Grand Circuit to Meadowlands and Yonkers this weekend
May 17, 2017,by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit
This Week: Graduate Series Trot first leg, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.; and Art Rooney and Lismore eliminations, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.
Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action takes place this Saturday (May 20) at Meadowlands Racetrack with a single $75,000 division in the first leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old open trotters.
Also on Saturday, Yonkers Raceway will host a single $40,000 elimination in the Art Rooney for 3-year-old open pacers and two $20,000 eliminations in the Lismore for 3-year-old pacing fillies.
Complete entries for the races are available at this link.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2017, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be 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 Farms is the sponsor for the 2017 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders through and including the races on May 8.
Drivers: 1. Jason Bartlett – 148; 2. Yannick Gingras – 114; 3t. Jordan Stratton – 96; 3t. Matt Kakaley – 96; 5. Tim Tetrick – 63.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 96; 2. Peter Tritton – 92; 3. Richard Banca – 86; 4. Rene Allard – 79; 5. Scott DiDomenico – 39.
Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch Stable – 73.5; 2. Fred Monteleone Stable – 32; 3. Carolyn Atherton – 30; 4t. Burke Racing Stable – 25.7; 4t. Weaver Bruscemi – 25.7.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Mohawk Racetrack (first leg of the Miss Versatility for trotting mares); The Meadows (Currier & Ives for 3-year-old filly trotters); The Raceway at Western Fair District (Molson Pace for open pacers); Yonkers Raceway (Art Rooney and Lismore finals for 3-year-old pacers); and Harrah’s Philadelphia (Maxie Lee Memorial for open trotters, Ben Stafford Jr. for open pacers, and Betsy Ross for pacing mares).
- Broadway Donna bests Dayson in Graduate Series (Sunday, May 21, 2017)
Broadway Donna outlasted Dayson after a stirring stretch duel to capture the first leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old trotters at the Meadowlands Saturday (May 20) night. Broadway Donna, the 2016 Breeders Crown champion and dual Dan Patch Award winner, returned $5.60 to win as the 9-5 second choice in the wagering with David Miller in the sulky for trainer Jim Campbell.
- Downbytheseaside, Agent Q and Big City Betty win Rooney and Lismore eliminations (Sunday, May 21, 2017)
World champion Downbytheseaside (David Miller, $3.10) was as odds-on advertised Saturday night (May 20), winning Yonkers Raceway’s lone $40,000 elimination for the 27th Art Rooney Pace for 3-year-olds. Miller began his evening drilling seven inside rivals, with split times of :28.4, :59.1, 1:27.4, 1:55.1, with Agent Q ($6.80) in the first of two, $20,000 elims for the Lismore for 3-year-old pacing fillies.