by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director

This Week: American-National eliminations, Balmoral Park, Crete, Illinois

Schedule of events: Balmoral will host $20,000 American-National eliminations for 2-year-old colt pacers and 2-year-old filly pacers on Saturday, November 7.

Last time: Eight Breeders Crown finals for 2- and 3-year-old pacers and trotters were contested on Saturday, October 24, at Woodbine.

Brian Sears won three of the eight Crown races, capturing the $610,000 2-year-old filly pace with Fancy Filly, the $600,000 3-year-old filly trot with Broadway Schooner, and the $600,000 3-year-old colt trot with Muscle Hill.

The remaining Breeders Crown races were captured by: $600,000 2-year-old filly trot – Poof She’s Gone (David Miller); $600,000 2-year-old colt trot – Pilgrims Taj (Mike Lachance); $700,000 2-year-old colt pace – All Speed Hanover (Ron Pierce); $710,000 3-year-old filly pace – Yellow Diamond (Jim Morrill, Jr.); and $600,000 3-year-old colt pace – If I Can Dream (Tim Tetrick).

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Jim Morrill, Jr. continues to lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings with 31 wins in 2009. Brian Sears and Tim Tetrick share second place with 25 victories apiece. Ron Pierce holds down fourth place with 23 wins. David Miller is in fifth place with 20 wins. Dave Palone ranks sixth with 17 victories. John Campbell is seventh with 15 triumphs. George Brennan and Mike Lachance are tied for eighth place with 10 wins each; and Daniel Dube rounds out the top ten with nine triumphs.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action continues at Balmoral Park on Saturday, November 14. There will be six lucrative events on the schedule: the $300,000 (est.) 3-year-old colt pace, the $200,000 (est.) 3-year-old filly pace, the $200,000 (est.) Open Pace, the $200,000 (est.) Open Trot, the $150,000 (est.) 2-year-old colt pace and the $150,000 (est.) 2-year-old filly pace.