by Rusty Nash for HANA Harness
October 11, 2015 – The annual two weeks of
stakes action at The Red Mile are now in the books for the 2015 HANA Harness
Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge presented by the Bellino Stables, DRF
Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, Hambletonian Society, Isle of Capri Pompano
Park, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, and
Vernon Downs.
Another four busy days were lined up for the
HANA Grand Circuit Handicappers and they handled everything The Red Mile could
throw at them. Wednesday started off very nicely for yours truly.
It may have helped that there were only four races on tap. Going three
for four Rusty Nash jumped out to an early lead on the week with 171
points. Playing one favorite and trying to beat the chalk in the other
three the winners paid 2.20, 19.40 and 10.60. That earned Rusty the top
score even missing an easy multiplier with Haughty at 2.20. With a
different set of three winners were Bryan Owen and Gordon Waterstone who each
earned 134 points. With yet another set of three winners were Derick
Giwner and Anne Stepien with 94 HANA points.
Thursday saw Derick Giwner go four for five and
take down 275 HANA points. Dennis O’Hara and Gordon Waterstone dead
headed for the place spot with 178 points. It was a long way back to
complete the pentafecta as Garnet Barnsdale and Rusty Nash tied for fourth with
109 points.
Friday kicked off the first of two big back to
back days. The HANA team connected on a lot of chalk. Dennis O’Hara
took down the daily honors with four winners and a total of 173 points.
Four other handicappers were able to break the 100 point barrier. They
were Mark McKelvie with 123, Sally Hinckley with 115, Derick Giwner with 112
and Ann Stepien with 100.
The final day of The Red Mile Grand Circuit
meet had nine races on the menu. The day also featured the return of The
International Trot at Yonkers raceway. Ray Cotolo and Derick Giwner were
the only two that correctly selected Papagayo E from Norway. Drawing the
two hole he sat close up the whole mile and passed a tiring Creatine in the
lane. He returned $21 and total of 40 HANA points. However the day
belonged to the one and only Josi Verlingieri who amassed 478 points with five
winners. The key to the blowout victory was the selection of Rock Me
Gently who returned $37 to win and 62 total HAHA points. Ray Cotolo
earned 290 points on the strength of the International winner. The rest
of the runners up Saturday were Mark McKelvie (245), Rusty Nash (205) and
Derick Giwner (177).
For the week, Derick Giwner picked up the most
ground with 660 total points and two spots in the standings. Josi
Verlingieri’s big Saturday rush earned the place position and allowed her to
move one step closer to the top with 573 points. Dennis O’Hara hung onto
his fourth place position with 525 points. Gordon Waterstone and Rusty
Nash both gained a little more than 500 points and moved into fifth and sixth
places respectively.
The top four in the overall standings continue to
be Sally Hinckley, Mark McKelvie and Anne Stepien and Dennis O’Hara.
Gordon Waterstone returned to the top tier with a strong week moving him back
into fifth place.
|
Standings as of October 10, 2015 - Leg 51
|
||||||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total
Points Prior Week |
Points
Earned This Week
|
Overall
Total Points
|
Position
Last Week
|
Points
Back
|
|
1st
|
Sally Hinckley
|
3,700.40
|
331.50
|
4,031.90
|
1st
|
-
|
|
2nd
|
Mark McKelvie
|
3,374.00
|
470.70
|
3,844.70
|
2nd
|
187.20
|
|
3rd
|
Anne Stepien
|
3,085.80
|
409.00
|
3,494.80
|
3rd
|
537.10
|
|
4th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
2,892.90
|
525.30
|
3,418.20
|
4th
|
613.70
|
|
5th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
2,793.40
|
505.50
|
3,298.90
|
7th
|
733.00
|
|
6th
|
Rusty Nash
|
2,529.10
|
502.70
|
3,031.80
|
8th
|
1,000.10
|
|
7th
|
Earl Paulson
|
2,747.60
|
240.00
|
2,987.60
|
5th
|
1,044.30
|
|
8th
|
Bob Zanakis
|
2,752.40
|
112.80
|
2,865.20
|
6th
|
1,166.70
|
|
9th
|
Josi Verlingieri
|
2,242.70
|
573.80
|
2,816.50
|
10th
|
1,215.40
|
|
10th
|
Derick Giwner
|
2,098.70
|
660.40
|
2,759.10
|
12th
|
1,272.80
|
|
11th
|
Bryan Owen
|
2,413.40
|
301.60
|
2,715.00
|
9th
|
1,316.90
|
|
12th
|
Ray Garnett
|
1,981.60
|
243.20
|
2,224.80
|
13th
|
1,807.10
|
|
13th
|
Michael Carter
|
2,223.10
|
-
|
2,223.10
|
11th
|
1,808.80
|
|
14th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
1,924.90
|
223.00
|
2,147.90
|
16th
|
1,884.00
|
|
15th
|
Garnet Barnsdale
|
1,972.70
|
165.40
|
2,138.10
|
14th
|
1,893.80
|
|
16th
|
Mark Dezii
|
1,888.20
|
218.20
|
2,106.40
|
15th
|
1,925.50
|
|
17th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
1,506.60
|
326.00
|
1,832.60
|
17th
|
2,199.30
|
|
18th
|
Brandon Valvo
|
1,379.40
|
10.90
|
1,390.30
|
18th
|
2,641.60
|
|
19th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
1,023.80
|
55.80
|
1,079.60
|
19th
|
2,952.30
|
We will be back in action on Friday and
Saturday this week with Breeders Crown eliminations from Woodbine. It
should be the first of two great weekends on the HAHA Grand Circuit.
