by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, the Grand Circuit

This Week: W.N. Reynolds Memorial, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.

Schedule of events: Yonkers Raceway on Saturday night (May 12) will host three divisions in the $69,200 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for 3-year-old male pacers and three divisions in the $63,700 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers. Complete entries for the races are available at this link.

Last time: She’s baaack! And much to the chagrin of the others in the older trotting division, she just might be better than ever. Hannelore Hanover, the defending Dan Patch Horse of the Year, overcame post position 12 in her 2018 debut to win the $182,500 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands Saturday night (May 5).

Lisa photo

Hannelore Hanover made her 2018 debut a winning one, taking the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands

The betting public was unafraid despite the second-tier starting spot, sending the Ron Burke trainee to the gate as the 3-5 choice. With the race at a mile and an eighth, the starting gate looked a bit wobbly as they made their way out of the turn heading to the start.

“The gate bounced in everybody’s face (in the first tier),” said winning driver Yannick Gingras. “So I had to give myself a little room and be a little cautious.”

At the start, 9-1 chance Will Take Charge was on the go and led at the quarter before yielding the point to 7-2 second choice Crazy Wow, who hit the half in :55.1. Mambo Lindy was making progress racing on the rim while towing Hannelore Hanover closer to the leaders. At the head of the stretch, Mambo Lindy was at Crazy Wow’s throat as Hannelore Hanover tipped off cover and started to roll.

With a sixteenth to go, Will Take Charge found room after racing in the pocket and was rallying along the inside, but he did not have quite enough to prevent Hannelore Hanover from winning for the 37th time in 59 lifetime starts.

“At the top of the stretch, I thought I was going to be an easy winner,” said Gingras. “Then I was a little worried, but she kicked in. She’s definitely better now than she was at the start of last year. Hopefully, she has as good a year as she had last year. She’s just an incredible horse.”

The 6-year-old daughter of Swan For All finished the 1-1/8 mile distance in 2:06, a neck in front of a stubborn Will Take Charge. Crazy Wow held on for third. The winner, who returned $3.40 to her backers, is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and J&T Silva Stables. Her lifetime bankroll now stands at $2,558,677.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Lindy’s Big Bang won the $133,800 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old trotters.

Lindy’s Big Bang and driver David Miller inherited the lead just prior to the three-quarter-mile point from an off stride On The Ropes and remained in front from there to win Saturday’s (May 5) $133,800 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old trotters by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.1 at Freehold Raceway.

Don finished second and Perlucky was third, although both needed to survive inquiries to maintain their spots. Don’s inquiry was for possible interference while Perlucky was examined for compliance with the breaking rule after going off stride nearing the finish line.

On The Ropes, who was the race’s 3-5 favorite, led from the start from post No. 1, with driver Dan Dube posting fractions of :28 for the opening quarter-mile and :58.1 for the half. As the horses made their way up the backstretch heading for the final turn, On The Ropes made a break, leaving Lindy’s Big Bang on the lead.

Lindy’s Big Bang fended off challenges from Don to his outside and Perlucky in the passing lane to earn his second victory in three starts this season.

“We got a bit lucky there,” winning driver Miller said. “My horse still felt strong when Danny’s horse ran; I think we would have given him a run. My horse was good today.”

Also going off stride in the race was last week’s Dexter Cup elimination winner Vic’s Winner, who made a break on the final turn while in fourth place. Maxus, who was the field’s leading money-winner, was scratched injured.

Miller co-owns Lindy’s Big Bang with Mel Hartman and David McDuffee. The gelding, a son of Explosive Matter out of Lindy Of My Dreams, is trained by Richard “Nifty” Norman. He has won four of 15 career races and earned $117,233. He was bred by Lindy Farms of Connecticut.

Lindy’s Big Bang paid $13.00 to win.

Complete recaps of the weekend races 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 – 149; 2. Yannick Gingras – 129; 3. Jordan Stratton – 119; 4. Jason Bartlett – 84; 5. Daniel Dube – 65.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 126; 2. Peter Tritton – 102; 3. Jim King Jr. – 79; 4. Richard Banca – 75; 5. Rene Allard – 65.

Owners: 1. Vonknoblauch Stable – 87; 2. Richard Poillucci – 34; 3t. Burke Racing Stable – 30.3; 3t. Weaver Bruscemi – 30.3; 5. Jo Ann Looney-King – 30.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action resumes on May 19 at The Meadowlands with the first leg of the Graduate for 4-year-old open trotters and at Yonkers Raceway with eliminations in the Art Rooney for 3-year-old open pacers and the Lismore for 3-year-old filly pacers.