by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Matron Stakes, Dover Downs, Dover, Del. and Fall Final Four eliminations and TVG Series legs, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit heads to Dover Downs this Thursday (Nov. 12) for four Matron Stakes for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The 3-year-old colt trot carries a purse of $243,550, the 3-year-old colt pacers will race for $201,900, the purse for the 3-year-old filly pace is $201,450 and the 3-year-old filly trotters will race for $187,400.

Meadowlands Racetrack reopens this weekend with Grand Circuit action on Friday (Nov. 13) and Saturday (Nov. 14). On Friday, there will be $25,000 legs in the TVG Series for open mares on both the trot and the pace, plus a $20,000 Goldsmith Maid elimination for 2-year-old filly trotters. Saturday features $50,000 TVG Series races for both open pacers and open trotters, along with a pair of $20,000 eliminations in the Governor’s Cup for 2-year-old male pacers and the Valley Victory for 2-year-old male trotters.

Complete entries for the races are available at this link.

Last time: Eight American-National stakes were in the spotlight this past Saturday night (Nov. 7) at Balmoral Park. Three recent Breeders Crown champions were among the starters on the night, and each of them added an American-National title to their resumes.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Freaky Feet Pete was a 1:48.4 winner in his American-National contest.

Freaky Feet Pete left no doubt he’s one of the best 3-year-old pacing colts in North America as he paced to a stakes-tying 1:48.4 triumph in the $150,000 American-National for sophomore pacing colts and geldings,

Given a perfect steer by Trace Tetrick, the Indiana homebred son of Rockin Image-Skyway Lori took the lead away from the hard-trying Lost For Words (David Miller) just past the :26.3 quarter and never looked back, snapping off fractions of :53.4 and 1:21 before sprinting home all alone. Lost For Words held on for second, while Mohawk Warrior (Tim Tetrick) got up for show honors.

Trained by Larry Rheinheimer for Mary Jo and Marty Rheinheimer, Freaky Feet Pete added the winner’s share of the purse to his lifetime bankroll, which now stands at $1,115,724.

The Bank didn’t disappoint his backers as he captured the $204,000 American-National for sophomore trotting colts and geldings in 1:53.1. Habitat (Yannick Gingras) took the field through fractions of :28.3, :56.4 and 1:25.1. David Miller pulled The Bank to the outside and wore down the leader with every stride before getting a neck in front a few feet from the wire and going on to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Homicide Hunter (John DeLong) was third.

Sent off as the 6-5 favorite and piloted by Miller for trainer Jimmy Takter, the homebred son of Donato Havover-Lantern Kronos notched career victory seven and upped his career earnings to $1,106,300 for owners Christina Takter, Goran Falk and Goran Anderberg.

Always B Miki used a bold power move just past the :26.4 opening panel and never looked back, drawing off to win the $136,500 American-National Open Pace in 1:49.1.

Also driven by Miller for trainer Takter, the son of Always A Virgin-Artstopper paced confidently to post his fourth victory this season in as many tries. The triumph gave Miller and Takter their third American-National wins of the night.

Always B Miki now has $1,228,076 in his career coffers for co-owners Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Christina Takter. Always B Miki bested rivals Luck Be Withyou (Tim Tetrick) and Bettor’s Edge (Joe Bongiorno).

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 leaders following the past week’s action:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,462; 2. David Miller – 1,185.5; 3. Tim Tetrick – 1,056; 4. Brett Miller – 638; 5. Scott Zeron – 564.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,747; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,519; 3. Tony Alagna – 572.5; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 346; 5. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 340.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 401.65; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 337.2; 3. Bamond Racing – 275; 4. Christina Takter – 245.35; 5. Marvin Katz – 203.4.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Meadowlands Racetrack with four TVG Series finals for older trotters and pacers, the Fall Final Four finals (the Governor’s Cup, Valley Victory, Three Diamonds and Goldsmith Maid) and the Continentalvictory and Tarport Hap for sophomore fillies.