by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Breeders Crown finals, Woodbine Racetrack, Rexdale, Ontario

Schedule of events: Eight Breeders Crown finals on Saturday (Oct. 24) for 2- and 3-year-olds highlight this weekend’s Grand Circuit schedule. The 3-year-old filly pacers, thanks to a pair of supplemental entries, will race for the highest purse – $710,000. The 2-year-old colt pacers will go for $700,000, the 2-year-old filly pacers will race for $610,000, while the remaining five divisions (2-year-old colt trot, 2-year-old filly trot, 3-year-old colt trot, 3-year-old filly trot and 3-year-old colt pace) will each chase a purse of $600,000.

Last time: A total of nine Breeders Crown elimination races were contested this past weekend. A pair of eliminations were raced in the 2-year-old colt trot, 2-year-old filly trot, 2-year-old filly pace, and 3-year-old filly trot, while a single elimination was held in the 3-year-old colt pace. Eliminations were not needed in the 2-year-old colt pace, the 3-year-old colt trot and the 3-year-old filly pace. Below is a list of the elimination winners and their driver.

2-year-old filly trot – Poof She’s Gone (David Miller) and Christiana Hanover (Steve Condren); 2-year-old colt trot – Lucky Chucky (John Campbell) and Pilgrims Taj (Mike Lachance); 2-year-old filly pace – Western Silk (Mark MacDonald) and Higher And Higher (Dave Palone); 3-year-old filly trot – Elusive Desire (Paul MacDonell) and Margarita Momma (Ron Pierce); and 3-year-old colt pace – Mr Wiggles (Corey Callahan).

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Jim Morrill, Jr. continues to lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings with 30 wins in 2009. Tim Tetrick holds down second place with 24 victories. Ron Pierce and Brian Sears are tied for third with 22 wins each. David Miller is in fifth place with 19 wins. Dave Palone holds down sixth place with 17 victories. John Campbell ranks seventh with 15 triumphs. George Brennan is in eighth place with 10 wins. Daniel Dube and Mike Lachance share ninth place with nine triumphs apiece.

Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit will be off next week before action resumes at Balmoral Park in Illinois on Saturday, November 7.