by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Breeders Crown finals and Kindergarten Series, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.; Circle City and Madison County, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind.; and John Simpson Stakes, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Chester, Pa.

Schedule of events: The 12 Breeders Crown championship events at Meadowlands Racetrack will be front and center in the Grand Circuit spotlight this week. The four Breeders Crown championship races for older pacers and trotters will be raced on Friday (Oct. 28) while the eight championships for 2- and 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits will be contested on Saturday (Oct. 29).

The Meadowlands will also host the final preliminary leg of the Kindergarten Series for 2-year-old pacers and trotters this weekend. Trotters will be racing on Friday with single $10,000 divisions for both the colts and fillies. Pacers will take to the track on Saturday, also with single $10,000 divisions for both the colts and fillies.

Hoosier has Grand Circuit action on both Friday and Saturday. Friday features eight Circle City races for 3-year-olds with two divisions each in the $83,700 colt trot, the $80,200 filly trot, the $74,300 filly pace and the $71,400 colt pace. Saturday will feature Madison County events for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. There will be single divisions in the $75,000 2-year-old filly trot, $72,500 2-year-old colt trot, $60,000 2-year-old colt pace and $58,000 2-year-old filly pace.

Harrah’s Philadelphia features John Simpson Stakes races for 2-year-olds on Friday and Sunday. The trotters will be in action on Friday with two $35,000 divisions for fillies and a single $67,300 race for colts. Sunday’s card offers a single $74,000 event for 2-year-old colt pacers.

Complete entries for the races are available at this link.

Last time: Breeders Crown eliminations were in the spotlight this past weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack as 18 contests were raced at the New Jersey oval.

Lisa photo

Sutton sat in the pocket before edging up the pylons to win at 6-1 in the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding trot.

Trained by Julie Miller, Sutton (Donato Hanover-I Wanted Wings) sat in the pocket before edging up the pylons to win at 6-1 in the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding trot on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Meadowlands in 1:54.2.

Taking the lead in :28.1, Sutton soon took the pocket as Marion Marauder brushed to the lead. He remained in control through fractions of :56 and 1:25.3 before bracing for pressure from Southwind Frank who was traveling uncovered.
Marion Marauder was clinging to control in the stretch, drifting off the rail while Southwind Frank was gaining ground to his outside and Sutton was sliding alongside at the pylons. Sutton inched to the front to win by a neck over Marion Marauder, Southwind Frank, Lagerfeld, and Double L Lindy.

Racing for Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Jason and Douglas Allen, Sutton won his seventh race in 23 career starts, amassing $382,431 in earnings. He was driven by Andy Miller and paid $15.40 to win.

Bar Hopping flew to the lead heading down the backstretch and coasted to a 1:52.4 score in the second of the two $25,000 eliminations.

The Jimmy Takter-trained colt by Muscle Hill from the Credit Winner mare Cocktail Hour settled into fourth as Southern Cross trotted the first quarter in :28.1. After a :57.2 half, Bar Hopping tipped first over and rushed alongside Southern Cross and took the lead heading into the far turn.

He kicked away at three-quarters in 1:25.1 and remained in front as Waitlifter K chased him home in second. Muscle Hustle, Winter Harbor, and Love Matters also qualified for the final.

Driven by Tim Tetrick, Bar Hopping won his eighth race in 25 career starts, earning $913,033 for owners Christina Takter, Hatfield Stables, Marvin Katz, and Al Libfeld. He paid $2.60.

Pacing off the gate into fourth, Jimmy Takter trainee Pure Country was flushed first over heading to the half and sustained her uncovered bid to win the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace on Saturday at the Meadowlands in 1:51.

Darlinonthebeach took the lead through a :27.4 first quarter while Call Me Queen Be settled for the pocket. L A Delight, getting away last, moved two wide and managed to flush Pure Country heading to the half.

Pure Country narrowed in on Darlinonthebeach through a half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:23.2 before sticking her head in front in the stretch. L A Delight fanned off cover and closed down the center of the track to take second, while Call Me Queen Be sprinted up the rail for third. Darlinonthebeach and Kiss Me Onthebeach also made the final.

By Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Western Montana, Pure Country won her 19th race in 29 career starts, earning $1,662,198 for owner Diamond Creek Racing. Driven by Brett Miller, she paid $5.20 to win.

Newborn Sassy (Tim Tetrick) sliced through traffic in the final strides to win her $25,000 elimination in 1:53 by three-quarters of a length at the Meadowlands. Newborn Sassy is trained and co-owned by Jo Ann Looney-King along with owners CC Racing. Blue Moon Stride (Andrew McCarthy) was second and Penpal (Pat Lachance) was third.

Lindwood Beachgirl (Yannick Gingras) had the lead early at the :29 first quarter, only to be overtaken by Penpal and then Blue Moon Stride by the :56.4 half. Blue Moon Stride held the lead to the 1:25.2 three-quarters, while Wishy Washy Girl (Brian Sears) was moving to challenge for the lead at that point.

In the final turn, Newborn Sassy edged three wide to make a try for the lead, pacing down the middle of the track to pass the leaders a few strides from the wire.

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) 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 Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the current leaders:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 1,408.5; 2. David Miller – 1,135; 3. Tim Tetrick – 1,085.5; 4. Scott Zeron – 564.5; 5. Brett Miller – 562.5.

Trainers: 1. Jimmy Takter – 1,283.5; 2. Ron Burke – 1,254.5; 3. Tony Alagna – 553; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 441; 5. Julie Miller – 367.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 282.27; 2. Marvin Katz – 244.55; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 236.97; 4. Tom Hill – 209; 5. Al Libfeld – 194.3.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next weekend at Dover Downs, Hoosier Park and Meadowlands Racetrack. Dover will feature the four Matron Stakes for 2-year-old trotters and pacers on Nov. 3; Hoosier has the Monument Circle, Carl Erskine, Crossroads of America and USS Indianapolis on Nov. 4; while the Meadowlands will race the four Kindergarten Series finals on Nov. 5.