by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director

This Week: Indiana Downs Grand Circuit, Indiana Downs, Shelbyville, Indiana

Schedule of Events: Indiana Downs will feature Grand Circuit racing on Wednesday, August 24, with two divisions in the $210,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management for 2-year-old filly trotters and the $210,000 Pride In Progress for free for all trotters.

Last time: The Grand Circuit was in three different locales last week – the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, the Indiana State Fair (races held at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville) and Harrah’s Chester in Pennsylvania.

At Springfield, trainer Erv Miller won three of the six Review Stakes races. He conditioned Aunt Mel in the $35,000 2-year-old colt/filly trot, Swan In A Million in the $20,000 3-year-old colt trot and Polar Opposition in the $18,000 2-year-old filly pace. Miller was in the bike himself for Swan In A Million’s triumph, while his son, Marcus, scored with Aunt Mel and Polar Opposition.

Peter Wrenn had a big day at Indiana Downs for the Indiana State Fair races. He won five of the 10 stakes contested that day, including sweeping the featured events with Fridaynightflight in the $53,372 Fox Stake for 2-year-old pacers and One In A Million in the $31,532 Ralph Wilfong Trot for 2-year-olds. Wrenn’s other victories came behind Pay Me Sister in the $34,333 Horseman Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters, Pet Rock in the $24,783 Hoosier Stakes for 2-year-old colt pacers and Frost Bites K in the $23,023 Hoosier Stakes for 2-year-old colt trotters.

David Miller and Tim Tetrick posted hat tricks on the Sunday (August 21) Grand Circuit card at Harrah’s Chester. Miller swept the Colonial stakes for 3-year-old trotters as he won the $500,000 Colonial with Manofmanymissions, the $200,000 Colonial Consolation I with Charlie De Vie and the $100,000 Colonial Consolation II with Luckycharm Hanover. Tetrick won the $200,000 Battle of the Brandywine Consolation I for 3-year-old colt pacers with Mystic Desire, the $150,000 Valley Forge Consolation I for 3-year-old filly pacers with New Album and the $75,000 Valley Forge Consolation II with Ms Malicious.

Also at Chester, See You At Peelers (Marcus Johansson) ran her unbeaten streak to 22 with a victory in the $350,000 Valley Forge and Roll With Joe (Ron Pierce) won the $500,000 Battle of the Brandyine.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Dave Palone continues to lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings with 22 winners. Tim Tetrick is in second place with 16 victories. David Miller holds down third place with 14 triumphs. Ray Schnittker is fourth with 10 scores. Andy Miller is fifth with eight victories. Yannick Gingras and Brett Miller share sixth place, each with six wins. Ron Pierce, Montrell Teague and Peter Wrenn are tied for eighth place with five wins each.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will resume in September at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. The stakes racing will begin on Thursday, September 1, and continue through Saturday, September 10.

The remaining 2011 schedule for the Grand Circuit is as follows.

Track–Dates
Indiana Downs–August 24-August 27
Mohawk–September 1-September 10
Delaware, Ohio County Fair–September 18-September 22
The Red Mile–September 29-October 9
Breeders Crown at Woodbine–October 21-October 29
Balmoral Park–November 5-November 12
Maywood Park–November 18