$615,000 in Grand Circuit action held at Hoosier Park

The prestigious Grand Circuit roared into Harrah’s Hoosier Park Friday (Nov. 3) evening with four major harness racing events for three-year-old pacers and trotters.

$205,000 The Carl Erskine

All eyes were on the race favorite, 3/5 Tactical Approach (Tactical Landing), winner of the Hambletonian, the Kentucky Futurity and just last week, the Breeders Crown for three-year-old trotting colts.

Starting from the outside in post eight, driver Scott Zeron sent Tactical Approach out and to the lead right from the git-go. They were followed in second place by Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) to the first quarter in :27, then the half mile in :55.3 with no challenges from the outside.

Tactical Approach continued to lead down the backstretch and to the three-quarters in 1:24.1, still holding the field at bay as he went on to win with ease by two lengths in 1:52.1. Jet Hill (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) closed to be second with the pocket-sitting Ponda Jet third.

TACTICAL APPROACH REPLAY

It was the second straight win and tenth victory of the year for Tactical Approach. An $85,000 yearling purchase, he is trained by Nancy Takter for owners Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco and Jaf Racing Stable, paying $3.20 to win. Tactical Approach now sports career earnings of $1,458,739. He was bred by Steve Sewart and Oakwood Farms.

$190,000 The Monument Circle

When you are in tenth and last place at the top of the stretch, winning is usually not expected, but don’t tell that to Coach Stefanos (Tellitlikeitis) and driver Trace Tetrick as they beat those odds in winning the Monument Circle for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

The 9th race got underway with Why Not Now (Dexter Dunn) grinding his way to the lead but by the opening quarter mile in :27, it was 6/5 race favorite Stockade Seelster (David Miller) on the engine and cutting the mile to the half in :55. Then in the backstretch Command (Todd McCarthy) was sent his marching orders and came first-over, challenging Stockade Seelster for the lead.

Coming down the stretch it became a three-horse race to the finish, except for 7-1 Coach Stefanos, who despite being 10th and last at the top of the stretch, kept passing horses by and then in deep stretch Tetrick asked the gelding for more and Coach Stefanos came on to win by a half a length in 1:49.4. Why Not Now was second with Stockade Seelster third.

COACH STEFANOS REPLAY

It was the seventh win on the year for Coach Stefanos. He is trained by Erv Miller for owners Ken Duffy, D & M Trading II and John Chris Stefanos. Bred by Victory Hill Farm, he paid $17.60 to win.

$115,000 The Crossroads of America

Three-year-old trotting fillies were in the spotlight for the Crossroads of America in the 9th race and driver Dexter Dunn gave Call Me Goo (Googoo Gaagaa) a perfect second-over trip to grab the victory in deep stretch.

The 9th race co-feature saw Mass Hysteria (David Miller) leave from post nine to cut the mile early, then give way to Helpoftheseason (Peter Wrenn) by the first quarter in :28. Then it was Rose Run Yanae (Chris Page) taking command before the half mile in :56.3.

Race favorite Tactical Mounds (Scott Zeron) moved first-over in the backstretch and following their live cover was Call Me Goo. Tactical Mounds collared Rose Run by the three-quarters in 1:25 and then Call Me Goo followed Tactical Mounds down the stretch, then came after the race favorite and won by one length in 1:53.4. Rose Run Yolanda (Yannick Gingras) was third.

CALL ME GOO REPLAY

It was the third win in past four starts for Call Me Goo and her eleventh win in fifteen starts this year. She is trained by Jason Skinner for the Graham Grace Stable of Clifton, Virgina. She was bred by William Roberts of Maryland and paid $9.80 to win.

$105,000 The USS Indianapolis Memorial

Grand Circuit three-year-old pacing fillies were featured in the 7^th race USS Indianapolis Memorial and once on the lead, the race belonged to Strong Poison (Always B Miki) and driver Yannick Gingras.

Finishing 5^th in the $600,000 Breeders Crown just last week at Hoosier Park, Strong Poison was made the 3/5 race favorite as Gingras waited for Rollin Rosie (Trace Tetrick) and then Beach Cowgirl (Brian Sear) each going to the front by the first quarter in :26.4.

Gingras then came right out from third with Strong Poison to take command and lead the field to the half mile in :55.4. Then Southwind Bella (Ronnie Wrenn. Jr.) moved first-over with Mollop Hanover (John De Long) second-over to the three-quarters in 1:23.4.

As they came down the stretch, Strong Poison was the strong horse, holding the field at bay as she scored by two and three-quarter lengths in 1:50.4. The pocket-sitting Beach Cowgirl was second with Southwind Bella third.

STRONG POISON REPLAY

It was the fourth win on the season for Strong Poison. She is trained by Ron Burke and was a $50,000 yearling purchase. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva Stables, Knox Services and Beastly LLC, she paid $3.40 to win.

Bred by Steve Stewart, Charles Nash and Julie Nash, Strong Poison now sports career earnings of $831,475.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink