Grand Circuit Report: November 8, 2012
November 8, 2012,by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director
This Week: American-National stakes, Balmoral Park, Crete, Illinois
Schedule of events: The American-National stakes will be contested on Saturday (Nov. 10) at Balmoral Park. On tap will be eight lucrative events — the $260,000 3-year-old colt pace, the $235,000 3-year-old colt trot, the $182,000 open pace for 4-year-olds and up, the $180,000 open trot for 4-year-olds and up, the $157,000 2-year-old colt pace, the $145,000 3-year-old filly pace, the $130,000 3-year-old filly trot and the $113,000 2-year-old filly pace.
Last time: Tim Tetrick became the first driver to win four Breeders Crown finals in one night, when he accomplished the feat during the championship 12-race card on Saturday (Oct. 27) at Woodbine.
Tetrick captured the $600,000 Open Trot with Chapter Seven, the $555,000 3-year-old colt pace behind Heston Blue Chip, the $500,000 3-year-old filly pace with American Jewel and the $331,500 Mare Pace behind Anndrovette.
Tetrick also joined Hall of Famers John Campbell (1985, 1993), Mike Lachance (2000) and Ron Pierce (2004, 2005) as the only four-time Crown race winners in a single year, when all 12 races were not combined into one evening.
Yannick Gingras also had a big Breeders Crown night as he piloted the winners of three straight Crown races. Gingras’s hat trick came with To Dream On in the $600,000 2-year-old filly trot, Maven in the $500,000 3-year-old filly trot and Rockin Amadeus in the $600,000 2-year-old colt pace.
The other five Breeders Crown finals went to Somwherovrarainbow and Andy Miller ($600,000 2-year-old filly pace), Wheeling N Dealin and Sylvain Filion ($600,000 2-year-old colt trot), Intimidate and Ron Pierce ($555,000 3-year-old colt trot), Bettor Sweet and David Miller ($500,000 Open Pace) and Tamla Celeber S and Brian Sears ($250,000 Mare Trot).
Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Tim Tetrick has continued to extend his lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings as he now has 31 winners in 2012. Yannick Gingras has climbed into second place with 21 victories. David Miller holds down third place with 20 triumphs. Ron Pierce has moved into fourth place with 14 wins. Dave Palone is in fifth place with 13 victories. John Campbell, Jim Morrill, Jr., Brian Sears and Jimmy Takter are tied for sixth place with eight victories apiece. Andy Miller rounds out the top 10 with seven victories in 2012.
Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit will stay in Illinois next week with the final stop of the 2012 season coming at Maywood Park. The Friday (Nov. 16) card will feature the $225,000 (est.) Windy City Pace for 3-year-old colts, the $130,000 (est.) Abe Lincoln for 2-year-old colt pacers, the $120,000 (est.) Galt Memorial for 3-year-old colt trotters and the $100,000 (est.) Cinderella for 3-year-old filly pacers.
The remaining 2012 schedule for the Grand Circuit is as follows.
Track–Dates
Balmoral Park–November 3-November 10
Maywood Park–November 16