by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: The 2015 Grand Circuit season has come to a close. The 2016 schedule will be released in January.

Last time: George Teague Jr. Inc.’s Wiggle It Jiggleit led every step of a 1:48.2 mile to win the $300,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace final this past Monday night (Nov. 30) at Dover Downs.

Fotowon photo

Wiggle It Jiggleit was a 1:48.2 winner in the Hap Hansen Progress Pace.

The 3-year-old son of Mr Wiggles-Mozzi Hanover cut fractions of :26.1, :54 and 1:20.4 for driver Montrell Teague and kicked home in :27.3 on his way to a 3-3/4 length victory over Dealt A Winner (David Miller). Dude’s The Man (Corey Callahan) finished third.

The victory was the 22nd in 26 season’s starts for Wiggle It Jiggleit, who saw his 2015 earnings climb to $2,181,995.

A festive and well-attended evening was made even better for Burke Racing Stable, The Panhellenic Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Lawrence Karr, when their horse Sassa Hanover won the $120,000 Courageous Lady on Friday (Nov. 27) at Northfield Park.

Trained by Ron Burke and driven by North America’s leading money-winning driver, Yannick Gingras, Sassa Hanover prevailed in 1:52.1, a stakes and track record performance for 3-year-old filly pacers.

After blasting off the gate and pressing to get the lead through a :26 opening quarter on a sloppy track, Sassa Hanvoer led unchallenged through middle fractions of :55 and 1:23.2. Turning for home Gingras enjoyed a 2-1/2 length lead, but hung on by only a head over hard-charging Bettor N Better (Tim Tetrick).

Sassa Hanover (Rock N Roll Heaven–Sayo Hanover) now has 16 wins in 34 lifetime starts. Friday’s victory increased her career bankroll to $1,008,469. She went to post as the bettors’ choice and returned $3.60 to win.

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

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2015, 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 Farm is the sponsor for the 2015 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the final standings for the 2015 season:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,599; 2. David Miller – 1,311.5; 3. Tim Tetrick – 1,215; 4. Brett Miller – 670; 5. Scott Zeron – 586.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,932; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,605; 3. Tony Alagna – 612.5; 4. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 395; 5. Ake Svanstedt – 386.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 446.3; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 374.35; 3. Bamond Racing – 330; 4. Christina Takter – 252.1; 5. George Teague Jr. Inc. – 250.

Looking ahead: The 2015 Grand Circuit schedule will be released in January.