by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director

This Week: Mohawk Grand Circuit, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit racing at Mohawk begins on Thursday (August 30) with two divisions in the C$242,763 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters. Action continues on Friday (August 31) with a pair of divisions in the C$279,829 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old open trotters. The Saturday (Sept. 1) program has the C$246,521 Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old open trotters. The Monday (Sept. 3) card is highlighted by the C$205,000 (est.) Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers. The Tuesday (Sept. 4) program features the C$205,000 (est.) Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters. Action concludes on Saturday (Sept. 8) with a trio of events — the C$300,000 (est.) Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old open pacers, the C$230,000 (est.) Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers and the C$230,000 (est.) Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old open pacers.

Last time: The Grand Circuit was at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville this past Wednesday (August 22) with the $190,800 Kentuckiana Stallion Management trot for 2-year-old fillies.

John Carver and Howard Taylor’s homebred Handover Belle posted her second win in three lifetime starts, scoring in a personal best time of 1:56. Mike Lachance was in the bike for trainer Tony Alagna as the Andover Hall-Harbour Belle miss improved her lifetime earnings to $102,900 with the victory.

Heavily favored Frau Blucher (Brian Sears) overcame a break at the start to finish second, 1-3/4 lengths behind the winner, while Changed It All (Tyler Smith) earned the show dough.

The victory was the second straight for Handover Belle, who last raced on August 2 when she won a $10,000 Kindergarten Series event at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: David Miller continues to lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings with 13 winners. Tim Tetrick is in second place with 10 victories. Dave Palone checks in third with eight winners. Yannick Gingras, Ron Pierce and Jimmy Takter share fourth place, each with seven victories. Matt Kakaley, Jim Morrill, Jr. and Ray Schnittker are tied for seventh place, each with five wins. Tony Hall rounds out the top ten with four victories in 2012.

Looking ahead: Following the stop at Mohawk, the Grand Circuit will be off until action resumes on Sept. 19 at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair. The featured event at Delaware will be the $650,000 (est.) Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old colts, the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown.

The remaining 2012 schedule for the Grand Circuit is as follows.

Track–Dates
Mohawk–August 30-September 8
Delaware, Ohio County Fair–September 16-September 20
The Red Mile–September 27-October 7
Breeders Crown at Woodbine–October 19-October 27
Balmoral Park–November 3-November 10
Maywood Park–November 16