Grand Circuit spotlight on Sun Stakes Saturday

Harness Racing Schedule of Events: A busy Saturday afternoon (Aug. 19) of Grand Circuit racing for 3-year-olds will take place at Pocono with main events and consolations for the Earl Beal Memorial (colt and gelding trot), Max C. Hempt Memorial (colt and gelding pace), James Lynch Memorial (filly pace) and the Delmonica Hanover (filly trot).

The Beal has a $300,000 main event and $200,000 and $100,000 consolations; the Hempt also has a $300,000 main event and $200,000 and $100,000 consolations. The Lynch features a $250,000 main event and $125,000 and $75,000 consolations, while the Delmonica Hanover also has a $250,000 main event and $125,000 and $75,000 consolations.

Also on Saturday, Red Shores Racetrack & Casino will host the C$100,000 Gold Cup and Saucer final for older pacers.

Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday features three C$30,000 William Wellwood Memorial eliminations for 2-year-old male trotters and two C$30,000 Peaceful Way eliminations for 2-year-old filly trotters.

Complete entries for the Pocono races are available at this link. Entries for the Red Shores Racetrack & Casino and Woodbine Mohawk Park races are available at this link.

Last Time: Purchased privately following a runner-up performance in the Cane Pace at The Meadowlands, Seven Colors (Stay Hungry) showed his new connections just how good he was with a jaw-dropping world-record victory in the $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday (Aug. 12).

Both Buzzsaw Russ (John De Long) and Redwood Hanover (James MacDonald) left alertly, but Seven Colors (Dexter Dunn) was put into play early as well into the first turn. Dunn played a little bit of hardball as he stretched out Buzzsaw Russ, but the son of Rockin Image worked past Seven Colors as the field entered the backstretch.

“He just couldn’t get out of the gate quick enough,” said Dunn. “We got away third; we didn’t want to be unlucky with him with such a great run last week.”

MacDonald, who couldn’t find a hole with Redwood Hanover, had to work hard to make the front, putting up a :25.3 first quarter. MacDonald then tried to get a bit of a breather, but Dunn would have none of it as he moved Seven Colors to the outside with Tip Top Cat (Yannick Gingras) on his back.

Getting to the half in a blistering :53.4, Seven Colors began to apply pressure to Redwood Hanover as they entered the clubhouse turn for the final time. Redwood Hanover worked hard trying to fight off his challengers, leading by three- quarters in 1:21 up by three-quarters of a length.

“Brian (Brown) did such a good job with this horse; he had him prepped so well,” said winning trainer Andrew Harris. “I was pretty confident going to the three-quarter pole; if the horse is taxed on the front end, I felt like we could take advantage of that.”

Dunn pulled the plugs on Seven Colors midway into the far turn, and the son of Stay Hungry took off quickly taking the lead from Redwood Hanover with an eighth of a mile to pace. Seven Colors drew off down the stretch to win by a comfortable two lengths in a track and world-record 1:48.1. Tip Top Cat closed to be second, with Buzzsaw Russ and Redwood Hanover completing the superfecta.

“I just rode up quietly. And then, coming towards the end of the backstretch, he had plenty of go. When James (MacDonald) started to struggle a little bit, I asked him for more, and he kicked on great,” Dunn said.

Owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman, and trainer Andrew Harris, the talented colt has now earned $348,398 with six victories in 18 lifetime starts.

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 8-12-23):

Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 525; 2. Yannick Gingras – 512; 3. Scott Zeron – 415; 4. Tim Tetrick – 391; 5. David Miller – 344.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 657; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 422; 3. Nancy Takter – 293; 4. Linda Toscano – 252; 5. Marcus Melander – 231.

Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 165.9; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 121.7; 3. Hudson Standardbred Stable – 100; 4. Mark Ford – 98; 5. Ken Jacobs – 92.5.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Mohawk Park will contest several stakes including the William Wellwood and Peaceful Way finals for 2-year-old trotters, the Nassagaweya for 2-year-old male pacers, the Eternal Camnation for 2-year-old filly pacers, the Casual Breeze for 3-year-old filly trotters, and eliminations in the Maple Leaf Trot for older trotters and the Canadian Pacing Derby for older pacers.

by Paul Ramlow, for The Grand Circuit