August 3, 2015 – With
the multiplier feature 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, the potential of the contest standings changing dramatically existed. At the conclusion of the weekend, those
predictions came true.
After missing Friday
night’s contest leg, Mark McKelvie responded with a roar, winning nine of the
sixteen legs on Saturday, earning 1,075.9 points, which with his previous 717.6
points thus far has now propelled into first place with a total of 1,793.5, a
lead of 126.6 points over Sally Hinckley’s 1,666.9. Previous leader Bob Zanakis now sits third,
with 1,372.3.
Other big movers this
week were Gordon Waterstone who moved from seventh to fourth place, Josi
Verlingieri (ninth to fifth), Rusty Nash (thirteenth to eighth), Mark Dezii
(sixteenth to tenth), and Dennis O’Hara (seventeenth to twelfth).
While McKelvie already
had eight winners at the end of the Meadow’s card, his coupe de grace was the
fourth race at the Meadowlands where his last and final winner of the day pick in
the TVG Trot of Flanagan Memory ($26.40, $9.00, $7.20) earned him a total of
383.4 points.
|
Standings as of August 1, 2015 - Leg 24
|
|||||
|
Total Points
|
Points Earned
|
Overall
|
Position
|
||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Prior Week
|
This Week
|
Total Points
|
Last Week
|
|
1st
|
Mark McKelvie
|
717.60
|
1,075.90
|
1,793.50
|
4th
|
|
2nd
|
Sally Hinckley
|
1,014.30
|
652.60
|
1,666.90
|
2nd
|
|
3rd
|
Bob Zanakis
|
1,059.50
|
312.80
|
1,372.30
|
1st
|
|
4th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
641.70
|
442.20
|
1,083.90
|
7th
|
|
5th
|
Josi Verlingieri
|
631.90
|
450.10
|
1,082.00
|
9th
|
|
6th
|
Michael Carter
|
749.50
|
275.40
|
1,024.90
|
3rd
|
|
7th
|
Ann Stepien
|
703.00
|
303.50
|
1,006.50
|
5th
|
|
8th
|
Rusty Nash
|
569.90
|
436.30
|
1,006.20
|
13th
|
|
9th
|
Derick Giwner
|
618.60
|
374.30
|
992.90
|
10th
|
|
10th
|
Mark Dezii
|
546.40
|
416.70
|
963.10
|
16th
|
|
11th
|
Brandon Valvo
|
561.40
|
395.10
|
956.50
|
15th
|
|
12th
|
Earl Paulson
|
614.20
|
334.20
|
948.40
|
11th
|
|
12th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
483.20
|
446.50
|
929.70
|
17th
|
|
14th
|
Garnet Barnsdale
|
639.00
|
267.20
|
906.20
|
8th
|
|
15th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
566.90
|
322.50
|
889.40
|
14th
|
|
16th
|
Bryan Owen
|
570.00
|
306.70
|
876.70
|
12th
|
|
17th
|
Ray Garnett
|
693.90
|
154.70
|
848.60
|
6th
|
|
18th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
362.70
|
351.70
|
714.40
|
18th
|
|
19th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
203.70
|
230.30
|
434.00
|
19th
|
This week the contest kicks off on Thursday, with the
Whenuwishuponastar early closer final at Mohawk Racetrack and then finishes up
on Saturday with the Hambletonian with its minimum of ten contest races. Handicapper selections, results and standings
are available at http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.
