by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director

This Week: Pennsylvania All-Stars, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Schedule of events: Pennsylvania All-Stars action at Pocono begins on Tuesday (July 3) with six $30,000 divisions in the $180,000 2-year-old colt trot and six $30,000 splits in the $180,000 2-year-old colt pace. Featured on the Wednesday (July 4) card will be seven $30,000 divisions in the $210,000 2-year-old filly pace. The Friday (July 6) card offers the $75,000 (est.) 2-year-old filly trot. The Saturday (July 7) program will feature the $75,000 (est.) 3-year-old colt trot and the $75,000 (est.) 3-year-old colt pace. The $75,000 (est.) 3-year-old filly pace and the $75,000 (est.) 3-year-old filly trot will conclude the festivities on Sunday (July 8).

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Hayworth Blue Chip was one of five Landmark winners piloted by Ray Schnittker.

Last time: Ray Schnittker drove five Landmark Stakes winners, all from his own stable, at Goshen, scoring with Hayworth Blue Chip ($14,090 3-year-old filly pace), Lima Playmate ($11,140 3-year-old filly trot), Thirty Two Red ($7,235 2-year-old colt pace division), Simaz ($7,235 2-year-old colt trot division) and Daytona Blue Chip ($4,785 2-year-old filly trot division).

Seven other drivers each posted one win in the remaining Landmark divisions, with Gareth Dowse driving the sixth Schnittker stable winner, Station Threeohsix, to victory lane in the $15,990 3-year-old colt pace.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Ray Schnittker is in first place in the Grand Circuit driving standings with five wins. Jeff Gregory is in second place with two victories. D.R. Ackerman, Stephane Bouchard, Gareth Dowse, Jacqueline Ingrassia, Mark MacDonald, Jim Marshall, Jim Morrill, Jr., Ron Pierce, Tony Schadel and Peter Wrenn share third place, each with one victory in 2012.

Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit’s next stop will be at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. Tioga will offer the Tompkins-Geers Stakes for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits beginning on Thursday (July 19).

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

Track–Dates
Tioga Downs–July 19-July 22
Meadows–July 23-July 28
Meadowlands–August 2-August 4
Illinois State Fair (Springfield)–August 13-August 19
Harrah’s Chester–August 16-August 19
Indiana State Fair (Indianapolis)–August 17
Indiana Downs–August 22-August 25
Mohawk–September 1-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