Grand Circuit Report: Week of July 25, 2010
July 26, 2010,by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit
This Week: Meadows Grand Circuit, The Meadows, Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania and Meadowlands Grand Circuit, Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit week at The Meadows continues on Wednesday (July 28) with five divisions in the $100,000 Arden Downs for 2-year-old filly trotters and three splits in the $60,000 Arden Downs for 2-year-old colt trotters. The Friday (July 30) card is highlighted by the $100,000 (est.) Arden Downs for 2-year-old filly pacers, the $75,000 (est.) Arden Downs for 3-year-old colt trotters and the $75,000 (est.) Arden Downs for 3-year-old filly trotters. The week of Grand Circuit racing concludes on Saturday afternoon (July 31) with the $500,000 Delvin Miller Adios final for 3-year-old colt pacers, the $200,000 (est.) Adioo Volo for 3-year-old filly pacers, and the $100,000 (est.) Arden Downs for 2-year-old colt pacers.
The Grand Circuit also returns to the Meadowlands this week with eliminations in five lucrative events for 2- and 3-year-olds. The schedule kicks off on Thursday (July 29) with $20,000 Merrie Annabelle eliminations for 2-year-old filly trotters. The Friday (July 30) program features $20,000 eliminations in the Peter Haughton Memorial for 2-year-old colt trotters. The Saturday (July 31) card has $70,000 (est.) Hambletonian eliminations for 3-year-old open trotters, $35,000 (est.) Hambletonian Oaks eliminations for 3-year-old filly trotters, and $25,000 eliminations in the Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old filly pacers.
Last time: A trio of $50,000 Delvin Miller Adios eliminations were contested this past Saturday (July 24) at The Meadows. The top three in each elimination will advance to this Saturday’s $500,000 Adios final.
The first elimination went to Lothlorien’s Rockin Image and driver Yannick Gingras in a time of 1:50.2. The Rocknroll Hanover-Kikikatie colt was a nose winner over We Will See (Brett Miller) with Delmarvalous (Brian Sears) third.
The second elimination was captured by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold’s Versado (Dave Palone) in 1:51. The son of Dragon Again-Beach Jenny held off I’m Gorgeous (Brian Sears) by a half length with Nova Artist (Eric Ledford) third.
The third and final elimination went to Peter Pan Stables’ Pang Shui (Jim Morrill, Jr.) in a clocking of 1:52.2. Whackamole Hanover (Brett Miller) was second with Trick Man (Ray Paver) third.
Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Jim Morrill, Jr. has extended his lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings as he now has 11 winners in 2010. David Miller checks in second with eight triumphs. Ron Pierce, Ray Schnittker and Tim Tetrick are tied for third place with five wins apiece. Mike Lachance and Brian Sears share sixth place, each with four victories. Jason Bartlett, Yannick Gingras, Matt Kakaley, George Napolitano, Jr. and Brandon Simpson are tied for eighth place, each with three winners.
Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit remains at the Meadowlands next week with the lucrative finals of the five events for which eliminations are scheduled this week. Topping the program will be the $1.5 million Hambletonian, the second leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. In addition, the 3-year-old colt pacers join the action with the $230,000 (est.) Oliver Wendell Holmes.