spot and don’t have to use her too much and get the job done so we can go to the Breeders Crown off two wins and be the horse to beat for the Breeders Crown.”

Market Share, who is rated No. 4 in the Top 10, will not compete in a stakes race Saturday, but will use a late closer for 3-year-old male trotters as a prep for the Breeders Crown at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Eliminations, if necessary, for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt trot are scheduled for Oct. 20 and the $500,000 final is Oct. 27.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Market Share has banked $1.76 million this year.

Saturday’s start will be Market Share’s first since winning the $1.03 million Canadian Trotting Classic on Sept. 15 at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. Market Share has won seven of 15 races this year and $1.76 million. He has 12 career victories in 20 starts, with earnings of $1.79 million. He is trained by Linda Toscano and owned by Richard Gutnick, TLP Stable and William Augustine.

“I think he’s going to be fine,” Tetrick said. “He’s had a great year. He’s really fresh; I watched him train (Wednesday) morning and he looked awesome. He’s just a good horse.”

Market Share, who is not eligible to Sunday’s Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile, has won four of his last seven races and finished no worse than second in the other three. His wins include the $1.5 million Hambletonian and the $350,000 Zweig Memorial.

“He’s not had really any hard trips,” Tetrick said. “That always makes a difference. I’m super impressed with the little guy. He just keeps getting the job done. Everybody says he’s super lucky, but I guess it’s better to be lucky than good.”

Tetrick’s busy afternoon at The Red Mile also will include driving Mel Mara in the Tattersalls. Mel Mara, who drew post 10 in the 12-horse field, is coming off a 2-1/4 length win over Sweet Lou in 1:49.4 in their division of the Bluegrass Stakes. He is owned by Brittany Farms, John Carver and Riverview Farms. He has won three of 14 races this year and earned $209,751. Mel Mara was supplemented into the race at a cost of $60,000.

“He was very, very good (last week),” Tetrick said. “He’s got a lot of speed. He went right at them.”

The Tattersalls also includes Adios winner Bolt The Duer, Meadowlands Pace champ A Rocknroll Dance, North America Cup winner Thinking Out Loud and 2-year-old divisional champion Sweet Lou.