by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

This Week: John Simpson Memorial Stakes, Arthur J. Cutler Memorial eliminations and TVG Free For All Series, Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Meadowlands Racetrack this week begins on Friday (May 10) with two divisions in the $49,016 John Simpson Memorial for 3-year-old filly trotters and two divisions in the $54,030 John Simpson Memorial for 3-year-old colt trotters. The Saturday (May 11) card at The Big M features two $50,000 divisions of the TVG Free For All Open for pacers and two $40,000 eliminations for the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for older trotters.

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

Last time: Trotters were in the spotlight last weekend with Grand Circuit action at Freehold Raceway and Meadowlands Racetrack.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Celebrity Maserati was a 1:58.3 winner in the Dexter Cup.

Celebrity Maserati won this past Saturday’s $139,600 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old trotters by 2-1/4 lengths over favorite Dontyouforgetit in 1:58.3 at Freehold Raceway. Celebrity Stimulus was third. Driven by Tom Jackson, Celebrity Maserati started from post four and got the lead around the first turn as Dontyouforgetit worked his way from post seven toward the front. Dontyouforgetit, with Yannick Gingras in the sulky, got to the top as the field reached the first quarter in :28.2 and held the advantage until the final turn, when Celebrity Maserati moved to the outside and trotted to the victory. Celebrity Maserati paid $6.00 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

A pair of fillies bred and owned by New Jersey’s Joie De Vie Farm, both trained by Chris Ryder, swept the two dvisions of the Lady Suffolk for 3-year-old filly trotters on Friday at Freehold Raceway. Lola De Vie claimed the $39,900 first division, a non-wagering event, while Vida De Vie was a wire-to-wire winner in the $40,900 second division, carded as the third race.

Lola De Vie, who was a 1-1/2 length winner with David Miller driving, covered the mile in 2:00.4, besting Feather Your Nest by 1-1/2 lengths and Caneel Hall by 1-3/4 lengths. Vida De Vie trotted her mile in 2:01.2 with Daniel Dube driving, finishing three lengths ahead of Bouncing Bax. It was 14-1/4 lengths to Parlia Hanover in third.

The featured Grand Circuit event of the weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack was the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity for 4-year-old trotters. Modern Family prevailed in a personal best of 1:51.4 on Saturday night. There were lead changes throughout the mile in that event, before Uncle Peter wrestled the lead from Magic Tonight as they turned for home. Tim Tetrick had Modern Family positioned second over and powered past that one in the shadow of the wire. Uncle Peter held for second and Guccio found his best stride late for the show.

Complete recaps of all 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:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 270; 2. Tim Tetrick – 197; 3. Brian Sears – 159.5; 4. George Brennan – 74.5; and 5. David Miller –65.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 334; 2. PJ Fraley – 83; 3. Mark Harder – 61.5; 4. Amber Buter – 57; and 5. Mark Silva – 50.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing – 84.65; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 81.95; 3. Bamond Racing – 44.5; and 4t. Ira Kristel and Joie De Vie Farms – 40.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will again take place next weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack, with the final for the Arthur Cutler Memorial for older trotters and the Meadowlands Maturity for 4-year-old pacers.