Graduate Series for trotters Saturday

Harness Racing This Week: Graduate Series leg, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit heads to The Meadowlands on Saturday (May 22) with two $50,000 divisions in the first leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old open trotters.

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

Last Time: One thing was certain at the conclusion of Saturday night’s (May 15) $141,250 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands: Manchego is not the retiring type.

Manchego overcame a tough first over trip to win the $141,250 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial for free for all trotters.

The 6-year-old mare went a herculean mile in taking the 24th edition of the event for free for all trotters, scoring in 1:51.1. Pretty good for a horse who had called it a career after taking the TVG Open Trot last November over arch-rival Atlanta to sew up divisional honors.

“She had a swoon last year,” said owner Barry Guariglia (Black Horse Racing), “so I thought we should finish the season and be done with it. But then she rallied (winning the TVG and Breeders Crown) but we retired her anyway.”

Then, trainer Nancy Takter got involved.

“Nancy said Manchego is happier on the racetrack than in a paddock,” said Guariglia of his decision to bring the two-time Dan Patch Award and three-time Breeders Crown winner back to the races. “Obviously, it is so far, so good. I’m happy with my decision to race her.”

So are her fans.

Manchego was extremely wide into the first turn after leaving the gate from post nine in the 10-horse field. Early leader Guardian Angel As yielded the top briefly to Felicityshagwell S before making a second move to the lead and hitting the half in :54.4, leaving Manchego – who never saw the rail at any point – first-over.

But despite the fact the daughter of Muscle Hill-Secret Magic was off a mediocre qualifier for her seasonal debut, she showed why she has been one of the top trotters in the sport since 2017.

“I was thinking at the half that she’s getting tortured,” said Guariglia, “but the way (driver) Dexter (Dunn) was sitting, I could tell she wasn’t done.”

Manchego continued to inch closer to Felicityshagwell S as they made their way on and around the far turn as Majestic Player A followed live cover from the eventual winner. After a thrilling three-horse, stretch-long battle to the wire, Manchego prevailed by a hard-earned nose over a determined Majestic Player A. Guardian Angel As was third. Lindy The Great, the even-money favorite, did not fire after a third-over trip and finished eighth.

In registering her 34th career victory from 57 starts, Manchego lifted her lifetime earnings to $2,790,276. As the 9-2 second choice in the wagering, she returned $11.60 to her backers.

“I’m lucky she’s got the turn of foot she’s got,” said Dunn. “She was truly brave tonight.”

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

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2021, 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 2021 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on 5-15-21):

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 125; 2. Todd McCarthy – 95; 3. Andrew McCarthy – 89; 4t. George Brennan – 84; 4t. Dexter Dunn – 84.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 174; 2. Noel Daley – 57; 3. Todd Buter – 55; 4. Ake Svanstedt – 47; 5. Nancy Takter – 44.

Owners: 1. Renee Bercury – 50; 2t. Burke Racing Stable – 43.6; 2t. Weaver Bruscemi – 43.6; 4t. Jesmeral Stable – 40; 4t. Brad Grant – 40.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at Harrah’s Philadelphia and The Meadowlands. Harrah’s Philadelphia has a trio of Grand Circuit races for older Standardbreds in the Maxie Lee for trotters, the Commodore Barry for pacers and the Betsy Ross for pacing mares. The Meadowlands will feature the second leg of the Miss Versatility for trotting mares.

by Paul Ramlow, for The Grand Circuit