(September
11, 2016) – While still the overall
leader in the 2016 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored
by DRF Harness, Green Acquisition
Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino,
Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western
Fair District, Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon
Downs, for the first time in this year’s contest the name Jay Hochstetler is
not on the top of the standings. The
honor of second half leader falls to Ray Garnett who leads Hochstetler by 46.63
points (587.2 pts vs. 540.58 pts). While
Garnett scored 226.56 points for the week, the weekly champion is DRF Harness’ Matt Rose who led the pack
with 263.4 points. Show honors went to
Ray Cotolo who scored 155.9 for the week.
Friday night (9/9) belonged to Garnett who scored 182.35
point thanks to his quartet of winners which included Ms. Versatility winner My
Happiness EP ($12.80) and Kindergarten Classic division winners Southwind Prius
($7.60), Explosive Ridge ($30.00), and Dream Baby Dream ($13.00). Matt Rose had a trio of winners tallying
145.1 points by tabbing Hillarmbro ($18.00) and the previously mentioned
Explosive Ridge and Dream Baby Dream.
Ray Cotolo was the top handicapper on Saturday evening (9/10)
with a trio of winners. Contributing to
his 118.4 points were Kindergarten Classic winner Jenny’s Terror ($13.60) and
at Mohawk Raceway, Champlain Division winner Blameitonthenight ($17.90). Just behind Cotolo was Hochstetler with a
quintet of winners totaling 112.8 points.
| 2nd Half and Overall Standings | |||||||
| Position | Handicapper | Points This Week | Total Points | Points Back | Overall Position | Overall Points | Overall Points Back |
| 1st | Ray Garnett | 226.60 | 587.20 | - | 12th | 1375.98 | 953.70 |
| 2nd | Jay Hochstetler (FHW) | 130.50 | 540.58 | 46.63 | 1st | 2329.68 | - |
| 3rd | Sally Hinckley | 119.50 | 511.98 | 75.23 | 2nd | 1681.85 | 647.83 |
| 4th | Russ Adams | 107.85 | 458.83 | 128.38 | 4th | 1639.75 | 689.93 |
| 5th | Matt Rose | 263.40 | 437.78 | 149.43 | 8th | 1539.83 | 789.85 |
| 6th | Bryan Owen | 87.50 | 433.03 | 154.18 | 10th | 1410.30 | 919.38 |
| 7th | Adam Friedland | 173.00 | 419.28 | 167.93 | 3rd | 1665.43 | 664.25 |
| 8th | Gordon Waterstone | 102.40 | 406.98 | 180.23 | 6th | 1575.45 | 754.23 |
| 9th | Mark Deutsch | 55.20 | 404.98 | 182.23 | 11th | 1383.18 | 946.50 |
| 10th | Dennis O'Hara | 67.05 | 390.45 | 196.75 | 7th | 1567.35 | 762.33 |
| 11th | Michael Carter | 0.00 | 351.45 | 235.75 | 9th | 1444.00 | 885.68 |
| 12th | Ray Cotolo | 155.90 | 340.05 | 247.15 | 15th | 1135.58 | 1,194.10 |
| 13th | Rusty Nash | 109.60 | 338.08 | 249.13 | 5th | 1634.23 | 695.45 |
| 14th | Anne Stepien | 68.80 | 318.23 | 268.98 | 13th | 1254.73 | 1,074.95 |
| 15th | Joe Bengston | 60.20 | 309.30 | 277.90 | 14th | 1224.65 | 1,105.03 |
The HANA Handicappers begin a marathon with contest races for
nine straight days. This week’s races
are Friday night’s Kindergarten Classic splits for 2yo trotters while Saturday
evening races are Kindergarten Classic tilts for 2yo pacers at the Meadowlands
and Mohawk’s William Wellwood (2yo trotters), Peaceful Way (2yo filly
trotters), Canadian Trotting Classic (3yos), Elegantimage (3yo filly trotters),
and Maple Leaf Trot (Open). Sunday, the
handicappers take their first stab at the Delaware County Fair with the
Standardbred for 2yo colt and gelding trotters.
Racing
fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other
contest-related information such as the complete standings from HANA Harness’
contest website http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.
