Grand Circuit continues to shine on Red Mile

Harness Racing This Week: Red Mile Grand Circuit, The Red Mile, Lexington, Ky.

Schedule of events: The second week of Grand Circuit action at The Red Mile kicks off on Friday (Oct. 8) with four divisions in the $302,000 International Stallion Stake for 2-year-old colt trotters and two divisions in the $254,000 International Stallion Stake for 2-year-old filly pacers.

On Saturday (Oct. 9), The Red Mile will host four divisions in the $314,000 International Stallion Stake for 2-year-old filly trotters and three divisions in the $278,900 International Stallion Stake for 2-year-old colt pacers.
On Sunday (Oct. 10), The Red Mile will offer the $475,000 (est.) Kentucky Futurity for 3-year-old trotters, the companion $275,000 (est.) Kentucky Filly Futurity for 3-year-old filly trotters, the $400,000 (est.) Tattersalls Pace for 3-year-old colt pacers, the $250,000 (est.) Glen Garnsey Memorial for 3-year-old filly pacers, a pair of $150,000 (est.) Allerage races for open pacers and open trotters and two $70,000 (est.) Allerage races for older pacing mares and older trotting mares.

Complete entries for the races are available at this link<racing.ustrotting.com/default.aspx>.

Last time: To virtually no one’s surprise, Lyons Sentinel dominated her foes in the Dayton Distaff Derby on Saturday (Oct. 2), lowering the track record for mares to 1:48.2.

Driver Tim Tetrick got the winner away fourth but rushed her to the lead just past the quarter-mile mark. Rocknificent (Scott Zeron) had left alertly in the early going but yielded to Lyons Sentinel to secure a pocket ride behind the current No. 1 ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll. The result, however, was the same as Rocknificent finished second for the sixth time in her last seven starts – five of those runner-up finishes to Lyons Sentinel. Miss You N (Dexter Dunn) raced creditably to finish third.

Threelyonsracing owns the winning 4-year-old daughter of Captaintreacherous. She is trained by Jim King Jr., who also conditioned the last dominant distaff pacer in the sport – Shartin N.

For the first time in its eight-year history, the Dayton Pacing Derby produced a local winner. Driver Dan Noble and Ocean Rock crushed a full field of North America’s best pacers in 1:48, over three lengths better than Nicholas Beach (Joe Bongiorno) and This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras). The 4-year-old son of Rockin Amadeus, who now owns an impressive four-race win streak, has banked $381,885 this season and $901,622 lifetime for owner Sandra Burnett.

Noble was content to get away third in the early going but confidently rushed Ocean Rock to the front as the field flashed by the stands the first time on the five-eighths-mile oval. Despite the noteworthy credentials of the field, Ocean Rock never experienced an anxious moment and cruised under the wire to the delight of an enthusiastic local crowd.

Back Of The Neck (Ake Svanstedt) pulled a mild upset and broke the local track record for 4-year-old male trotters. Nailing runner-up When Dovescry (David Miller) in the final stride of the 1:51.4 mile, the lightly raced son of Ready Cash triumphed for the second straight week after winning a top conditioned trot at The Meadowlands last week.

It was the 11th career win for Back Of The Neck from just 28 lifetime starts. He is owned by Howard Taylor, Order By Stable, Judith Taylor, and Svanstedt.

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 10-2-21):

Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 880; 2. Yannick Gingras – 777; 3. Tim Tetrick – 732; 4. David Miller – 679; 5. Andrew McCarthy – 607.5.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 912; 2. Tony Alagna – 529.5; 3. Nancy Takter – 470; 4. Nifty Norman – 455; 5. Marcus Melander – 430.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 189.7; 2. Threelyonsracing – 180; 3. Weaver Bruscemi – 168.5; 4. Crawford Farms Racing – 162.5; 5. Brad Grant – 159.9.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will take place next week at MGM Northfield Park as the half-mile oval will host the Courageous Lady for 3-year-old filly pacers.

by Paul Ramlow, for the Grand Circuit