Molson Pace opens busy Grand Circuit weekend

Harness Racing This Week: Molson Pace, The Raceway at Western Fair District, London, Ontario; Art Rooney and Lismore, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.; and Maxie Lee Memorial, Dorothy Mullin Invitational and Betsy Ross, Harrah's Philadelphia, Chester, Pa.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit will take place at three locations this weekend. Action begins on Friday (May 27) at The Raceway at Western Fair District with the C$150,000 Molson Pace for free for all pacers. Three-time defending champion State Treasurer drew the coveted rail in his quest for a historic fourth consecutive title.

Yonkers Raceway will host the $300,000 final of the Art Rooney Pace (3-year-old colts/geldings) and the $100,000 Lismore Pace (3-year-old fillies) on Saturday (May 28). Elimination winner Missile J leads the field in the Art Rooney Pace.

Harrah's Philadelphia will host three Invitational events on Sunday (May 29), each with a purse of $200,000, in the Maxie Lee Memorial for older trotters, the Dorothy Mullin Invitational for older pacing males and the Betsy Ross for older filly and mare pacers.

Complete entries for the Yonkers and Harrah's Philadelphia races can be found by clicking on this link. Western Fair entries can be found by clicking on this link.

Last time: Last weekend's Grand Circuit action was highlighted by the Battle of Lake Erie for older pacers. Despite the presence of Foiled Again, the wealthiest horse in harness racing history and millionaires Luck Be Withyou and All Bets Off, the Battle of Lake Erie was billed as a rubber match between the defending Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit, conditioned by Clyde Francis, and the 3-year-old Breeders Crown winner Freaky Feet Pete, who is trained by Larry Rheinheimer. After all, this was the fourth encounter between the two superstar 4-year-olds and Freaky Feet Pete held the advantage over the 2015 champion at 2-1.

Sent off at odds of 1-2, Wiggle It Jiggleit and driver Montrell Teague easily snatched the lead from post position one immediately after they paced away from the gate. The other seven members of the field surprisingly enough seemed content to allow Wiggle It Jiggleit to roll unopposed on the front through a half in :55.4. That is when reinsman Trace Tetrick decided it was time to put some pressure on Wiggle It Jiggleit and pulled Freaky Feet Pete, who was the public's second selection at 6-5, from fourth position to challenge his rival.

Although the Indiana champion appeared to be moving at full throttle after three-quarters in 1:23, he could not pass Wiggle It Jiggleit or even draw close enough alongside to look him in the eye in the stretch. As the horses strode towards the finish line, Wiggle It Jiggleit only placed more distance between himself and his opponents, as Freaky Feet Pete's early efforts were clearly responsible for him retreating several hundred yards before the wire.

This allowed All Bets Off, at odds of 30-1, to come on and collect second place. Freaky Feet Pete was third and Luck Be Withyou rounded out the superfecta. The winning margin was 4-1/4 lengths and the mile was paced in 1:49.4.

Owned by George Teague Jr. Inc. and Teague Racing Partnership, Wiggle It Jiggleit is trained by Clyde Francis.

In other Grand Circuit action from over the weekend, Iron Mine Bucky survived a miserable first quarter in the slop and went on to capture the faster division of Saturday's $116,304 Currier & Ives at The Meadows. Cufflink Hanover took the other division in the stake for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

Iron Mine Bucky hadn't raced since winning an Oct. 2 Keystone Classic split at The Meadows, and he got just the sort of journey — stuck outside — winning driver George Dennis didn't want. But the Hambletonian-eligible son of Explosive Matter-My Foolish Dream persevered on the outside and overpowered the leader, 2-5 favorite Hititoutofthepark. Iron Mine Bucky prevailed in 1:55.2, 1-1/2 lengths better than Steed, while Hititoutofthepark saved show. Greg Haverstick trains Iron Mine Bucky, who extended his career bankroll to $132,023, for Iron Mine Branch LLC.

Cufflink Hanover has won three of four starts since adding hobbles, and he again looked useful and professional. He worked out a pocket trip behind Truemass Volo, then blew by him in the lane to triumph in 1:55.4. Hollywood Highway found late room for second, two lengths back, with Truemass Volo third. Driver David Miller owns the Andover Hall-CR Savoire Faire gelding with the Enzed Racing Stable of the colt's trainer, Nifty Norman.

Complete recaps of all the weekend races are available at the Grand Circuit website.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2016, 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 Farm is the sponsor for the 2016 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following the past weekend:

Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 161.5; 2. Daniel Dube – 120; 3. Matt Kakaley – 100; 4. George Brennan – 98; 5. Jason Bartlett – 90.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 158; 2. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 138; 3. Peter Tritton – 134.5; 4. Rene Allard – 120; 5. Clyde Francis – 62.5.

Owners: 1. Harry von Knoblauch – 134.5; 2. Bamond Racing – 85; 3t. Burke Racing Stable – 45.55; 3t. Weaver Bruscemi – 45.55; 5. Courant A B – 40.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place at Mohawk next weekend and will feature the Somebeachsomewhere for 3-year-old colt pacers and the second leg of the Graduate for 4-year-old open pacers and trotters.

Paul Ramlow

Grand Circuit Publicity Director