by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy series second legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features five $40,000 divisions on Friday (March 29) in the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (March 30) card at Yonkers will see five $50,000 divisions in the second round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers. Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: The team of trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras were the stars in the opening round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy last weekend at Yonkers.

They won two divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker with Camile and defending series champion Rocklamation and two divisions of the Levy behind Annieswesterncard and Something For Doc.

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

For the weekend, Burke earned a total of 61 Grand Circuit training points and Gingras posted 56 driving points.

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 last weekend’s action at Yonkers:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 66; 2. Tim Tetrick – 64; 3. Brian Sears – 49; 4t. Matt Kakaley – 15; and 4t. David Miller – 15.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 76; 2. Mark Harder – 45; 3. Nick Surick – 20; 4. PJ Fraley – 15; and 5. Amber Buter – 12.

Owners: 1. Our Horse Cents Stable -23.3; 2t. KDM Stables Corp. – 20; 2t. Nina Simmonds – 20; 4. Burke Racing – 13.4; and 5. Weaver Bruscemi – 12.7.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy over the first three weekends in April. The finals and consolations for both events will be held on April 27.