Circuit spotlight
by Paul Ramlow, publicity director, The Grand Circuit
This Week: Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy series second legs, Yonkers
Raceway, Yonkers, N.Y.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit at Yonkers this week features two $40,000
divisions on Friday (March 27) in the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker series for
open pacing mares. The Saturday (March 28) card at Yonkers will see four $50,000 divisions
in the second round of the George Morton Levy series for open pacers.
Complete entries for the races can be found by clicking on this link.
Last time: Trainer Jeff Bamond Jr. and driver Jason Bartlett were the stars in the opening
round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker and George Morton Levy Series last weekend at
Yonkers. For the weekend, Bamond earned a total of 39 Grand Circuit training points and
Bartlett posted 34 driving points.
Bamond and Bartlett kicked things off on March 20 by teaming up to capture a Blue Chip
Matchmaker division with Venus Delight. Bamond also won another Matchmaker split with
Krispy Apple with Tim Tetrick in the bike.
Then on March 21 in the George Morton Levy series,
the Bamond/Bartlett duo were back in the winner’s
circle with P H Supercam as they defeated Foiled
Again by a head in a time of 1:53.
Foiled Again, rounding the bend toward $7 million
and making his 225th lifetime start, was in play early
from outside post position No. 7. He worked around
the two inside numbers -- 3-2 favorite P H Supercam
Sean Hamrock photo
and a bit-wide Apprentice Hanover (Jody Jamieson) P H Supercam edged Foiled Again at the
- making the lead just past a :27.3 opening quarterwire in their Levy division.
mile.
After a soft :56.4 intermission, Foiled Again found a seemingly-comfy 1:25 three-quarters,
taking a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane. However, P H Supercam ducked inside and passed
harness racing’s richest-ever horse late, winning by a hard-fought head in 1:53. Third went
to Dancin Yankee, with Frankie’s Dragon and Apprentice Hanover settling for the remainder.
Complete recaps of all the races are available at the Grand Circuit website.
Grand Circuit Standings: In 2015, the Grand Circuit leaders in three
categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-105 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 2015 Grand Circuit awards.
Here are the leaders following the opening weekend at Yonkers:
Drivers: 1. Jason Bartlett – 34; 2. Yannick Gingras – 27; 3t. George Brennan – 20; 3t.
Daniel Dube – 20; 5. Tim Tetrick – 14.
Trainers: 1. Jeff Bamond Jr. – 39; 2. Ron Burke – 37; 3t. Mark Ford – 10; 3t. Rene Allard –
10; 3t. Mark Silva – 10; 3t.Tony O’Sullivan – 10.
Owners: 1. Bamond Racing – 33; 2. Jeff Snyder – 10; 3t. Burke Racing - 8.90; 3t. Weaver
Bruscemi – 8.90; 5. Joseph Davino – 6.
Looking ahead: Grand Circuit action will continue with legs of the Blue Chip Matchmaker
and George Morton Levy over the first three weekends in April. The finals and consolations
for both events will be held on April 25.