by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Grand Circuit events will be held this week at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, and at Harrah’s Chester in Pennsylvania.

Schedule of events: Review Stakes action at Springfield begins on Monday (August 16) with the $20,000 3-year-old colt trot; the $20,000 2-year-old colt pace; the $15,000 2-year-old filly pace; and the $15,000 3-year-old filly trot. The Tuesday (August 17) program features the $27,500 2-year-old colt trot; the $15,000 3-year-old colt pace; the $15,000 3-year-old filly pace; and the $15,000 2-year-old filly trot.

The Indianapolis card will be a one-day affair on Friday (August 20). The feature is the $64,000 (est.) Fox Stakes for 2-year-old open pacers. Its companion stake is the $50,000 (est.) Ralph Wilfong for 2-year-old open trotters. There will also be four events in The Horseman (a stake for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits) and the Hoosier Stakes (for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits).

Harrah’s Chester will host its annual Grand Circuit “Super Stakes Sunday” event on Sunday (August 22). Featured are the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine for 3-year-old open pacers, the $500,000 Colonial for 3-year-old open trotters, and the $350,000 Valley Forge for 3-year-old filly pacers. Each of these races will also offer a pair of lucrative consolations.

Last time: Tim Tetrick won four Grand Circuit stakes during the last stop at Meadowlands Racetrack, highlighted by a victory in the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old filly trotters with Bar Slide. He also won the $500,000 Peter Haughton for 2-year-old trotting colts with The Lindy Reserve, a $51,500 Countess Adios division for 2-year-old pacing fillies behind Rocklamation, and a $50,000 Townsend Ackerman division for 3-year-old trotting colts with Pretty Boy Lindy.

John Campell and Brian Sears each added three winners. Campbell was in victory lane behind Thatsnotmyname in the $437,000 Merrie Annabelle for 2-year-old filly trotters, Lookinforadventure in a $54,000 Niatross split for 2-year-old colt pacers and Drop The Ball in a $51,500 Countess Adios division. Sears had his photo taken after wins with Dancinwiththestarz ($275,000 Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old filly pacers), Delmarvalous ($115,500 Oliver Wendell Holmes division for 3-year-old pacing colts) and Keystone Tabby ($30,000 Duenna division for 3-year-old filly trotters).

Ron Pierce won just once in Grand Circuit competition, but the victory came in the marquee event, the $1.5 million Hambletonian for 3-year-old open trotters with Muscle Massive.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Tim Tetrick is the leader in the Grand Circuit driving standings with 12 winners in 2010. Jim Morrill, Jr. is in second place with 11 winners. David Miller and Brian Sears are tied for third place, with 10 victories apiece. Yannick Gingras checks in fifth with nine winners. Ron Pierce is sixth with eight victories to his credit. John Campbell and Dave Palone share seventh place, each with seven triumphs. George Brennan, Mike Lachance and Ray Schnittker are tied for ninth place, each with five wins.

Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit will be at Indiana Downs next week with the featured event being the $200,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management for 2-year-old filly trotters.