Grand Circuit Stakes—Divisions’ Star-Studded Dynamos Assemble At The Meadowlands

The Meadowlands’ closing program on the first weekend of August is, definitively an august event. Saturday, Aug. 3 presents a parade of star pacers and trotters creating traffic on two turns—and doing so for lots of money. TwinSpires’ bettors are offered a menu of stakes racing at the Meadowlands that creates a host of opportunities for them to make lots of money. This preview blog covers all of the action along with our Hambletonian Trail blog, which thoroughly covers the classics for the glamour-boys-and-girls trotters in the Hambletonian Final and the Hambletonian Oaks. As is our tradition for over two decades, TwinSpires will be on the scene, actually, not virtually, sprinkling extra information, late changes, news, opinions and humor, for TwinSpires harness bettors. Follow @FrankCotolo and @twinspires on Twitter for live coverage, complemented by our two blogs suggesting the valuable wagering chances throughout the day. More than any other ADW, TwinSpires harness blogs go steps beyond the single track’s treasure of racing. North American harness racing activity for your consideration is included in the TwinSpires horses-to-watch (H2W) list at the bottom of every preview blog. Do your own handicapping and then consider our H2W selections. The following features are all on the Aug. 3, Meadowlands afternoon program, featuring the Hambletonian. Check your program for order of appearances. PETER HAUGHTON FINAL The final for these frosh-colt trotters is worth $310,700. We made the final with both of our elim picks, Capricornus and Dublin. The former, however, from the Marcus Melander barn, gets our vote in the final. His elim trip was tough; an easier trip and some dueling could give him game here. Capricornus—one of five trained by Melander—will go off a better price than last week, since Real Cool Sam, a top frosh-trot earner and winner of an elim, goes for his fifth straight for Jim Campbell. JIM DOHERTY FINAL The frosh-filly trotters $310,700 final features the big elim winner Hypnotic AM. She is another from Melander’s menagerie. Ron Burke and Per Engblom have a combined six fillies in this 10-horse field. Julie Miller has one—the one we backed in an elim and push for with a price in this. That is Word Of Honor, leaving directly to the left of the predicted favorite, and well within the means of getting a terrific trip for an upset. THE CANE PACE Look who meets again—soph-colt pacers Bettor’s Wish and Captain Crunch. The $285,362 stake, the first jewel of the unheralded pacing tri-crown, should mark the second time Bettor’s Wish beats Captain Crunch and the first big win for “Wish” in the division’s battle of the two top pacers. Hopefully, the crowd will once again gather around “Crunch” and let Wish go off higher. And perhaps De Los Cielos Deo, who has burned a lot of money against the duo, will fool the public again. We remain behind Bettor’s Wish, the best of the crop in our opinion. SHADY DAISY The soph-filly pacers have a popular attraction in Stonebridge Soul. She’s the “now” gal, toppling Warrawee Ubeaut (who is here) and daring Treacherous Reign to improve in the $100,362 stake. Last week, in an Adioo Volo division at the Meadows, we liked Odds On St Lucie. She lost racing better than the week before (which prompted our support). A battle with the three aforementioned starlets could open a path for the best race Odds On St Lucie delivers thus far. She is worth backing for price and purpose considering what she will deliver. Her exotics placing will also pump a price or two up. SAM MCKEE MEMORIAL The $230,200 event for older pacers goes 1 1/8 miles, featuring the usual suspects of this season’s stalwart division. Your “now” horse is Highalator, who, if he keeps racing as he does, become the “from now on horse.” Do not continue to count McWicked out. He won easily out of town, against lesser, but still has a ton of pace to contribute in events like this. Let the speed buffs believe in raw times and bet circumstances. We still like McWicked’s raw, pounding brush, and we are ready for a better price among his direct peers. JOHN CASHMAN MEMORIAL Back to the mile, 10 older trotters race for $280,000 in this feature. The current pop figures are here and many arguments can be made for most of their performances on a steamy afternoon. With Trolley and Guardian Angel AS most likely leading the public along, Six Pack, on the outside, will be wrongfully dismissed. Certainly he is not having a great season but he is not trending downward, either. This is a good spot to support him; it could be the best price you get for a while on a tough trotting galoot. DR JOHN STEELE MEMORIAL The free-for-all mare trotters do not have a bundle of stakes all season, so this $186,000 event is a way to build a bank account. Of course they have to defeat Hannelore Hanover (HH), which has not been the feat it used to be. It is a ragtag crew, though, with no dominatrix among the 10 mares. Top Expectations will suck in dollars along with HH. The unknown entity is Ake Svanstedt’s Darling Mearas S, and Luc Blais’ Emoticon Hanover is not hurting in the earning department. Let us look for a big mile from Custom Cantab, who may seem out of the fray all together until the stretch opens for her. She is more of a contender than most will bet on. LADY LIBERTY The older pacing mares get $183,500 to share in this division’s stakes but don’t expect any surprises concerning which of them gets the lioness’s share. That will be Shartin N, who is queen of the division, beating all of these week after week. Her only threat is a minor one from Seaswift Joy N. We have been hoping for a special mile from Caviart Ally but although she earns well, what are her chances of beating Shartin N? Why not take a shot that this race may produce it? H2W Legend Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last) time because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires. H2W LIST Batavia 8/3/19, +Nesh Cruiser R3 Charlottetown 8/1/19, +Buckaroo R4 8/3/19, +Woodmere Soul Hawthorne 8/2/19, Between Me And You R1; +Parklane Official R5; Late Night Joke R5; Financial Prospect R9 Hoosier 8/2/19, Medieval Dragon R4; +Yankee Bounty R13 Meadowlands 8/2/19, No Drama Please R2; Sheena’s Boy R6; Personal Paradise R8; +Joe Joe Joe R9; Matter Of Fact R12 8/3/19, Dubious Claim R2 Mohawk 8/2/19, Love Warrior R6 Monticello 8/1/19, +Acton Onelasttime R7; +Hot Seat R8 Northfield 8/2/19, +Machbook Pro R11 Philly 8/1/19, Devious Hanover R2; Go Byem R5; Big Top Lindy R6 Plainridge 8/1/19, +Harmony Oaks Quike Pocono 8/3/19, Concur R3; Wagon Master R5; Book Binge R9 8/4/19, +Arden Hanover R6; Windfall Profits R9 Red Mile 8/1/19, Wilburs Z Tam R4; Marco De Vie R9; +Better Watch Out R11 Running Aces 8/3/19, Becky Badger Baby R2; Pancetta R3 Saratoga 8/3/19, Oh Mare Ahs Bella R3; Aberdeen Seelster R9 Scarborough 8/1/19, +Holy Grail N R6; +Bullseye R7 8/2/19, +Bear King R4 Scioto 8/1/19, +Attache R4; +Champagne On Ice R8; +Delaware Ave R11; +Evita R12 8/3/19, +Voyage To Paris R11; Shake N Bake R13 Tioga 8/2/19, Filly Forty R5; Galarina R7 Vernon 8/2/19, Rays The Limit R2; Getting Serious R7 Yonkers 8/1/19, +Blue And Bold R6; +Wind Blast R7; +Topspin S R9 8/3/19, Tymal Peacemaker R9; Lean Hanover R11