Red Mile and Dayton host Grand Circuit events

Harness Racing This Week: Bluegrass Stakes, Red Mile, Lexington, Ky., and Dayton Pacing Derby, Dayton Trotting Derby, Dayton Oaks Derby and Dayton Distaff Derby, Hollywood Dayton Raceway, Dayton, Ohio.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit action kicks off on Thursday (Sept. 28) at the Red Mile and the Lexington oval will feature five divisions in the $405,100 Bluegrass for 2-year-old colt trotters and three divisions in the $290,100 Bluegrass for 2-year-old filly pacers. On Friday (Sept. 29), Red Mile will offer five divisions in the $429,000 Bluegrass for 2-year-old filly trotters and four divisions in the $348,000 Bluegrass for 2-year-old colt pacers. The first week of racing in Lexington will conclude on Saturday (Sept. 30) with three divisions in the $234,000 Bluegrass for 3-year-old colt trotters, three divisions in the $234,000 Bluegrass for 3-year-old filly trotters, three divisions in the $219,000 Bluegrass for 3-year-old colt pacers, and two divisions in the $159,000 Bluegrass for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Saturday (Sept. 30) will feature four Grand Circuit stakes in the $250,000 Dayton Pacing Derby for older pacers, the $250,000 Dayton Trotting Derby for older trotters, the $250,000 Dayton Oaks Derby for older female trotters and the $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby for older female pacers.

Complete entries for the races are available at this link.

Last time: A break at the start of the Mohawk Million put T C I, in rein to David Miller, behind the eight-ball. But that was only the beginning of what would be a drama-filled fourth edition of the unique 2-year-old trotting event.

It was expected the finish of the Million could produce one of its most exciting chapters to date. It was the start, however, that changed the complexion of the race and set the table for a compelling climax.

T C I, who had earned the golden ticket for his connections (the other nine slots for the Million are purchased for C$100,000 per entry) after his win in the William Wellwood Memorial, broke stride at the outset, leaving the lifetime winner of eight of nine starts with plenty of work to do.

Tactical Strike, at 171-1, and 163-1 Top Mast, both Desiree Jones trainees, got away first and second, respectively, into the first turn, with the former taking the field through an opening quarter in :27.2. T C I, at 4-5, sat 10th, 15 lengths back of the leader. Drawn Impression was fifth but went off stride and was distanced.

The longshot duo continued to set the tone through a half in :57.1, followed by Allegiant and Show Me, as T C I and Miller moved into eighth along the backstretch.

Tactical Strike was still calling the shots after three-quarters in 1:26.1, as Security Protected ratcheted up the pressure to the outside. Top Mast remained third, followed by Griff, while Tennessee Tom started to roll down the lane, picking off rivals with every stride and then taking over the proceedings.

Once an afterthought, T C I then arrived on the scene, fourth and charging at Mark McKelvie’s stretch call, and loomed a major threat to the new leader, who dug in gamely, but couldn’t stave off the improbable winner.

The Ron Burke trainee crossed the line a 1-1/4 length winner in a time of 1:54.3. Allegiant was third and Top Mast was fourth.

“We added a mini bit to him and scoring down he was fussing with it hanging out of line and I just think that made him mad and he did that,” said Miller. “At the quarter, I was like, ‘Ah, we’ve got the Breeders Crown still and then I got him out in the flow, but he was running in so much around the last turn he wasn’t making up any ground. As soon as he got into the straightaway, I said, ‘Oh, he’s going to win.’”

While a break in stride was a first for the son of Cantab Hall-Nicoles Promise, co-owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., and Weaver Bruscemi, displaying heart and grit is nothing new for the bay colt, who now has earnings of over $1 million.

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 9-23-23):

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 749; 2. Dexter Dunn – 647; 3. David Miller – 629; 4. Tim Tetrick – 600; 5. Scott Zeron – 530.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 936; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 644; 3. Tony Alagna – 366; 4. Nancy Takter – 358; 5. Linda Toscano – 347.

Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 241.8; 2. Burke Racing Stable – 190.3; 3. Mark Ford – 148; 4. Hudson Standardbred Stable – 143.3; 5. Weaver Bruscemi – 133.8.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next weekend at Lexington’s historic Red Mile. Featured at Red Mile will be the Kentucky Futurity, the third leg of Trotting’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. Also on tap will be the companion Kentucky Filly Futurity for the sophomore fillies, the Tattersalls Pace and the Glen Garnsey Memorial for 3-year-old pacers, four International Stallion Stakes races for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits, and four Allerage contests for open pacers and trotters.

by Paul Ramlow, for The Grand Circuit