Dexter Cup heads busy Grand Circuit weekend

Harness Racing This Week: Dexter Cup and Lady Suffolk, Freehold Raceway, Freehold, N.J.; W.N. Reynolds Memorial, Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.; and Miss Versatility Series and Graduate Series first legs, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: Freehold Raceway will host Grand Circuit action on Saturday (May 7) with the $150,505 Dexter Cup for 3-year-old male trotters and the $58,025 Lady Suffolk for 3-year-old filly trotters.

Yonkers Raceway returns to the Grand Circuit calendar on Friday (May 6) with the $41,100 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for 3-year-old colt pacers and the $34,400 W.N. Reynolds Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Also on Friday, The Meadowlands has a pair of $30,000 first leg divisions in the Miss Versatility Series for open trotting mares. Then on Saturday, The Meadowlands has a $75,000 Graduate leg for 4-year-old open trotters and two $50,000 divisions in the Graduate for 4-year-old open pacers.

Last Time: In his first start of the season, Groovy Man (Huntsville-Lets Groove Tonite) led at every station and captured the inaugural $100,000 Paul Revere Pace on Thursday afternoon (April 28) as Plainridge Park welcomed back the Grand Circuit.

Tested in the lane by a two-pronged attack, Groovy Man proved a gritty winner in the inaugural Paul Revere Pace. Tom Melanson photo.

Layton Hanover (Matt Kakaley) took the lead right off the gate before Groovy Man (Yannick Gingras) motored up the outside to gain control of the race at the quarter in :27.1. Positions remained unchanged from there until Caviart Scout (Josert Fonseca) pulled from fourth at the five-eighths and took the lead from his stablemate, Groovy Man, at the three-quarter pole.

As the pair paced into the last turn, Groovy Man dug back in and drew even with Caviart Scout, and the two matched strides all the way around the curve. Groovy Man eventually rebuffed the challenge and opened up a length lead heading into the stretch, but he still had more work ahead: the pocket-sitting Layton Hanover found room at the pylons and Rocknroll Gold (Matty Athearn) was flying late on the outside. The two made up ground all the way to the line, but Groovy Man dug in and held on to win by a long neck in 1:52.1.

“I left for position hoping to get a trip behind Fourever Boy,” said Gingras. “But he made a break in the first turn, so I ended up cutting it. He was fine in front until he got spooked by a bird that flew in front of him at the top of the stretch. It kind of threw him off a bit, but he kept his head and finished the job. I was very happy with his effort.”

It was the second win in only three lifetime starts for Groovy Man ($4.80), who is owned by Elmer Fannin, Brent Fannin, Joe Sbrocco and Nancy Takter & Jaf Racing. Nancy Takter trains the winner.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2022, 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 2022 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 4-28-22):

Drivers: 1. Jordan Stratton – 126; 2. Jason Bartlett – 106; 3. George Brennan – 90; 4. Yannick Gingras – 85; 5. Dexter Dunn – 83.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 131; 2. Jeff Gillis – 54; 3. Erv Miller – 53; 4t. Cory Stratton – 50; 4t. Sheena Cohen – 50.

Owners: 1. The OK Corral – 57; 2. Jesmeral Stable – 50; 3. Mark Ford – 40; 4. Team Tritton Inc. – 30; 5t. Karen Hauver – 27; 5t. Ricky Bucci – 27.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at The Meadowlands with the first leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacing and trotting mares.

by Paul Ramlow, for the Grand Circuit