by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Hambletonian, Hambletonian Oaks, John Cashman Memorial, U.S. Pacing Championship, Lady Liberty, Peter Haughton Memorial, Merrie Annabelle and Kindergarten Series, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J. Hanover Colt Stakes and Hanover Filly Stakes, Balmoral Park, Crete, Ill.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action kicks off this Friday (Aug. 2) at Meadowlands Racetrack with the first leg of the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old colt trotters and 2-year-old filly trotters. There will be three $10,000 divisions in each of the two events.

The big Saturday afternoon (Aug. 3) program at the Meadowlands is led by the $1.21 million Hambletonian, the second leg of trotting’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. Other major stakes races to be contested that day are the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old filly trotters, the $318,350 John Cashman Memorial for older trotters, the $213,650 U.S. Pacing Championship for older pacers, the $217,100 Lady Liberty for older pacing mares, the $280,500 Peter Haughton Memorial for 2-year-old colt trotters and the $321,700 Merrie Annabelle for 2-year-old filly trotters.

Also on Saturday, Balmoral Park will host the $75,000 (est.) Hanover Colt Stakes for 2-year-old colt pacers and the $60,000 (est.) Hanover Filly Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers.

Complete entries for the races are available at this link.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Trainer Jimmy Takter waves to the crowd as he leads Sunfire Blue Chip to the Adios winner’s circle.

Last time: A pair of major stakes races for 3-year-olds highlighted a busy Grand Circuit program over the past weekend, with The Meadows hosting the Delvin Miller Adios for pacing colts and Yonkers Raceway contesting the Yonkers Trot, the first leg of trotting’s Triple Crown.

With one quick, decisive burst to the front, Sunfire Blue Chip (Yannick Gingras) had a talented field at his mercy and went on to win the $450,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios at The Meadows by three-quarters of a length in 1:48.3. Vegas Vacation and Word Power, who both ducked, rallied from well back to finish second and third, respectively.

It was the first Adios victory for Gingras but the second for winning trainer Jimmy Takter, who took the 2009 “Pace for the Orchids” with Vintage Master. Takter conditions Sunfire Blue Chip, a $75,000 yearling acquisition who now boasts career earnings of $392,464, for Christina Takter, Jim Fielding, John Fielding, Brixton Medical AB and RAW Equine Inc.

Mike Lizzi photo

Dewycolorintheline was a 1:57.3 winner in the Yonkers Trot.

Ray Schnittker and Dewycolorintheline prevailed in the $450,000 Yonkers Trot. Dewycolorintheline owned a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane and was never seriously threatened, whipping Fico by a couple of lengths in 1:57.3. Lauderdale was third, with Dontyouforgetit — making up 19 lengths in the back half — fourth, beaten 4-1/2 lengths. Cantab Abs earned the last check, ahead of Creampuff Macdaddy.

Dewycolorintheline is a son of Deweycheatumnhowe (’08 Trotter of Year) co-owned (along with Deweycolorintheline Stable) by his trainer/driver.

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

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2013, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will 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). Hanover Shoe Farms is the sponsor for the 2013 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 768; 2. Tim Tetrick – 622; 3. David Miller – 440; 4. Brian Sears – 323.5; and 5. Andy Miller – 283.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 835.5; 2. Jimmy Takter – 355.5; 3. Linda Toscano – 321.5; 4. Ray Schnittker – 214; and 5. Jonas Czernyson – 169.5.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 182.55; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 167.35; 3. Frank Bellino – 103.5; 4. Our Horse Cents Stable – 93.9; and 5. Ray Schnittker – 90.05.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Harrah’s Philadelphia with the Historic-Harriman for 2-year-old colt trotters and at Charlottetown Driving Park with the Gold Cup and Saucer eliminations for older pacers.