August 24, 2015 – It was a busy triple header for the field
of 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.
Friday night kicked off with four races. One from The
Meadows and three from Vernon Downs (one of our contest sponsors). Four
handicappers were able to select three of the four winners. Michael
Carter took the early weekend lead with the better priced trio at 144
points. Anne Stepien, Sally Hinckley and Bryan Owen were close behind
with 125 points. At the end of night one Sally easily remained the leader
of the pack.
Saturday was a marathon event with five from Mohawk and most
of the Pocono Downs card on the playlist. It was close to a “no contest”
as Anne Stepien simply crushed the field with an amazing performance of 892
points. With eight winners she scored almost double the next best
handicapper. If Anne was Wiggle It Jiggleit she would have won by the
length of the stretch in 1:46 with Montrell enjoying a soft drink and a good
read.
With seven winners each tour leader Sally Hinckley and Gordon
Waterstone were both a very respectable “best of the rest” on what proved to be
a very difficult Saturday evening for many of the players. Sally added
497 points to her contest leading total and Gordon added 473.
The Saturday night rain out of the Cup and Saucer at
Charlottetown’s Red Shores Racetrack and Casino (one of our contest sponsors)
saw that event added to the Sunday line up of the Prix D’Ete and the Roll With
Joe. Dennis O’Hara and Gordon Waterstone both went a perfect three for
three and earned the maximum possible 87 points.
Big movers on the weekend, in addition to Anne, were Gordon
Waterstone and Bryan Owen. Gordon moved up to fourth and Bryan
brushed from fifteenth to eighth. The continued excellence of Sally
Hinckley earned her runner up spot on the weekend to Anne Stepien. With a
cushion of more than three hundred points Sally is still wearing the colors of
our tour leader.
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Standings as of August 23, 2015 - Leg 30
|
|||||
|
Total Points
|
Points Earned
|
Overall
|
Position
|
||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Prior Week
|
This Week
|
Total Points
|
Last Week
|
|
1st
|
Sally Hinckley
|
1,970.90
|
629.90
|
2,600.80
|
1st
|
|
2nd
|
Anne Stepien
|
1,217.50
|
1,046.50
|
2,264.00
|
9th
|
|
3rd
|
Mark McKelvie
|
1,929.70
|
268.30
|
2,198.00
|
2nd
|
|
4th
|
Gordon
Waterstone
|
1,378.90
|
568.90
|
1,947.80
|
6th
|
|
5th
|
Bob Zanakis
|
1,595.80
|
295.30
|
1,891.10
|
3rd
|
|
6th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
1,462.00
|
358.50
|
1,820.50
|
5th
|
|
7th
|
Earl Paulson
|
1,536.50
|
263.70
|
1,800.20
|
4th
|
|
8th
|
Bryan Owen
|
1,054.40
|
547.80
|
1,602.20
|
15th
|
|
9th
|
Michael Carter
|
1,248.50
|
324.40
|
1,572.90
|
8th
|
|
10th
|
Josi
Verlingieri
|
1,262.50
|
219.30
|
1,481.80
|
7th
|
|
11th
|
Mark Dezii
|
1,135.60
|
283.40
|
1,419.00
|
13th
|
|
12th
|
Ray Garnett
|
969.20
|
447.90
|
1,417.10
|
17th
|
|
13th
|
Rusty Nash
|
1,171.40
|
185.10
|
1,356.50
|
12th
|
|
14th
|
Garnet
Barnsdale
|
1,043.80
|
282.60
|
1,326.40
|
16th
|
|
15th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
1,173.10
|
137.40
|
1,310.50
|
11th
|
|
16th
|
Derick Giwner
|
1,079.00
|
144.60
|
1,223.60
|
14th
|
|
17th
|
Brandon Valvo
|
1,176.20
|
15.10
|
1,191.30
|
10th
|
|
18th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
757.30
|
93.50
|
850.80
|
18th
|
|
19th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
531.40
|
0.00
|
531.40
|
19th
|
Next week there are only two Grand Circuit events on tap and
both are at Yonkers. In all likelihood the ladies will again be leading
the pack at the conclusion of next week’s contests. Quite fittingly the
two races are the Lady Maud and the Hudson Filly.
-30-
