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.
