Yonkers owns spotlight for Grand Circuit racing

Harness Racing This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata Pacing series third legs, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y. This is the opening event of the 2023 Grand Circuit season.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers features three $40,000 divisions on Friday (March 31) in the third round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for open pacing mares. The Monday (April 3) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions in the third round of the MGM Borgata Pacing series for open pacers.

Each series offers five preliminary rounds leading to the finales, both set for Monday (April 24).

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

Last Time: The second leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series for free-for-allers was conducted on a rain-soaked and sloppy MGM Yonkers Raceway on Monday night (March 27), and Idealsomemagic A and Tattoo Artist shared top honors on the program by each turning in a 1:51.2 mile in their respective $50,000 tests. The other divisions went to Lochinvar Art A and Jimmy Freight.

VIP Internet Stable and Bukers Stable own the Cory Stratton-trained Idealsomemagic A, a 9-year-old gelded son of American Ideal. Idealsomemagic A, who returned $6.20 to win as the 2-1 second choice, has compiled a record of 20-18-8 from 92 lifetime tries, and has now put away $242,567.

A 6-year-old stallion by He’s Watching, Tattoo Artist was sent out by trainer Chris Ryder for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Frank Cannon and Diamond Creek Racing. Tattoo Artist is now a 31-time winner in his life, and he has pocketed $1,867,536. He paid $3.30 to win.

Racine Bell (So Surreal) and driver Jason Bartlett found room to the inside in the stretch and forged to the front late to capture her $40,000 second-leg division of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series at MGM Yonkers Raceway on Friday night (March 24). A 6-year-old mare Racine Bell scored in 1:52.3 and became harness racing’s newest millionaire with the victory.

Trained by David Dewhurst, Racine Bell is owned by Chris and Dale Lawton. Racine Bell returned $3.40 to win.

Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website. For a list of 2023 race winners on the Grand Circuit, click here.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2023, 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 Farms is the sponsor for the 2023 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 3-27-23):

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 35; 2. Jordan Stratton – 31; 3. Scott Zeron – 25; 4. Matt Kakaley – 24; 5. Jason Bartlett – 22.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 30; 2t. Cory Stratton – 25; 2t. Linda Toscano – 25; 2t. Shane Tritton – 25; 5. Jared Bako – 17.

Owners: 1. Team Tritton Inc. – 20; 2t. Flatland Racing – 15; 2t. The OK Corral – 15; 4. Jesmeral Stable – 12; 5. Let It Ride Stables – 10.8.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and MGM Borgata over the next two weeks. The finals for both events will be held on April 24.

by Paul Ramlow, for The Grand Circuit