by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Delaware Grand Circuit, Delaware County Fair, Delaware, Ohio

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action begins on Wednesday (Sept. 23) with the $350,000 Jugette for 3-year-old filly pacers, two divisions in the $107,500 Buckette for 3-year-old filly trotters, and a single division in the $62,127 Standardbred for 2-year-old filly trotters. The big Thursday (Sept. 24) racing program is headed up by the $609,150 Little Brown Jug, the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. Thursday’s card also has the $100,000 (est.) Winbak Farm for older pacers, the $105,000 (est.) Old Oaken Bucket for 3-year-old trotting colts, the $65,000 (est.) Standardbred for 2-year-old colt pacers, the $55,000 (est.) Standardbred for 2-year-old filly pacers and the $55,000 (est.) Standardbred for 2-year-old colt trotters.

Last time: Paul MacDonell was the driving star as the Grand Circuit concluded its stay at Mohawk Racetrack. MacDonell had three winners in the Champlain/Simcoe Stakes action. He was in victory lane behind Poof She’s Gone in a $143,822 division of the Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters, Ticket To Rock in a $140,142 Champlain Stakes split for 2-year-old filly pacers and Elusive Desire in a $118,297 Simcoe Stakes division for 3-year-old filly trotters.

Steve Condren, Ron Pierce and Tim Tetrick each posted a pair of victories in Grand Circuit races at the Campbellville, Ontario oval. Condren scored with Epanephrine in a $146,940 Champlain Stakes race for 2-year-old pacing colts and Windsong Soprano in a $120,137 Simcoe Stakes 3-year-old filly trot split.

Pierce was behind Big Bikkies in a $130,781 Simcoe division for 3-year-old colt trotters and Well Said in a $126,622 Simcoe split for 3-year-old colt pacers.

Tetrick was in victory lane behind Break The Bank K and Il Villaggio in $105,494 Champlain Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt trotters.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Jim Morrill, Jr. continues to hold a commanding lead in the Grand Circuit driving standings with 25 wins so far in 2009. Tim Tetrick holds down second place with 18 victories. Brian Sears is in third place with 14 wins. Ron Pierce holds down fourth place with 13 triumphs. Dave Palone sits in fifth place with 12 victories. David Miller is in sixth place with 10 winners. John Campbell ranks seventh with eight triumphs. George Brennan and Brett Miller share eighth place with seven victories apiece. Peter Wrenn rounds out the top ten with six winners in 2009.

Looking ahead: The Grand Circuit begins its two-week stay at Lexington’s Red Mile on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The opening week features the Kentucky Futurity, the third leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds; the companion Kentucky Filly Futurity for sophomores; and Bluegrass events for 3-year-old pacers and 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.