This Week: The 2011 Grand Circuit season has concluded. The 2012 schedule will be announced in January.

Last time: George Brennan piloted heavily favored Betterthancheddar to the victory in the $175,000 Windy City Pace for 3-year-old colts, the featured race on the Friday (Nov. 18) Grand Circuit card at Maywood. They defeated Mystic Desire (Peter Wrenn) by 5-1/2 lengths in a time of 1:52.3. Stonebridge Rocket was third for Doug McNair.

In the other Grand Circuit stakes, Fridaynightflight and Todd Warren captured the $127,800 Abe Lincoln for 2-year-old pacing colts by a half-length over Caviart Key (Dan Noble), with Uncle Smoothie (Brian Carpenter) third. The winning time was 1:54.2.

In the $70,000 Cinderella for 3-year-old pacing fillies, Crossthreaded and Dan Noble scored a narrow victory in a time of 1:54.3, scoring by a neck over Fresh Idea (George Brennan) and favored Swinging Beauty (Doug McNair).

Rounding out the stakes action was a pair of $50,000 Galt Stakes for 3-year-old colt trotters. The opener went to Haulin Laser and Peter Wrenn in a time of 1:56 over Fox Valley Iliad (Homer Hochstetler) and Take Heart (Casey Leonard). The nightcap was captured by Mr Web Page (Dan Shetler) in 1:58.2, defeating Evil Urges (Jimmy Whittemore) and Ooga Booga (Dave Magee).

To read a full recap of the Grand Circuit stakes, click here.

Grand Circuit Driving Standings: Dave Palone captured his second Grand Circuit driving title as he topped the final standings with 29 victories. Tim Tetrick was in second place with 28 winners. David Miller ended up in third place with 27 triumphs. Yannick Gingras and Ron Pierce were tied for fourth place with 20 victories each. Brian Sears wound up in sixth place with 13 wins. Jody Jamieson, Andy Miller and Ray Schnittker shared seventh place, each with 10 scores. George Brennan rounded out the top ten, with eight victories in 2011.