by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director

This Week: Meadowlands Grand Circuit, the Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit concludes its stay at the Meadowlands with ten lucrative events, headlined by the $1.5 million Hambletonian Final, the second leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. The racing kicks off on Friday (August 5) with two divisions in the $117,500 Countess Adios for 2-year-old filly pacers, two divisions in the $117,250 Niatross for 2-year-old colt pacers, two divisions in the $60,000 Duenna for 3-year-old filly trotters and one division in the $50,000 Townsend Ackerman for 3-year-old open trotters. The big Saturday afternoon (August 6) card has the $1.5 million Hambletonian Final for 3-year-old open trotters, the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks Final for 3-year-old filly trotters, the $500,000 (est.) Peter Haughton Memorial Final for 2-year-old colt trotters, the $440,000 (est.) Merrie Annabelle Final for 2-year-old filly trotters, the $300,000 (est.) Mistletoe Shalee for 3-year-old filly pacers, and the $231,000 (est.) Oliver Wendell Holmes for 3-year-old colt pacers.

Last time: Driver Dave Palone, as usual, was the top driver during the Meadows Grand Circuit as he piloted 10 winners in GC action at the western Pennsylvania oval.

Palone was in victory lane in both $32,924 divisions of the Arden Downs for 3-year-old colt trotters with Mythical Hall and The Evictor. He also captured three $20,000 Arden Downs splits for 2-year-old filly trotters behind Oasis Dream, On The Bright Side, and Superstar Hanover. Palone won a pair of $20,000 Arden Downs divisions in both the 2-year-old filly pace (Love You Bye and Air Guitar Hanover) and the 2-year-old colt pace (Sweet Lou and Ideal Champ). His final Grand Circuit triumph came with Pekoe Fashion in a $20,000 division of the 2-year-old colt trot.

At the Meadowlands, Luc Ouellette led all drivers with a pair of winners in the opening of their Grand Circuit competition. Ouellette swept the $35,000 Hambletonian Oaks eliminations for 3-year-old filly trotters with Crys Dream and Iron Lady. Andy Miller (with Manofmanymissions) and George Brennan (behind Broad Bahn) captured $70,000 Hambletonian eliminations for 3-year-old trotters.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Dave Palone has widened his lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings as he now has 22 winners. Tim Tetrick is in second place with 11 victories. Ray Schnittker is third with 10 scores. David Miller is fourth with nine victories. Brett Miller checks in fifth with six wins. Yannick Gingras holds down sixth place with five triumphs. Andy Miller, Ron Pierce and Montrell Teague share seventh place with four wins each. Jason Bartlett, Jeff Gregory and Mike Wilder are tied for tenth place, each with three triumphs.

Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit will be off next week before heading to the Illinois State Fair in Springfield for action on August 15 and 16.

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

Track–Dates
Illinois State Fair (Springfield)–August 12-August 18
Indiana State Fair (Indianapolis)–August 19
Harrah’s Chester–August 21-August 27
Indiana Downs–August 24-August 27
Mohawk–September 3-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