by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: Battle of Lake Erie, Northfield Park, Northfield, Ohio; and Graduate Series second leg and Somebeachsomewhere, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ontario.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action will take place on Saturday (June 2) at two venues. Northfield Park will host the $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie for open pacers and Woodbine Mohawk Park will feature three C$60,000 divisions in the Somebeachsomewhere for 3-year-old pacing colts, a pair of C$63,500 second leg divisions in the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers and a single C$95,250 race in the second leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old trotters.

Complete entries for the Northfield Park race can be found by clicking on this link. Mohawk entries can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: The polls have closed and it’s officially Trump Nation. The colt by that very same name proved quite the best Saturday night (May 26), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $300,000 Art Rooney Pace.

The 28th Rooney saw six 3-year-old colts and two geldings start, but seven ended up chasing in vain.

Mike Lizzi photo

Trump Nation captured the $300,000 Art Rooney Pace.

From post position four, Trump Nation (Jason Bartlett, $6.80) was forwardly-placed, as was Babes Dig Me (Brett Miller). The latter made the first lead, before the former played leapfrog. Trump Nation seized the day (night?) just after a :27.3 opening quarter-mile.

Trump Nation, who won the second of last week’s two elimination races, then rated a :29 next subsection (:56.3 half), which would serve him well. Along came 3-5 favorite Springsteen (Brian Sears), first-up from fifth, and the race was underway in earnest. Kwik Talkin (George Brennan) slipped out to race second-over, but gapped badly.

Meanwhile, the leader and his ‘prompter’ rolled through a :26.4 third quarter (1:23.2), with the people’s preference packing it in readily. Trump Nation owned a 1-3/4 length lead in and out of the final turn. Babes Dig Me edged from the pocket, while Minnie Vinnie had room after sitting third.

However, Trump Nation was up to the challenge, defeating Minnie Vinnie by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:51.3 — a life-best by a good number. Babes Dig Me was clearly third, with 124-1 rank outsider Major Authority (Mark MacDonald) and Decoy (Dave Miller) rounding out the payees. Kwik Talkin, Springsteen and Jimtastic (Eric Goodell) completed the order.

For second choice Trump Nation, a statebred son of Betterthancheddar co-owned by Evan Katz and Crawford Farms Racing and trained by Chris Oakes, it was his third win in four seasonal starts.

“I couldn’t have asked for the race to work out any better,” Bartlett said. “I was able to back down the half and pick it up when Springsteen came at me. I thought the two outside horses (Babes Dig Me and Decoy) had to leave, and when I saw Brett (Miller, Babes Dig Me), I let him go and retook.

“I have to say that (former trainer) Andrew (Harris) really did the right thing with him last season, wanting to race him from off the pace. He deserves a lot of credit.”

As does the chauffeur, who won his first Rooney Pace in his 11th try.

“It took me long enough,” Bartlett said.

Complete recaps of all the weekend races, including the Camluck Classic at The Raceway at Western Fair District and a trio of $150,000 invitational events at Harrah’s Philadelphia, are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2018, 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 2018 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend.

Drivers: 1. Tim Tetrick – 209; 2. Yannick Gingras – 149; 3. Jason Bartlett – 139; 4. Jordan Stratton – 134; 5. Daniel Dube – 75.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 158; 2. Peter Tritton – 102; 3. Jim King Jr. – 99; 4. Richard Banca – 75; 5. Rene Allard – 70.

Owners: 1. Vonknoblauch Stable – 87; 2. Richard Poillucci – 44; 3t. Burke Racing Stable – 40.3; 3t. Weaver Bruscemi – 40.3; 5. Jo Ann Looney-King – 40.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at The Meadows, Scioto Downs, Woodbine Mohawk Park, and Tioga Downs. The Meadows will card the Currier & Ives for 3-year-old trotters of both sexes, Scioto will host the Charlie Hill for open trotters, Mohawk will feature five stakes eliminations, led by the North America Cup for 3-year-old male pacers, and Tioga Downs will offer the third leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers and trotters.