by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy series finals and consolations, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.; Courageous Lady, Northfield Park, Northfield, Ohio; and Dexter Cup eliminations, Freehold Raceway, Freehold, N.J.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features the $450,000 final and the $100,000 consolation of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers, as well as the $285,000 final and $75,000 consolation in the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. All four races will take place on Saturday (April 27).

Northfield Park on Friday night (April 26) will hold the $84,000 Courageous Lady for 3-year-old filly pacers. A field of seven ladies will go to the post in the track’s 11th race.

Freehold Raceway will host on Saturday afternoon (April 27) the $40,000 eliminations (if necessary) for the Dexter Cup for 3-year-old open trotters. The $130,000 (est.) Dexter Cup final will be held on Saturday (May 4).

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

Last time: For the second consecutive week, Yannick Gingras posted four winners in Grand Circuit action at Yonkers.

Mike Lizzi photo

Ramalama (#1) was a head winner over Anndrovette in their Blue Chip Matchmaker division on April 19.

Gingras captured a division of the Blue Chip Matchmaker behind Ramalama, while taking three of the George Morton Levy splits with Annieswesterncard, Something For Doc and Foiled Again.

Gingras posted 44 Grand Circuit driving points with his four wins and two thirds to once again easily win the weekly honors, followed by Brian Sears (27) and Tim Tetrick (19).

All four of Gingras’ victories came with Ron Burke-conditioned horses, so it was no surprise that Burke dominated the trainer’s race last weekend at Yonkers, as his pupils also posted a total of 44 Grand Circuit points. Those victories also allowed Burke Racing to lead all owners in points for the weekend with 14.4.

Complete recaps of 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 at Yonkers:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 235; 2. Tim Tetrick – 157; 3. Brian Sears – 139.5; 4. George Brennan – 62.5; and 5. Matt Kakaley – 56.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 289; 2. PJ Fraley – 73; 3. Mark Harder – 59.5; 4. Andrew Harris – 45; and 5. Tony O’Sullivan – 39.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 67.15; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 64.45; 3. Bamond Racing – 39.5; 4. Our Horse Cents Stable – 38; and 5. Joseph Davino – 33.5.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next weekend at Freehold Raceway and Meadowlands Racetrack. Freehold has the Lady Suffolk for 3-year-old filly trotters on Friday (May 3) and the Dexter Cup for 3-year-old open trotters on Saturday (May 4). Meadowlands Racetrack will host the John Simpson Stakes for 3-year-old filly pacers on Friday (May 3). On Saturday (May 4) they will offer the Meadowlands Maturity for 4-year-old trotters and the John Simpson Stakes for 3-year-old colt pacers.