Red Mile, Dayton hosts Grand Circuit this week

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

Schedule Of Events: Grand Circuit action kicks off on Friday (Oct. 1) at the Red Mile as the Lexington oval will feature five divisions in the $356,000 Bluegrass for 2-year-old colt trotters and two divisions in the $289,000 Bluegrass for 2-year-old filly pacers. On Saturday (Oct. 2), Red Mile will offer three divisions in the $330,000 Bluegrass for 2-year-old colt pacers and five divisions in the $390,000 Bluegrass for 2-year-old filly trotters. The first week of racing in Lexington will conclude on Sunday (Oct. 3) with $200,000 (est.) Bluegrass events for 3-year-old male and female trotters and pacers.

Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Saturday night (Oct. 2) will feature a trio of Grand Circuit stakes in the $176,000 Dayton Pacing Derby for older pacers, the $175,000 Dayton Trotting Derby for older trotters and the $175,000 Dayton Distaff Derby for older female pacers.

Last Time: The filly Venerable extended her unbeaten streak to eight in Saturday night’s (Sept. 25) C$1 million Mohawk Million but local favorite Duly Resolved made her earn that hefty check with a very exciting battle down the stretch. The rich contest for 2-year-old trotters from across North America anchored a stakes laden card at Woodbine Mohawk Park, the richest night of harness racing in Canada this year.

As the race got underway, it was Duly Resolved with his head down and determined from post eight to grab the lead early. His nemesis in the William Wellwood final, King Of The North, went off stride through the first turn, as did Mischevious Rose, and Duly Resolved headed the field by the opener in :27.1.

They were three-wide for a bit with Venerable and Selfie Queen both attempting to take over control, but the latter made a break and the former was successful, hitting the half in :56.3. Southwind Domino came to call and was at the leader’s bike at the 1:26.1 third panel.

As the field headed down the stretch, Paul MacDonell was able to find a lane for Duly Resolved and he took full advantage. The Ontario-sired son of Resolve showed great resolve and was just short as the filly managed to hit the wire first in 1:54.2. Valentina Blu, another of the four fillies in the field, was third with The Mighty Hill taking fourth. King Of The North recovered from his early miscue to grab the final check.

Venerable is now eight for eight in her young career. The daughter of first crop sire Walner is owned by David McDuffee, Mel Hartman, Paul Bordogna and Steve Arnold. A $210,000 yearling at last year’s Lexington Selected Sale, she now has banked $861,945. Bred by Maumee River Stables, Black Creek Farm, Martin Schmucker, and Steve Stewart, she is the third foal of Jolene Jolene.

David Miller, who has driven Venerable in all of her starts for trainer Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman, was all smiles after the race.

“It’s tremendous, a great, great feeling. I can’t explain how game and tough she is. Her performance on the track is what shows it. She really (dug in).

“My game plan was to try and get some cover (that didn’t work). She got a pretty soft middle half and her heart and her guts got her to the wire.”

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 9-25-21):
Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn – 780; 2. Tim Tetrick – 682; 3. Yannick Gingras – 677; 4. David Miller – 654; 5. Andrew McCarthy – 542.5.
Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 832; 2. Nancy Takter – 460; 3. Tony Alagna – 434.5; 4. Nifty Norman – 430; 5. Marcus Melander – 390.
Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable – 170.3; 2. Weaver Bruscemi – 151.6; 3t. Threelyonsracing – 150; 3t. Determination – 150; 5. Crawford Farms Racing – 149.2.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Lexington’s historic Red Mile. Featured 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