by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: W. N. Reynolds Memorial, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Schedule of events: Reynolds Memorial action at Pocono begins on Tuesday (July 6) with four divisions in the $100,000 2-year-old colt trot and three splits in the $75,217 3-year-old filly pace. Featured on the Wednesday (July 7) card will be five divisions in the $125,000 2-year-old filly pace and three splits in the $79,517 3-year-old colt trot. The Saturday (July 10) program will feature the $150,000 (est.) 2-year-old filly trot and the $78,000 (est.) 3-year-old colt pace. The $225,000 (est.) 2-year-old colt pace and the $77,000 (est.) 3-year-old filly trot will conclude the festivities on Monday (July 12).

Last time: Ron Pierce was in the spotlight during the Historic week of Grand Circuit racing at The Meadowlands as the veteran driver made three visits to the winner’s circle in stakes action. Piece was in victory lane behind Leader Of The Gang in a $44,100 division of the Harriman for 2-year-old trotting colts and swept both $38,700 splits of the Goshen Cup for 2-year-old colt pacers with Grams Legacy and Rollwithitharry.

Yannick Gingras, Brian Sears and Tim Tetrick each had a pair of Meadowlands stakes winners. Gingras’ winners were JK Sure I Can in the $77,700 Ladyship for 3-year-old filly pacers and Rockin Image in a $37.350 Jersey Cup split for 3-year-old colt pacers; Sears piloted Holiday Road in the $80,900 Dickerson for 3-year-old colt trotters and BG’s Folly in a $38,100 division of the Jersey Cup for 3-year-old colt pacers; while Tetrick was a winner with Jezzy in the $82,800 Acorn for 2-year-old filly trotters and My Girl’s A Star in a $37,400 Debutante division for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Ray Schnittker won four Landmark Stakes at Goshen, with his most impressive coming with Cassis in the $25,443 3-year-old colt trot. The duo scored in 1:55.4, the fastest trotting mile in the 172-year history of Historic Track. Schnittker also won with Highbeta Blue Chip ($21,843 3-year-old colt pace), Saturn Blue Chip ($15,708 2-year-old colt trot) and O Lucky Me ($14,093 3-year-old filly pace).

Brandon Simpson had a trio of Landmark winners, piloting Upfrontscott Brown in a $6,236 division of the 2-year-old colt pace and sweeping the 2-year-old filly pace splits with Eagle Kelly ($5,548 purse) and Eagle Yankee ($5,398 purse).

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Ron Pierce and Ray Schnittker are tied for first in the Grand Circuit driving standings with four wins each. Brandon Simpson is in third place with three victories. George Brennan, Yannick Gingras, David Miller, Brian Sears and Tim Tetrick share fourth place with two wins apiece; Ron Abbott, John Campbell, Brian Cross, Trond Smedshammer, Steve Smith, Jordan Stratton and Jimmy Takter are tied for ninth place, each with one victory in 2010.

Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit heads to Tioga Downs for racing action next weekend. Tioga will offer the Tompkins-Geers Stakes for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits beginning on Thursday, July 15.