by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director

This Week: Mohawk Grand Circuit, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit racing at Mohawk begins on Thursday (Sept. 2) with the C$310,000 (est.) Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters. Action continues on Friday (Sept. 3) with the C$345,000 (est.) Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old open trotters. The Saturday (Sept. 4) program has the C$285,000 Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old open trotters. The Sunday (Sept. 5) card is highlighted by the C$240,000 (est.) Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers. The Monday (Sept. 6) program features the C$260,000 (est.) Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old filly trotters. Action concludes on Saturday (Sept. 11) with a trio of events – the C$320,000 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old open pacers, the C$305,000 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers and the C$270,000 (est.) Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old open pacers.

Last time: The Grand Circuit was at Indiana Downs in Shelbyville this past Wednesday (August 25) with a pair of freshman trotting events on the card.

Homebred Creme De Cocoa and trainer/driver D.R. Ackerman gutted out a narrow victory in the $161,800 Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stake for freshman filly trotters. The Chocolatier-Judge Judy 2-year-old slugged it out with Angelette Hanover in the stretch before reaching the wire a neck in front in 1:57.2. Tawesome More finished a length back in third.

Bred and owned by Doug Ackerman Stables Inc., Creme De Cocoa collected her second seasonal win in six starts. The filly took a new mark with the victory and now possesses $230,910 in earnings.

Dream Kid turned in a dominant performance in the $50,000 Circle City for freshman colt trotters. The Cincinnati Kid-Kandy Angus colt, driven by Ricky Macomber, wired the field in 1:59.3. The Ron Burke-trained 2-year-old, sent off as the 1-5 favorite, finished 1-1/4 lengths in front of Ax Man, with Prison Guard finishing third.

Dream Kid is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, JJK Stables and Frank Baldachino. He has four wins in six career starts, with $83,337 in earnings.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Tim Tetrick continues to lead the Grand Circuit driving standings with 15 victories in 2010. Jim Morrill, Jr. is in second place with 11 winners. John Campbell, David Miller and Brian Sears are tied for third place, with 10 victories apiece. Yannick Gingras checks in sixth with nine winners. Ron Pierce is seventh with eight victories to his credit. Dave Palone holds down eighth place with seven triumphs. George Brennan is ninth with six winners. Mike Lachance, Ray Schnittker and Brandon Simpson are tied for tenth place, each with five winning drives.

Looking ahead: Following the stop at Mohawk, the Grand Circuit will be off until action resumes on Sept. 19 at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair. The featured event at Delaware will be the $650,000 (est.) Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old colts, the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown.