Harrah's Hoosier Park: Grand Circuit shifts to Hoosier Park on Friday

Fresh off a successful Breeders Crown at Scioto Downs last weekend, the Grand Circuit will move to Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday, Oct. 30 with a quartet of six-figure stakes events for the sport's top 3-year-olds.

The 14-race Friday program gets underway at 5:30 p.m., with the Grand Circuit events serving as the final four races on the program as part of a $20,000 guaranteed all-stakes Late Pick 4 with an industry low takeout rate of 12 percent in races 11-14.

Three-year-old trotting colts will take center stage first in the $200,000 Carl Erskine Memorial, headlined by the Hambletonian runner-up Big Ranger, who has been tabbed as the even-money morning line favorite. The Ohio superstar is slated to have his regular Hall of Fame pilot Tim Tetrick in the sulky for trainer Anette Lorentzon as the son of In Range exits a third-place effort in the $664,500 Breeders Crown Final. Big Ranger has won eight of 13 starts on the year, good for $668,710 in seasonal earnings and surpassing seven-figures lifetime with his paycheck in the Breeders Crown for owners Madison Global. Big Ranger will leave from post six in the group of eight in a field that also includes Hambletonian finalists AI (Post 1, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), Captain Naughty (Post 5, Jordan Ross), and Indiana standout Dan D Man Can (Post 4, Atlee Bender).

Tetrick will also pilot the morning-line favorite in the $140,000 Crossroads of America for sophomore trotting fillies, retaining the drive on the Nancy Takter trained Madam Cheval. The Kentucky Filly Futurity runner-up leaves from post five, having won four of 14 on the year while earning $326,394. The royally bred daughter of Walner-Shake It Cerry is part of a three-headed monster from the Takter barn in the event, which includes Leading Lady (Post 3, Dexter Dunn), and Bluegrass winner Godusa (Post 4, Todd McCarthy) from the same shedrow.

In the $125,000 USS Indianapolis Memorial for sophomore pacing fillies, Whoomp will look to defend her home turf, exiting a valiant second-place effort in the Breeders Crown Final to Miss Jum Jabber. The 3-1 morning-line favorite will leave from post eight with regular pilot John De Long aboard the two-time Indiana Sire Stakes champion filly. The William and Patrick De Long homebred daughter of Rockin Image-Nightcap filly continues to close in on $1 million in career earnings, with the Roger Welch trainee having $900,936 banked in her career while finishing no worse than second in 13 tries this season. Whoomp will take on arch Indiana rival Somemore Blue (Post 9, Marcus Miller), along with Jugette champion Loua Dipa (Post 5, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and Daya (Post 7, Austin Hanners), who makes her first start after being a $345,000 OnGait purchase for Team Luther.

The evening will close with the $160,000 Monument Circle for 3-year-old male pacers, where Breeders Crown runner-up Al Papi has been tagged as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Driver Yannick Gingras will look to navigate the second tier from post 10 with the Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy colt, who has bagged signature victories in the Adios and Tattersalls over the course of his sophomore campaign. With more than $1.5 million in career earnings, Al Papi headlines a quartet from the Ron Burke barn that also includes Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion and Breeders Crown elim winner Melillo (Post 4, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). The Indiana Sire Stakes champion Swiss Lights will leave from the rail with leading driver Trace Tetrick, having won four of his last six while hitting the board in all 14 tries this year.

Guests attending in-person on Friday can enjoy the annual Fright Night at the Races, Hoosier Park's yearly Halloween celebration. The Horse Costume contest gets underway in the front paddock at 5pm, with people's choice voting available for a $5 donation to the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. There will also be free Truck or Treating on the track apron, corn maze, pumpkin giveaway and decorating station, and live DJ. All Fright Night festivities take place from 5-9pm on the track apron.

For more information, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.