(September
5, 2016) – While there were four contest
dates this week 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, Bryan Owen needed only Friday night to vault to a
commanding victory this week. While Jay Hochstetler
remains entrenched with his overall lead, Sally Hinckley has steadily inched up
from fourteenth place to second place in the season-long contest.
Owen swept the four races on Friday evening at Mohawk,
including Signal Hill ($55.60) in the Champlain which earned him 127.58 points
out of his 271.48 points for the week. Owen
point total is over 140 points ahead of Sally Hinckley’s 129.93 points. Dennis O’Hara landed the show spot with
123.28 points.
Unlike the first half of the contest, Hochstetler is engaged
in a real battle for second half honors as his total of 410.08 points is only
17.6 points ahead of the surging Hinckley.
Ray Garnett is 49.48 points behind the leader.
Thanks to his first half dominance, Hochstetler’s 2,199.18
points overall are 636.83 points ahead of the previously mentioned
Hinckley. Russ Adams is in third, 667.28
points behind.
|
2nd Half and Overall
Standings
|
|||||||
|
Position
|
Handicapper
|
Points This Week
|
Total Points
|
Points Back
|
Overall Position
|
Overall Points
|
Overall Points Back
|
|
1st
|
Jay Hochstetler (FHW)
|
102.55
|
410.08
|
-
|
1st
|
2199.18
|
-
|
|
2nd
|
Sally Hinckley
|
129.93
|
392.48
|
17.60
|
2nd
|
1562.35
|
636.83
|
|
3rd
|
Ray Garnett
|
147.25
|
360.60
|
49.48
|
14th
|
1149.38
|
1,049.80
|
|
4th
|
Michael Carter
|
91.60
|
351.45
|
58.62
|
8th
|
1444.00
|
755.18
|
|
5th
|
Russ Adams
|
86.93
|
350.98
|
59.10
|
3rd
|
1531.90
|
667.28
|
|
6th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
108.00
|
349.78
|
60.30
|
9th
|
1327.98
|
871.20
|
|
7th
|
Bryan Owen
|
271.48
|
345.53
|
64.55
|
10th
|
1322.80
|
876.38
|
|
8th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
123.28
|
323.40
|
86.68
|
5th
|
1500.30
|
698.88
|
|
9th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
77.00
|
304.58
|
105.50
|
7th
|
1473.05
|
726.13
|
|
10th
|
Anne Stepien
|
74.23
|
249.43
|
160.65
|
12th
|
1185.93
|
1,013.25
|
|
11th
|
Joe Bengston
|
74.40
|
249.10
|
160.98
|
13th
|
1164.45
|
1,034.73
|
|
12th
|
Adam Friedland
|
46.58
|
246.28
|
163.80
|
6th
|
1492.43
|
706.75
|
|
13th
|
Rusty Nash
|
82.35
|
228.48
|
181.60
|
4th
|
1524.63
|
674.55
|
|
14th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
75.60
|
184.15
|
225.93
|
15th
|
979.68
|
1,219.50
|
|
15th
|
Matt Rose
|
64.95
|
174.38
|
235.70
|
11th
|
1276.43
|
922.75
|
With the Meadowlands resuming action with a two-week
mini-meet, the Grand Circuit contest continues with Kindergarten action on
Friday and Saturday along with a leg of the Ms. Versatility. In addition, Scioto Downs closing night
features are the Jim Ewart and Chip Noble Memorials.
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.
