This Week: Dexter Cup and Lady Suffolk, Freehold Raceway, Freehold, N.J.; Paul Revere Pace, Plainridge Park, Plainville, Mass.; and Miss Versatility Series opening leg, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action begins Thursday (May 2) at Plainridge Park with the $100,000 Paul Revere Pace for 3-year-old pacing males.

Freehold Raceway will host Grand Circuit stakes on Saturday (May 4) with the $134,900 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old male trotters and two divisions in the $64,576 Lady Suffolk for 3-year-old filly trotters.

Also on Saturday, The Meadowlands has a $40,000 first leg division in the Miss Versatility Series for open trotting mares.

Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last Time: Hellabalou joined a select list of horses to win the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final in back-to-back seasons by taking Monday night’s (April 22) $457,000 championship in 1:50.2 after watching a duel for the lead between the two favorites and then pouncing on them past three-quarters.

After scoring at odds of 47-1 last year, he delivered at 11-1 this time around.

Hellabalou joined a select list of horses to win the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final in back-to-back seasons. Mike Lizzi photo.

Hellabalou charged away from the gate from post five and made 4-5 favorite Linedrive Hanover, driven by Scott Zeron, work almost all of the :26.4 opening quarter to clear him. Right behind Linedrive Hanover was even-money second choice Desperate Man (Matt Kakaley), and when Desperate Man moved up to challenge in the second quarter, Zeron opted to leave Desperate Man on the outside, resulting in a wicked :53.1 half-mile clocking.

The battle between Desperate Man and Linedrive Hanover continued around the third turn and to the 1:21.1 three-quarters, but Yannick Gingras, seeing that Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett) was making a two-wide advance from sixth, got the jump on him entering the far turn and fired Hellabalou three-wide. After Hellabalou was shown the clear racetrack, he worked his way by the spent leaders midway through the bend and then had plenty left to seal the deal, defeating Coaches Corner by two lengths. Desperate Man was game to the wire and held third despite the impossible trip, while Whats Stanley Got A (George Brennan) and Dunkin’ (Tim Tetrick) completed the top five.

Ron Burke trains Hellabalou, a 6-year-old Sweet Lou stallion bred by Andray Farm and Sergent Stables LLC, for owners Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Weaver Bruscemi and Larry Karr. Hellabalou posted his 27th career victory, has now earned $1,324,455 and paid $25.60 to win.

Lit De Rose had to do the work from first-over but proved best through the stretch drive and won the $276,200 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final for older pacing mares in 1:52.3.

The runner-up in the championship last year, Lit De Rose settled in the third spot from post one while Coachellabound N (Gingras) and Mikala (Brennan) looped around her. Mikala got to the top around Coachellabound N right at the :27.1 quarter and then backed down the half to :56 while Lachance waited until late on the third turn to guide Lit De Rose off the pylons.

An advance on the rim carried Lit De Rose side-by-side with Mikala at the 1:24.1 three-quarters, and they continued to duel around the far turn as Coachellabound N waited for room in the pocket and Tony’s Mom (Bartlett) and Dougs Babe A (Dexter Dunn) hoped to rally off Lit De Rose’s cover.

Lit De Rose had no intention of finishing anywhere but first, though, as she powered past Mikala for good in the lane and then kicked away late to tally by a length and three-quarters. Coachellabound N out-kicked Mikala to get second, followed by Tony’s Mom and Dougs Babe A.

A 9-year-old Leader Bayama mare, Lit De Rose was bred by owner Guy Corbeil. This was Lit De Rose’s 51st career victory, she has now earned $1,156,107, and she paid $4.90 to win as the 7-5 favorite.

Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website. For a list of 2024 race winners on the Grand Circuit, click here.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2024, 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 2024 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 4-22-24):

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 109.5; 2. Matt Kakaley – 107; 3. Jason Bartlett – 81.5; 4. George Brennan – 59; 5. Jordan Stratton – 55.

Trainers: 1. Travis Alexander – 82; 2. Ricky Bucci – 52; 3. Per Engblom – 50.5; 4. Cory Stratton – 50; 5. Pat Lachance – 47.

Owners: 1. Guy Corbeil – 57; 2. Kathy Cecchin – 45; 3. Mark Ford – 42; 4. Flatland Racing – 30; 5. Betty Clegg – 24.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place at Plainridge Park on May 16 with the Battle of Bunker Hill Trot and at The Meadowlands on May 18 with the Arthur Cutler Memorial for older trotters.