This Week: Arthur Cutler Memorial, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: The Meadowlands will host Grand Circuit action on Saturday (May 21) with the $170,450 Arthur Cutler Memorial for open trotters.

Complete entries for the race can be found by clicking on this link.

Last Time: While making only the second start of his career, Jonas K S (Centurion ATM-Crown Classic) put in an overpowering performance and set a new track record for 3-year-old trotting colts after winning the inaugural $100,000 Battle of Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge Park on Monday afternoon (May 16).

Jonas K S won the inaugural $100,000 Battle of Bunker Hill Trot at Plainridge Park. Tom Melanson photo.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. left sharply with Jonas K S and kept post time favorite S I P (Yannick Gingras) in the pocket as they hit the quarter in :27. After rolling past that station, Gingras tipped S I P and tried to advance but Jonas K S trotted on and put him back in the hole. The group hit the half in :55.1 when Wily Wally (Bruce Ranger) pulled from third and tried to push the issue.

Jonas K S maintained his 1-1/2 length lead up the backstretch and to the three-quarters in 1:23.3 while Wily Wally hung outside and S I P waited in the pocket to make his bid at the top of the stretch. But when Gingras tipped S I P as they hit the stretch, he made a break and Jonas K S was home free. He motored down the lane to the wire on top by 12-1/2 lengths and took a new lifetime mark, as well as the track record, with a 1:53 clocking.

“He’s a very nice horse. They said he was a little lazy so I scored him down pretty good and put him right on the gate and gave him a shot. When S I P came at him past the quarter he was pretty grabby so I just kept him rolling and hoped for the best,” said Switzer. “Even if S I P didn’t break at the head of the stretch, I don’t think he would have beaten my horse. I think the only way he’d have lost today is if he beat himself. That was a heck of a mile.”

Jonas K S ($8.60) is now a perfect two for two with $56,000 earned for owners Knutsson Trotting (who also bred the winner), Little E and Stall Kalmar. Ake Svanstedt trains the winner.

Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2022, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2022 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 5-16-22):

Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 136; 2. Dexter Dunn – 112; 3. George Brennan – 110; 4. Jason Bartlett – 106; 5. Yannick Gingras – 105.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 148; 2. Jen Bongiorno – 67; 3. Cory Stratton – 60; 4. Jeff Gillis – 54; 5. Erv Miller – 53.

Owners: 1. Jesmeral Stable – 62; 2. The OK Corral – 57; 3. Mark Ford – 40; 4. Team Tritton Inc. – 30; 5t. Karen Hauver – 27; 5t. Ricky Bucci – 27.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Harrah’s Philadelphia (Maxie Lee Memorial, Besty Ross and Commodore Barry for older horses), The Raceway at Western Fair District (Camluck Classic for older open pacers) and Woodbine Mohawk Park (Miss Versatility leg for older trotting mares).