by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy series fourth legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features four $40,000 divisions on Friday (April 12) in the fourth round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Saturday (April 13) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the fourth round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers. Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: Tim Tetrick posted five winners in Grand Circuit action this past weekend at Yonkers.

Tetrick captured divisions of the Blue Chip Matchmaker behind Ramalama and Anndrovette, while taking three of the George Morton Levy splits with Second Wind N, Forever Just and Dancin Yankee.

Jelena Gerga photo

Tim Tetrick won a division of the Levy with Forever Just, one of his five Grand Circuit winners.

Tetrick posted 50 Grand Circuit driving points with his five wins, to edge out Yannick Gingras (37 points) for the weekly honors. Gingras had three winners for the week, scoring with Rocklamation in the Blue Chip Matchmaker and Something For Doc and Foiled Again in the Levy.

Trainer Ron Burke continued his roll last weekend at Yonkers, as his pupils posted a total of 52 Grand Circuit points to lead all conditioners. Burke posted four victories, with Ramalama and Rocklamation in the Blue Chip Matchmaker and Something For Doc and Foiled Again in the Levy.

Those victories also allowed Burke Racing to lead all owners in points for the weekend with 12.4, a figure matched by Burke’s patron Weaver Bruscemi.

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 – 139; 2. Tim Tetrick – 126; 3. Brian Sears – 90.5; 4. Matt Kakaley – 44; and 5. George Brennan – 41.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 173; 2. Mark Harder – 57.5; 3. PJ Fraley – 52; 4. Tony O’Sullivan – 32; and 5. Andrew Harris –31.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 37.5; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 36.8; 3. Our Horse Cents Stable – 32.3; 4. Bamond Racing – 27; and 5. Joseph Davino – 25.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with the final preliminary legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy next weekend. The finals and consolations for both events will be held on April 27.