by Paul Ramlow, Grand Circuit Publicity Director

This Week: Breeders Crown finals, Woodbine Racetrack, Toronto, Ontario.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action will feature all 12 Breeders Crown finals on Saturday (Oct. 29) at Woodbine. The four 2-year-old events for both sexes and gaits will each race for a purse of $600,000. The 3-year-old colt trot will carry a purse of $610,000, while the events for 3-year-old trotting fillies and sophomore pacers of both sexes will each go for a purse of $500,000. The Open Trot will carry a purse of $600,000, the Open Pace will race for a $500,000 purse, the Mare Pace will go for $300,000 and the Mare Trot will race for $250,000.

Last time: Tim Tetrick led all drivers in Grand Circuit wins last week at Woodbine as he won four of the Breeders Crown eliminations. Tetrick was in victory lane behind Anndrovette ($40,000 mare pace), Possess The Will ($25,000 2-year-old colt trot), Check Me Out ($25,000 2-year-old filly trot) and Chapter Seven ($25,000 3-year-old colt trot).

Yanick Gingras, Dave Palone and Ron Pierce each drove a pair of $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination winners. Gingras was behind A Rocknroll Dance (2-year-old colt pace) and Drop The Ball (3-year-old filly pace); Palone steered Sweet Lou (2-year-old colt pace) and Westwardho Hanover (3-year-old colt pace); and Pierce swept the 3-year-old filly trot behind Cedar Dove and Iron Lady.

A total of 14 Breeders Crown eliminations were contested in preparation for Saturday’s $6 million, 12-race program.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Defending Grand Circuit driving champion Tim Tetrick has moved into the lead in the tight Grand Circuit driving standings with 28 victories. David Miller and Dave Palone share second place with 27 triumphs each. Ron Pierce is still in fourth place with 18 victories. Yannick Gingras checks in fifth with 17 triumphs. Brian Sears is in sixth place with 12 wins. Andy Miller and Ray Schnittker share seventh place, each with 10 scores. Jody Jamieson is in ninth place with eight victories. Brett Miller and Montrell Teague are tied for tenth place, each with seven wins.

Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit heads to Balmoral Park on Saturday (Nov. 5) with American-National eliminations for 2-year-old colt and filly pacers. A total of six American-National finals will be contested on Saturday (Nov. 12).

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

Track–Dates
Breeders Crown at Woodbine–October 21-October 29
Balmoral Park–November 5-November 12
Maywood Park–November 18