Big week of Grand Circuit action

Harness Racing This Week: MGM Yonkers International Trot, MGM Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.; Jim Ewart Memorial and Charlie Hill Memorial, Eldorado Scioto Downs, Columbus, Ohio; Champlain Stakes, Simcoe Stakes and Milton eliminations, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ont.; and Miss Versatility leg, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of events: Grand Circuit harness racing will open this week on Friday (Sept. 8) at The Meadowlands with the $40,000 sixth leg of the Miss Versatility Series for older trotting mares.

On Saturday (Sept. 9), MGM Yonkers Raceway will feature the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot for older trotters.

Also on Saturday, Eldorado Scioto Downs will feature the $260,000 Jim Ewart Memorial for older pacers and the $250,000 Charlie Hill Memorial for older trotters.

Rounding out the busy Saturday, Woodbine Mohawk Park will offer two divisions in the C$187,000 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers, the C$179,000 Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers, and the C$159,200 Simcoe for 3-year-old filly pacers, plus a single division in the C$171,300 Simcoe for 3-year-old male pacers.

Complete entries for The Meadowlands, Yonkers and Scioto races are available at this link. Entries for the Mohawk races are available at this link.

Last Time: Last year’s Maple Leaf Trot was far from memorable for Alrajah One IT. On Saturday (Sept. 2) under the lights and in the spotlight at Woodbine Mohawk Park, the trotting titan was back and better than ever.

A year ago, the Italian-bred powerhouse was scratched out of the race in which he was tabbed as the morning-line favorite due to injury. With no starts in 2023, the 7-year-old stallion was making his seasonal debut in the C$530,000 Maple Leaf Trot final.

If there was any question as to whether he would have any ring rust, Alrajah One IT (Dexter Dunn), making his first start in Canada, answered the bell with a knockout performance in a star-stacked edition of the race.

It’s Academic (David Miller), second choice on the toteboard, took control early, striking the front from post six and leading his seven rivals into the first turn, as Dunn, in rein to Alrajah One IT, settled his charge into fifth.

Cutting an opening quarter in :27, It’s Academic was followed by Fashion Frenzie (Louis Roy), Logan Park (Doug McNair), Venerate (Brian Sears) and Alrajah One IT. It was status quo through a half reached in :55.1, as Dunn maintained a patient hand on the 4-5 favorite.

It’s Academic was still in charge as he navigated the turn for home but Venerate was in hot pursuit and dialed up the pressure on the leader through three-quarters in 1:23. Dunn had Alrajah One IT rolling before straightening for home and began to cut into the lead of It’s Academic.

Midway down the lane, Alrajah One IT powered by his rival and then crossed the wire a 1-1/2 length winner, stopping the clock in 1:50.2, and setting off a trifecta of records, specifically, the stakes, track and Canadian standards. It’s Academic held second, Rattle My Cage (Yannick Gingras) was third and Fashion Frenzie, who finished fifth, was elevated to fourth after Venerate broke stride late.

“He’s some kind of horse, isn’t he?” said Dunn. “I fell in love with him last year. I got to sit behind him, and he did amazing things. A little bit like last year, he doesn’t really give you a feel on the helmet and when you move him off the helmet, he just takes off. He shows unbelievable speed for a trotter. I was really happy with where I got away.”

Owned by Scuderia My Horse Inc. and bred by Luca Crosetti, Alrajah One IT is now 17-4-6 from 38 lifetime starts and has over $1.7 million in career earnings.

The Ake Svanstedt trainee paid $3.80 for the victory.

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

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 9-2-23):

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras – 594; 2. Dexter Dunn – 580; 3. Tim Tetrick – 481; 4. Scott Zeron – 460; 5. David Miller – 434.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke – 744; 2. Ake Svanstedt – 524; 3. Nancy Takter – 333; 4. Tony Alagna – 279; 5. Marcus Melander – 261.

Owners: 1. Diamond Creek Racing – 215.1; 2. Mark Ford – 148; 3. Burke Racing Stable – 141; 4. Hudson Standardbred Stable – 120; 5. Brad Grant – 103.

Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Harrah’s Hoosier Park and Woodbine Mohawk Park. Hoosier will host the Peter Haughton Memorial for 2-year-old male trotters and the Jim Doherty Memorial for 2-year-old filly trotters. Mohawk has the Milton for older pacing mares, the Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old male and female trotters, and eliminations in the Canadian Trotting Classic for 3-year-old male trotters, the Elegantimage for 3-year-old filly trotters, the Metro Pace for 2-year-old male pacers and the She’s A Great Lady for 2-year-old old filly pacers.

by Paul Ramlow, for The Grand Circuit