Grand Circuit Weekend Action

I love Grand Circuit racing; especially the Historic stakes at the Meadowlands. Granted, there are many 2yo stakes during Historic week which make handicapping challenging but it is nice to take a look at some of our future champions early in their career. But in addition to the 2yos, many of the top 3yos make their return to the open stakes. Will they return to their two year old form or will new champions make their appearance?

Here is a brief recap of Historic Series races this weekend at the Meadowlands.

Friday Night

Coaching Club Trotting Oaks (3yo fillies) - 1st Division - Look for MARGARITA MOMMA to continue her march to the Hambo Oaks. ONE TOUCH GIRL seems to be rounding into form and tries open company for the first time since last year's Breeders Crown races.

Coaching Club Trotting Oaks (3yo fillies) - 2nd Division - TIMELESSWINNER TWO is the obvious standout in this race having won the Currier & Ives and a PASS at the Meadows. BROADWAY SCHOONER seems to be back in form after her 1:54.3 PASS effort at the Meadows and Dave Palone comes in to take the drive. She showed some ability in the Bluegrass Stakes at Lexington last year before she quit in the stretch. DANCING FILLY is clearly not as talented as the top picks but this shipper for Hoosier Park does show some money on her card from last year's grand circuit campaign so she may wake up.

Dickerson Cup Trot (3yo C&G) - 1st Division - This is the race I have been waiting for. I am looking to see if RUSSELL HILL is truly a Hambo colt. After winning the final of the Empire Breeders Championship at Vernon Downs, he has reeled of three easy wins in the NYSS. HOT SHOT BLUE CHIP will also be tested for class. I see a possible upset chance for NEIGHSAY HANOVER (15-1) as this is the easiest field he has meet this year (having been beat by some horses named Muscle Hill, Duded Up and Federal Flex).

Dickerson Cup Trot (3yo C&G) - 2nd Division - This is an interesting race. EXPLOSIVE MATTER makes his third start of the year in this race. After winning a PASS race at Pocono Downs, he got beat after a tough trip in a high conditioned race at the Meadowlands. This winner of five out of six last year can show he is a serious contender to Muscle Hill in the Hambo (Muscle Hill was not eligible to the Dickerson). CITATION LINDY looks to regroup after some moderate early season success. If he stays flat he may be a threat. SYMPHONIC HANOVER is stepping up into stakes company for the first time this year.

Ladyship Stakes Pace (3yo fillies) - INDULGE ME is my choice. Having finished 3rd to Not Enough in the Lismore Final, she won her division of the NYSS at Monticello in 1:54,3. PRECIOUS STONE and ARBEEDO complete my selections for this race.

There is also a Preferred Mares Pace on the card worthy of note. BUCK I ST PAT makes her first start after her disappointing ninth place finish in the Matchmaker. Now tighter, she should make a better show of her self. If BUCK is not ready, FALLS FOR YOU may be pick up the peices with STAGE SHOW and SPICE QUEEN competing for the show place.


Saturday

Jersey Cup Pace (3yo C&G) - PASSMASTER HANOVER looks to regroup after last week's disappointing eighth place finish at Mohawk. DRINK UP and AMAZIN ART lead a three horse entry competing against Passmaster.

Titan Cup Trot (FFA) - LUCKY JIM goes for his fourteenth straight win. This week he is challenged by CORLEONE KOSMOS. This may be the week Lucky Jim's streak gets snapped. ARCH MADNESS and IN FOCUS will likely compete for minor spoils.

Since there were not enough entries, there are no eliminations for the William Haughton Memorial so the FFAs have a $35,000 prep race to get ready for next week's $500,000 final. These types of races show the reason there should be no eliminations; horses should be seeded by money earnings to these races. How hard is someone going to try to win $17,500 when next week the win will be worth $250,000? This should be a non-wagering event. That being said, this should be a good race to watch as Mister Big makes his third start of the year against horses like Dali, Art Official and Palone Ranger.

Enjoy the racing and have a great weekend.

The Hills and Historic Week

At Yonkers last night, Russell Hill (a horse we previously discussed) won his division of the NYSS for 3yo trotting colts in 1:59.4 on an off track in a wire-to-wire effort. While I thought Russell Hill and Donttellmywife might be dueling each other in the NYSS this year, it has become apparent that Russell Hill has become the dominant 3yo trotting colt in NY and one has to wonder when he will step out of the comfort of the sire stakes program to take on open company. I know Russell Hill is eligible for the Hambo, but even though he has previously won over the Meadowlands oval, he has to step up to show he is the caliber of a Hambo winner.

Muscle Hill qualified on Thursday in 1:55.1 to win by over eighteen lengths. His next pari-mutuel start is on July 17 in the Stanley Dancer Trot. Muscle Hill is certainly a talented horse but qualifiers are not the same as a regular race (see what happened to Buck I St Pat last week at the Meadowlands). While trainer Greg Peck is doing all he can to have Muscle Hill ready, you have to wonder with only one more purse start on the schedule before the Hambletonian eliminations, if this is the year where the Donato Hanover-Deweycheatemnhowe road to the Hambo will be derailed.

Next week the Grand Circuit is making two stops. First, Grand Circuit racing at the Meadowlands will consist of the Historic Series, races which used to be held at Historic Track in Goshen when there used to be a short pari-mutuel meet. While there will be a lot of two year old races during Historic week, it is always an enjoyable week of top flight racing.

The Grand Circuit is also stopping at Historic Track. If you happen to be in town for Historic Week at the Meadowlands, take a short trip (just over an hour) up to Historic Track for some competetive racing, albeit it non wagering. There will be more than enough time to get back to the Meadowlands for the evening card.

Just checked the schedule of TVG for tonight. While the entire Mohawk card is not being broadcast the stakes events are well represented on their TV schedule. Check the races out if you can, our year end champions may be racing tonight.