by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director

This Week: Lexington Grand Circuit, The Red Mile, Lexington, Kentucky

Schedule of events: The second week of Grand Circuit action at The Red Mile begins on Thursday (Oct. 21) with the $300,000 (est.) International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters. The Friday (Oct. 22) card has the $350,000 (est.) Glen Garnsey Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers, the $350,000 (est.) International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old colt trotters, the $300,000 (est.) International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers and the $200,000 (est.) Bluegrass for 3-year-old filly trotters. Saturday’s (Oct. 23) racing action features the $700,000 (est.) Tattersalls for 3-year-old open pacers, the $400,000 (est.) International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old colt pacers and the $200,000 (est.) Bluegrass for 3-year-old open trotters.

Last time: Tim Tetrick was the driving star during the opening week of Grand Circuit racing at The Red Mile in Lexington with six stakes wins. He was triumphant behind Mystic Desire (in a dead head with Big Bad John) in a $129,000 Bluegrass Stakes division for 2-year-old colt pacers; One More Laugh in a $111,500 Bluegrass Stakes split for 3-year-old colt pacers; Cold Mist in a $105,000 Bluegrass Stakes division for 2-year-old filly pacers; Big Rigs and Spring Goal in $88,500 Bluegrass Stakes races for 2-year-old colt trotters; and Brooklyn in an $88,500 Bluegrass Stakes division for 2-year-old filly trotters.

George Brennan had a trio of winners, highlighted by a straight heat victory with Wishing Stone in the $501,000 Kentucky Futurity for 3-year-old open trotters. They were victorious in the $200,400 Kentucky Futurity first heat in 1:52.3, than came back to score in 1:51.2 in the $200,400 second heat. George’s other victory came with Action-Broadway in a $69,975 elimination for the Kentucky Filly Futurity for 3-year-olds.

Dave Palone also had three winners, including the other $69,975 Kentucky Filly Futurity elimination with Fashion Feline. This duo then captured the deciding $108,850 second heat final of the Filly Futurity by scoring in a time of 1:53.3. Palone was also in the winner’s circle with Big Bad John, who finished in the dead heat with Mystic Desire in their $129,000 division of the Bluegrass Stakes 2-year-old colt pace.

Grand Circuit News: Tom Thomson was elected to his 20th consecutive one-year term as Grand Circuit President at the annual officers and stewards meeting held this past Friday morning in Lexington. The remainder of the slate of officers is as follows: George Segal (Senior Vice-President); Steve Jones, Scott McKelvie and Nick Salvi (Vice-Presidents); John Cashman, Joe DeFrank and John Cisna (Director Emeritus); Carol Cramer (Secretary and Steward At Large); and Paul Ramlow (Treasurer, Publicity Director and Steward At Large).

Also at Lexington, the Delvin Miller Grand Circuit medallions were presented to the Circuit’s leading driver, trainer and owner for the 2009 campaign. Jim Morrill, Jr. was the leading driver, George Teague, Jr. was the top trainer and Christina Takter was named the leading owner.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Tim Tetrick has extended his lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings as he now has 28 victories in 2010. Jim Morrill, Jr. is in second place with 18 winners. John Campbell, David Miller and Ron Pierce are tied for third place, each with 17 victories. Brian Sears checks in sixth with 16 victories. Yannick Gingras holds down seventh place with 13 winners. Dave Palone is in eighth place with 11 triumphs. George Brennan is ninth with ten victories. Daniel Dube rounds out the top 10 with seven winners in 2010.

Looking ahead: Following this week’s action at The Red Mile, the Grand Circuit will be off for two weeks before racing resumes on Nov. 6 at Balmoral Park in Illinois.