by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Du Quoin Grand Circuit, Du Quoin State Fair, Du Quoin, Illinois and Mohawk Grand Circuit, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ontario.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit will make its second of four 2009 stops in Illinois this week at The Du Quoin State Fair. Action begins on Friday (Sept. 4) with the $160,000 (est.) World Filly Trotting Derby for 3-year-old filly trotters, $50,000 (est.) Hayes Memorial races for 2-year-old colt and filly trotters, and the $40,000 (est.) Hayes Memorial for 2-year-old filly pacers. The Saturday (Sept. 5) program is highlighted by the $575,000 (est.) World Trotting Derby for 3-year-old open trotters. Also on the Saturday card are $50,000 (est.) Hayes Memorial events for 2-year-old colt pacers and 3-year-old colt pacers, and the $40,000 (est.) Hayes Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers.

At Mohawk, Grand Circuit racing begins on Saturday (Sept. 5). On tap will be the $265,000 (est.) Simcoe Stakes for 3-year-old open trotters. The balance of the Mohawk Grand Circuit schedule will be contested next week.

Last time: The Grand Circuit was in four different locales two weeks ago and driver Peter Wrenn was victorious at three of them.

Wrenn began his week at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield by piloting Pure Platinum to the winner’s circle in the $25,000 Review Stake for 2-year-old filly trotters. He then headed east to the Indiana State Fair and added two more winners there, with Magic Carpet Ride in the $39,206 Horseman for 3-year-old open trotters and Southwind Wasabi in the $36,840 Horseman for 3-year-old filly trotters. He concluded his week with a trio of Grand Circuit winners at Indiana Downs, scoring with Annieswesterncard in the $231,500 Monument Circle for 3-year-old colt pacers, Behindclosedoors in a $93,750 division of the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Trot for 2-year-old fillies, and Peter Lugar in a $55,000 Oliver Trotting Classic split for 3-year-olds.

The only stop that did not feature a Wrenn victory was in the Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands. In those four events the victors were Lucky Jim (Andy Miller) in the $600,000 Open Trot, Won The West (Jim Morrill, Jr.) in the $500,000 Open Pace, Hana Hanover (George Brennan) in the $331,500 Mare Pace, and Buck I St Pat (Tim Tetrick) in the $250,000 Mare Trot.

Andy Miller also added two victories at the Illinois State Fair, scoring with In Over My Head in the $34,000 Review Stake for 3-year-old colt pacers and Smooth Silver in the $32,000 Review Stake for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Travis Seekman piloted a pair of winners at the Indiana State Fair. He captured the featured $64,120 Fox Stake for 2-year-old open pacers with Morgan Shark and also won the $26,006 Hoosier Stakes for 2-year-old colt pacers with Extended Forecast.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Jim Morrill, Jr. continues to hold a commanding lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings with 25 wins so far in 2009. Tim Tetrick holds down second place with 15 victories. Brian Sears is in third place with 13 wins. Dave Palone has moved into fourth place with 12 victories. Ron Pierce checks in fifth with 11 triumphs. David Miller is in sixth place with 10 winners. John Campbell holds down seventh place with eight triumphs. Brett Miller is eighth with seven victories. George Brennan and Peter Wrenn share ninth place, each with six winners in 2009.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit racing will continue next week at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario, with three more Simcoe Stakes events for 3-year-olds and four Champlain Stakes for 2-year-olds.