The Back Attacks in HANA Handicapping Challenge

July 19, 2015 – It was a matter of time until someone in the back of the pack made a move in the 2015 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge presented by the Bellino Stables, DRF Harness, Hambletonian Society, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs, so perhaps it was apropos such a move by two handicappers would occur on Meadowlands Pace night when eight contest races in addition to the Sheppard at Yonkers Raceway were contested. 

Thanks to four winners, Sally Hinckley leapfrogged from fourteenth to second place with 533.8 points for the week while Mark McKelvie moved from sixteen to fourth place thanks to his 316 points.  Overall leader Bob Zanakis scored 190.6 points this week for a grand total of 1,036.3 but the race has tightened as his lead is down to 48.5 points.

Hinckley and Zanakis both had four winners on the card but Hinckley greatly benefited from longshot Anndrovette whose victory in the Golden Girls FFA for mares earned Hinckley 432 of her 533.80 points.  Hinckley’s other winners were favorites Pinkman, Wiggle It Jiggleit, and JL Cruze.  Zanakis’ big winner of his quartet was Moonlight Dance who earned him 108.8 of his total 190.6 points in the Mistletoe Shalee for three year old filly pacers with his remaining winners being the same trio as Hinckley’s. 

Six handicappers had three winners on the card but while Mark McKelvie had only two winners, he made the best of it thanks to Spirit To Win being victorious in the Delvin Miller Memorial for three year old trotters which earned him 281.2 of his 316 points for the week (his other winner was the result of a scratch which gave him the post time favorite).

Standings as of July 18, 2015 - Leg 20
		Total Points	Points Earned	Overall	Position
Pos	Handicapper	Prior Week	This Week	Total Points	Last Week
1st	Bob Zanakis	828.30	208.00	1,036.30	1st
2nd	Sally Hinckley	454.00	533.80	987.80	14th
3rd	Michael Carter	701.80	40.60	742.40	2nd
4th	Mark McKelvie	371.90	316.00	687.90	16h
5th	Ray Garnett	657.90	18.20	676.10	3rd
6th	Ann Stepien	555.20	74.10	629.30	6th
7th	Garnet Barnsdale	566.00	47.50	613.50	5th
8th	Gordon Waterstone	567.30	37.20	604.50	4th
9th	Derick Giwner	517.70	77.70	595.40	9th
10th	Josi Verlingieri	523.60	71.10	594.70	8th
11th	Earl Paulson	499.10	60.80	559.90	11th
12th	Bryan Owen	508.80	43.40	552.20	10th
12th	Brandon Valvo	529.00	23.20	552.20	7th
14th	Mark Dezii	457.90	73.70	531.60	13th
15th	Jay Hochstetler	476.90	43.80	520.70	12th
16th	Rusty Nash	428.10	87.50	515.60	15th
17th	Dennis O'Hara	364.60	87.70	452.30	17th
18th	Ray Cotolo	294.10	28.00	322.10	18th
19th	Mark Deutsch	183.10	10.50	193.60	19th

This week, Saratoga Raceway is Saturday’s contest track with the $260,000 guaranteed Joe Gerrity Memorial while Sunday features the Zweig Memorial Trot and Zweig Filly Trot as well as their corresponding consolation races at Vernon Downs.  Handicapper selections, results and standing are available at http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.  

Barnsdale Biggest Mover in HANA Handicapping Challenge

July 5, 2015 – Legs 16-18 are in the book for the 2015 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge presented by the Bellino Stables, DRF Harness, Hambletonian Society, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs, and it finds Bob Zanakis remaining on top for the second week with a total of 797.1 points, 105.4 points ahead of his nearest competitor.  However, the handicapper of note this week was Garnet Barnsdale who leaped from tenth to fifth over three of contest dates, earning 168.1 points for the two week period.

Last week’s (June 26) leg of the TVG Trotting Series at the Meadowlands was a challenge to the roster of handicappers as only one handicapper was able to correctly select the winner, Obrigado.  Perhaps it was fitting Maine resident Sally Hinckley was the sole handicapper to pick the Maine trotting sensation who has gone on to the big leagues.  Hinckley’s loyalty was rewarded, earning 18 points in the single event evening.

Friday (July 3) featured a trio of events, the inaugural Cleveland Trotting Classic, the Graduate Pacing Final, and the Ms. Versatility.  A dead heat between Mark McKelvie and Bryan Owen was the result of each handicapper correctly selecting Daylon Magician to win the Northfield event and Doo Wop Hanover in the Graduate Final with their handicapping efforts arning them a score of 75.1 for the evening, contributing to McKevlie’s 133.8 and Owen’s 102.9 weekly total.

Saturday (July 4) featured a combination of eight stakes and consolation races on Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs’ Sun Stakes card and it turns out the magic number was three, the most winners any of the handicappers had selected which seven contestants can lay claim to.  One of the septet, Bob Zanakis, scored 167.4 of his 186.2 points for the week, while Barnsdale earned 152.3 of his 165.3 weekly total with only two winners.    Zanakis correctly selected Badiou Hanover (Max Hempt Memorial consolation), Habitat (Earl Beal Jr. Memorial consolation) , and Wiggle It Jiggleit (Max Hempt Memorial final) while Barnsdale  correctly selected longshot Bettor Be Steppin (James M Lynch Memorial) in addition to Pinkman (Earl Beal Jr. Memorial).  Other handicappers who broke the century mark for the weekend were Michael Carter (107.2), Gordon Waterstone (101.9), Josi Verlingieri (110.6), Bryan Owen (102.9), Rusty Nash (101), and Mark McKelvie (133.8).

Standings as of July 4, 2015 - Leg 18
		Total Points	Points Earned	Overall	Position
Pos	Handicapper	Prior Week	This Week	Total Points	Last Week
1st	Bob Zanakis	610.90	186.20	797.10	1st
2nd	Michael Carter	584.50	107.20	691.70	3rd
3rd	Ray Garnett	597.20	26.20	623.40	2nd
4th	Gordon Waterstone	463.00	101.90	564.90	5th
5th	Garnet Barnsdale	386.40	165.30	551.70	10th
6th	Ann Stepien	449.20	74.80	524.00	6th
7th	Josi Verlingieri	410.80	110.60	521.40	8th
8th	Brandon Valvo	487.90	33.40	521.30	4th
9th	Derick Giwner	437.60	70.00	507.60	7th
10th	Jay Hochstetler	396.70	72.50	469.20	9th
11th	Earl Paulson	366.00	99.70	465.70	11th
12th	Bryan Owen	362.40	102.90	465.30	12th
13th	Mark Dezii	363.70	81.90	445.60	13th
14th	Sally Hinckley	355.90	88.00	443.90	14th
15th	Rusty Nash	319.20	101.00	420.20	15th
16th	Mark McKelvie	230.20	133.80	364.00	17th
17th	Dennis O'Hara	315.20	41.50	356.70	16th
18th	Ray Cotolo	160.60	83.70	244.30	19th
19th	Mark Deutsch	167.20	15.90	183.10	18th

This week, Saturday night features three events at the Meadowlands; the $250,000 Graduate Final for trotters, the $65,000 (est.) Reynolds for three year old colt and gelding trotters and the $60,000 (est.) Reynolds for three year old filly trotters.   For further information on the contest, you are invited to visit the contest website at http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.