Bella Bellini, who in 2022 became only the second 4-year-old mare in history to be voted Trotter of the Year, will kick off her 5-year-old season Saturday (May 6) at The Meadowlands in the first round of the Miss Versatility Series.
Category: Grand Circuit News
Espresso gets nod as Dexter favorite
Julie Miller is hoping to enjoy a strong Espresso on Saturday (May 6) at Freehold Raceway. Espresso, a two-time Grand Circuit winner and Kentucky Commonwealth Series champion last year, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $137,775 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old male trotters at Freehold’s half-mile oval. The Hambletonian-eligible gelding, who is making his seasonal debut, will start from post two with Andy Miller in the sulky.
Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace Week 1
The 2022 Metro winner Stockade Seelster, who has yet to venture outside of his home track of Woodbine Mohawk Park, sits atop the first 2023 edition of Dave Little’s Road to the Meadowlands Pace top 10 poll.
Grand Circuit week opens Thursday at Plainridge
Grand Circuit action begins Thursday (May 4) at Plainridge Park with two $50,000 divisions in the Paul Revere Pace for 3-year-old males.
$100,000 Paul Revere Pace at Plainridge Park Thursday
The second edition of the $100,000 Paul Revere Pace for 3-year-olds will go postward in two six-horse divisions at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (May 4) and many of the entrants will be making their initial appearance on the track this year.
Dexter Cup attracts field of seven
Seven horses were entered for the Dexter Cup, the first Grand Circuit event of the season for 3-year-old male trotters, making eliminations unnecessary this Saturday at Freehold Raceway. All seven horses advance directly to the Dexter Cup final, which will go for a purse of $137,775, on May 6 at the half-mile track in central New Jersey.
Brennan talks milestone, Borgata and Matchmaker
George Brennan was 14 when he drove a horse to a paycheck for the first time. The teenager, making his only start of 1981, steered Myron’s Bunny to a fifth-place finish in an amateur race, with the trotter collecting $50 in purse money. Brennan has accumulated — since that initial $50 start — nearly $199.7 million in purses as he prepares for the first Grand Circuit finals of the season Monday (April 24) at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Grand Circuit features Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series finals
The Grand Circuit at Yonkers on Monday (April 24) features the $511,000 MGM Borgata final, a $100,000 consolation and a $50,000 consolation in the event for open pacers and the $328,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker final and $75,000 consolation in the event for open pacing mares.
Fields drawn for Borgata, Matchmaker finals
The biggest card on the harness racing calendar so far in 2023 will take place on Monday night (April 24) at MGM Yonkers Raceway as the $511,000 MGM Borgata Pacing Series and $328,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series finals take place.
Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series continue at Yonkers
The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 14) in the fifth and final round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday (April 17) card at Yonkers will see three $50,000 divisions in the fifth and final round of the MGM Borgata Pacing series for open pacers.