by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: The 2016 Grand Circuit season has come to a close. The 2017 schedule will be released in January.

Last time: Easy Lover Hanover completed a modern day harness racing Cinderella story by winning the $314,600 Hap Hansen Progress Pace in 1:49 at Dover Downs on Monday (Nov. 28).

Purchased nearly a year ago after a monumental fire wiped-out owner Brad Grant and trainer Ben Wallace’s stable in Ontario, Easy Lover Hanover was purchased at the Meadowlands Winter Mixed Sale earlier this year for $70,000 and he turned into a 15-race winner of more than $300,000, with a personal record 1:49 performance in the final major stake of 2016.

Fotowon photo

Easy Lover Hanover won the $314,600 Hap Hansen Progress Pace in 1:49 at Dover Downs.

Youthful driver Doug McNair made good use of starting from post one by trailing race-favorite Check Six (Yannick Gingras) through fast early fractions before finding room along the passing lane to finally pass the leader late in the stretch for the victory. Check Six finished second in a photo ahead of Boston Red Rocks.

Owner Brad Grant and trainer Ben Wallace were elated in the winner’s circle.

“He was a great horse to buy,” said Wallace. “He won the first five races we had. While giving the horse some time off, we gelded him, which we had planned when we got him. After wins at Mohawk and Woodbine, we decided to put up $25,000 to supplement him to this race.

“Doug McNair has driven him all season for us and he did another good job tonight.”

Easy Lover Hanover, a son of Somebeachsomewhere-Easy Go Go, completed his sophomore season with 15 wins, four seconds and two thirds. He nearly equaled his seasonal earnings with the Hap Hansen Progress Pace purse lifting his 2016 total to $314,124.

The festive and well-attended Saturday evening (Nov. 26) was made even better for Thomas Dillon, when his horse, Rock Me Baby, won the $120,000 Courageous Lady at Northfield Park.

The Courageous Lady was a series of firsts for Rock Me Baby. It was the first time she had raced for Dillon. He purchased her just two weeks ago for $82,000 at the Standardbred Mixed Sale at Harrisburg. It was also Rock Me Baby’s first start for trainer Heidi Rohr and the first time that Tim Tetrick has driven the filly.

Rock Me Baby left off the gate. She initially sat in third, but was sent to the outside approaching the quarter-mile marker. Once she made the lead at about that pole, Rock Me Baby never experienced an anxious moment the remainder of the mile. She posted fractions of :26.4, :54.4, 1:23 and 1:52.

“We had to go a pretty big first half,” explained Tetrick. “But I was able to give her a breather around the turn and she was really strong to the finish.”

The clocking was a stakes record for the Courageous Lady, equaled Northfield Park’s track record for sophomore filly pacers and was a new lifetime mark for Rock Me Baby.

“I was happy to get to drive her,” said Tetrick. “When they called me to ask if I would come here (Northfield), I was like absolutely. I love traveling around to these big races offered at places like Northfield and being able to compete with nice horses. I’m just glad to be a part of all this.”

Completing the field were Mother Of Art, L A Delight, Yankee Moonshine, Dime A Dance, Bellatricks, Free Show and Time On My Hands.

Rock Me Baby (Rock N Roll Heaven-Lover Of Art) now has four wins in 21 lifetime starts. Saturday’s victory increased her career bankroll to $164,228.

Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2016, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) were once again tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the final standings for the 2016 season:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,705.5; 2. David Miller – 1,372; 3. Tim Tetrick – 1,268.5; 4. Scott Zeron – 651.5; 5. Brett Miller – 609.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 1,636.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 1,520.5; 3. Tony Alagna – 608; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 491; 5. Erv Miller – 477.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 372.42; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 306.67; 3. Marvin Katz – 288.3; 4. Tom Hill – 249; 5. Al Libfeld – 231.8.

Looking ahead: The 2017 Grand Circuit schedule will be released in January.