by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit

Springfield, IL — Grand Circuit racing commenced on Monday (Aug. 17) at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield with a pair of Review Stakes for 2-year-olds.

In the $23,200 event for freshman trotters, driver Lewayne Miller sent Trot Commander right to the front and they were never caught in a mile timed in 2:00.1. The son of Cantab Hall-Lulu De Revenue opened up in the stretch for a 9-1/4 length triumph over Nashville Holiday (Trenton Watson). Working Her Mojo (Mike Oosting) was third.

Trot Commander is owned by Hinshaw Homestead Farms LLC and is trained by Clifford Graber. The victory was his second in six lifetime starts and upped his purse earnings to $13,432.

In the $22,900 Review Stakes for 2-year-old pacers, Bs Tyrrific was also a wire-to-wire winner, scoring in 1:56 for driver Kyle Wilfong and trainer Robert Sanders. The Richess Hanover-Fox Valley Tyra gelding was a 1-1/2 length winner over Big Monty (Casey Leonard). Sun Belle Sadie (Mike Oosting) finished third.

Bs Tyrrific is owned by Robert Buttice, Jeremy Buttice, Louis Buttice and Frank Santilli. He posted his fourth win in six career starts and has now banked $37,735.

Review Stakes action continues on Tuesday with 3-year-old trotters and pacers in the spotlight.