The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its preview for upcoming Grand Circuit races.
This Week: Currier & Ives filly division, the Meadows, Washington, Pa; Armbro Flight, Goodtimes, North America Cup, Fan Hanover and Roses Are Red eliminations, Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, Ont.; Charlie Hill Memorial, Scioto Downs, Columbus, Ohio; and the Hanover Stakes (three-year-old colt and filly trot), Balmoral Park, Crete, Ill.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit will take place at four locations this week. Action will begin on Wednesday (June 4) at the Meadows with three divisions in the $93,860 Currier & Ives for three-year-old filly trotters.
Mohawk Racetrack will host Grand Circuit racing on Friday (June 6) with two $35,000 eliminations in the Armbro Flight for trotting mares and two $30,000 eliminations in the Goodtimes for three-year-old trotting colts. The Saturday (June 7) card at Mohawk features a trio of $50,000 eliminations for the North America Cup for three-year-old pacing colts and two $35,000 eliminations in the Roses Are Red for pacing mares and the Fan Hanover for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Scioto Downs will offer its second Grand Circuit stakes event of the season on Saturday, with the $200,000 Charlie Hill Memorial for Open trotters, while Balmoral Park will host a pair of Grand Circuit events on Saturday with the $35,000 (est.) Hanover Stake for three-year-old colt trotters and the $35,000 (est.) Hanover Stake for 3-year-old filly trotters.
Last time: Last weekend’s Grand Circuit action was highlighted by the Molson Pace for older pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District, the Art Rooney at Yonkers Raceway and the Roll With Joe at Tioga Downs.
In one of the most exciting editions of The Raceway at Western Fair District’s signature race, the $138,000 Molson Pace, last year’s winner, State Treasurer, defended his title despite a terrible start and an inquiry on May 30 at the London half-mile track.
Driver Chris Christoforou had State Treasurer three wide down the backside and picked up the cover of Apprentice Hanover and Jody Jamieson heading into the stretch. It was a great race to the finish with State Treasurer getting up on the outside to win by a neck in 1:51.4. Apprentice Hanover was a close second followed by the always game Foiled Again, just a half-length back in third.
The winning connections, trainer Dr. Ian Moore and owners Sally MacDonald and Paul MacDonald, had to wait out an inquiry regarding the start before the race was declared official.
“I sweated a little bit last year, too, but this is a little different this year,” noted Moore. “He’s a real good little horse, he tries his heart out and he showed that tonight for sure.”
Odds-on favourite All Bets Off (driven by Matt Kakaley, and who returned $2.60 to Win) was both anxious and effective on May 31, winning the $300,000 final of Yonkers Raceway’s Art Rooney Pace for three-year-old colts and geldings.
All Bets Off collared leader Maxi Bon early in the lane, then held off a rallying Some Playa by one and a half lengths in 1:52.2. Maxi Bon held third.
All Bets Off, a son of Bettors Delight-Armbro Penelope that is co-owned (as Burke Racing) by trainer Ron Burke, Frank Baldachino, Panhellenic Stables and Rosemary Shelswell, is now three-for-four this season with earnings of $180,250.
“Oh, yeah, I was worried,” Kakaley said. “I thought giving up the lead (to Stevensville) was the right thing to do. Then I saw Danny’s (driver Dan Dube, with Maxi Bon) coming fast and I knew I was in trouble. I was lucky to get out. If I don’t, I’m shuffled out, and probably last.