Category: Grand Circuit Results

Just six years ago, Ron Burke nearly had his first Hambletonian victory before What The Hill suffered the only disqualification of a first-place finisher in the race’s history. He and Yannick Gingras, also still chasing a win in the American classic, exited Saturday night (July 29) at the Meadowlands primed and ripe for revenge after sweeping the pair of $100,000 Hambletonian eliminations.

Walner Payton and driver Dexter Dunn made a strong move to take the lead and never relinquished control to win the first $40,000 Hambletonian Oaks elimination in 1:51.4 on Saturday night (July 29) at the Meadowlands, and a shocking 36-1 upset performance by Heart On Fire, handled by Todd McCarthy, was the highlight of the second Oaks elimination.

After being parked out the entire mile, It’s Academic ran down his competition late to win the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot at Plainridge Park on Sunday afternoon (July 23).

It was 14 days ago when Ari Ferrari J took the $350,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial to mark himself as a player in his division, and Saturday night (July 22) at The Meadowlands, the Tony Alagna trainee won again, taking one of two divisions of the Tompkins-Geers for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters, with his split going for a purse of $44,250.

Oh Well, driven by Tim Tetrick, took immediate control over the field and made his foes chase him the entire mile to win the first of two $138,500 divisions of the Stanley Dancer Memorial on Saturday night at The Meadowlands by two lengths.

Charlie May, who took his mark of 1:47.1 at The Meadowlands last year but knew cruel luck here the year before that, had all the luck go his way in the $444,000 William R. Haughton Memorial for free-for-all pacers on Saturday night, equaling his lifetime mark after sliding up the pylons late to defeat Tattoo Artist by a half length.

George Brennan returned to The Meadowlands on Saturday (July 15) for just a single drive, but the veteran teamster knew what he was doing guiding Mikala to a 41-1 upset in the $159,000 Dorothy Haughton Memorial, outkicking Grace Hill in the final strides.

Sylvia Hanover crossed the final frontier — the Canadian-U.S. border. And in her first Stateside race, she survived a difficult journey on the rim to defeat Twin B Joe Fresh by a half-length in the $169,000 Mistletoe Shalee, for 3-year-old pacing fillies, on Saturday evening (July 15) at The Meadowlands.