Grand Circuit heads to New Jersey for weekend events
May 1, 2013,by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit
This Week: Lady Suffolk and Dexter Cup, Freehold Raceway, Freehold, N.J. and Meadowlands Maturity and John Simpson Memorial Stakes, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Freehold this week features the $139,600 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old open trotters on Saturday (May 4) and two divisions in the $80,800 Lady Suffolk for 3-year-old filly trotters on Friday (May 3). Meadowlands Racetrack offers the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity for 4-year-old trotters and the $39,615 John Simpson Memorial for 3-year-old colt pacers on Saturday (May 4) and the $38,415 John Simpson Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday (May 3).
Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.
Last time: The George Morton Levy Series for open pacers and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series for open pacing mares wrapped up this past weekend at Yonkers Raceway.
Mike Lizzi photo
Razzle Dazzle was a neck winner over Foiled Again in the Levy final.
Pole-setting Razzle Dazzle (Brian Sears) held off a stubborn Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) to win the $450,000 final of the George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series. Razzle Dazzle won by a neck in 1:51.3. Versado (Andy Miller) ducked inside and was third — beaten a length — with Annieswesterncard and Casimir Jitterbug completing the cashers.
Feeling You (Tyler Buter) prevailed from the pocket in winning Yonkers Raceway’s $285,000 final of the Blue Chip Matchmaker. Camille (Yannick Gingras) owned a length lead in and out of the final turn, but Anndrovette (Tim Tetrick) was relentless, while Feeling You awaited her close-up. The latter lass edged inward, defeating a tenacious Anndrovette by a half-length in 1:52.4. Camille faded to third with Ramona Disomma and Krispy Apple grabbing the remainder.
The first Grand Circuit event of the season for 3-year-old filly pacers was a wire-to-wire victory for Charisma Hanover in the $84,000 Courageous Lady this past Friday at Northfield Park. Charisma Hanover and driver Dave Palone won in 1:53. Trained by Ron Burke, Charisma Hanover was 1-1/4 lengths in front at the finish and defeated Champagne Tonight and Carols Desire.
Complete recaps of the weekend races are available at the Grand Circuit website.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2013, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will 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). Hanover Shoe Farms is the sponsor for the 2013 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the past weekend:
Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 255; 2. Tim Tetrick – 177; 3. Brian Sears – 159.5; 4. George Brennan – 74.5; and 5. Tyler Buter – 57.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 334; 2. PJ Fraley – 83; 3. Mark Harder – 61.5; 4. Amber Buter – 57; and 5. Mark Silva – 50.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 84.65; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 81.95; 3. Bamond Racing – 44.5; 4. Ira Kristel – 40; and 5. Our Horse Cents Stable – 39.7.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will again take place next weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack, with the John Simpson Stakes for 3-year-old colt and filly trotters, eliminations for the Arthur Cutler Memorial for older trotters and a leg of the Meadowlands FFA Series for open pacers.