by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: The Grand Circuit is off this week. Racing will resume next week at the Delaware County Fair in Ohio.

Last time: Paul MacDonell was the driving star as the Grand Circuit concluded its stay at Mohawk Racetrack. MacDonell had three winners in the Champlain/Simcoe Stakes action. He was in victory lane behind Poof She’s Gone in a $143,822 division of the Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters, Ticket To Rock in a $140,142 Champlain Stakes split for 2-year-old filly pacers and Elusive Desire in a $118,297 Simcoe Stakes division for 3-year-old filly trotters.

Steve Condren, Ron Pierce and Tim Tetrick each posted a pair of victories in Grand Circuit races at the Campbellville, Ontario oval. Condren scored with Epanephrine in a $146,940 Champlain Stakes race for 2-year-old pacing colts and Windsong Soprano in a $120,137 Simcoe Stakes 3-year-old filly trot split.

Pierce was behind Big Bikkies in a $130,781 Simcoe division for 3-year-old colt trotters and Well Said in a $126,622 Simcoe split for 3-year-old colt pacers.

Tetrick was in victory lane behind Break The Bank K and Il Villaggio in $105,494 Champlain Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt trotters.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Jim Morrill, Jr. continues to hold a commanding lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings with 25 wins so far in 2009. Tim Tetrick holds down second place with 18 victories. Brian Sears is in third place with 14 wins. Ron Pierce holds down fourth place with 13 triumphs. Dave Palone sits in fifth place with 12 victories. David Miller is in sixth place with 10 winners. John Campbell ranks seventh with eight triumphs. George Brennan and Brett Miller share eighth place with seven victories apiece. Peter Wrenn rounds out the top ten with six winners in 2009.

Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit takes this week off before returning to Ohio and the Delaware County Fair on Sunday, Sept. 20. Featured at Delaware will be the $700,000 (est.) Little Brown Jug, the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, which will be contested on Thursday, Sept. 24.