Monday, October 26, 2015

Ray Garnet and Bryan Owen Power by on the Breeders Crown Card, Sally Hinckley Retains Lead

by Rusty Nash for HANA Harness

October 26, 2015 – The results are in for The Breeders Crown Championships for the 2015 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge presented by the Bellino Stables, DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, Hambletonian Society, Isle of Capri Pompano Park, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs. 

With twelve championships races on the docket there were two handicappers that soared above the rest of the flock.  We had three handicappers with 7 wins each.  The big question was which 7 races would determine our winner?  Ray Garnett took the honors by almost 100 HANA points bringing home a total of 620 for the night.  His key was Color’s A Virgin in the 10th who returned $15 to win and a total of 182 HANA points in that race.  Second place went to Bryan Owen who bagged the biggest win price of the evening when Boston Red Rocks scored at $38 for a total of 330 HANA points.  The top five was rounded out by Bob Zanakis at 457 points, then two of our regular top contenders Gordon Waterstone, 448 points and Ann Stepien at 446 points.

One of the things four of our top five had in common was the selection of Wild Honey.  When Mission Brief went off stride in the lane the bridge jumpers donated $125,000 to the show pool for anyone who took a contrarian position.  Wild Honey returned $5.20 to win, $2.90 to place and $9.40 to show for 17.50 point times their multipliers.  That was a very nice bonus for beating an odds-on favorite!  None of our handicappers had Im So Fancy at $150 or Speak To Me at $84 to show in the contest.  

There were a lot of favorites winning on the evening keeping the overall points fairly low.  Strategy came into play as many handicappers took a few shots at some big prices.  Ray and Bryan were rewarded with top honors in correctly coming up with two of the surprise winners.

Sally Hinckley retains her overall lead by 266 points over Mark McKelvie.  With another good night at the office Anne Stepien moves into third place in front of Dennis O’Hara.  Gordon Waterstone retains fifth place and increased his lead over the sixth spot by several hundred points.  Overall there was a tightening in the standings as most of the field picked up points on the leaders.

Standings as of October 24, 2015 - Leg 54
Pos
Handicapper
Total Points
Prior Week
Points Earned
This Week
Overall
Total Points
Position
Last
Week
Points
Back
1st
Sally Hinckley
4,162.20
212.40
4,374.60
1st
            -  
2nd
Mark McKelvie
3,950.60
157.90
4,108.50
2nd
      266.10
3rd
Anne Stepien
3,561.80
446.80
4,008.60
4th
      366.00
4th
Dennis O'Hara
3,682.70
285.10
3,967.80
3rd
      406.80
5th
Gordon Waterstone
3,425.00
448.40
3,873.40
5th
      501.20
6th
Rusty Nash
3,322.90
195.80
3,518.70
6th
      855.90
7th
Bob Zanakis
3,005.80
460.80
3,466.60
8th
      910.90
8th
Bryan Owen
2,757.60
521.70
3,279.30
11th
   1,095.30
9th
Josi Verlingieri
2,967.90
303.50
3,271.40
10th
   1,103.20
10th
Earl Paulson
3,165.10
80.00
3,245.10
7th
   1,129.50
11th
Derick Giwner
2,980.30
99.50
3,079.80
9th
   1,294.80
12th
Ray Garnett
2,288.70
620.50
2,909.20
14th
   1,465.40
13th
Jay Hochstetler
2,560.10
203.40
2,763.50
12th
   1,611.10
14th
Michael Carter
2,337.40
339.50
2,676.90
13th
   1,697.70
15th
Garnet Barnsdale
2,174.80
383.10
2,557.90
16th
   1,816.70
16th
Mark Dezii
2,245.00
217.50
2,462.50
15th
   1,912.10
17th
Ray Cotolo
1,875.80
102.00
1,977.80
17th
   2,396.80
18th
Brandon Valvo
1,390.30
393.50
1,783.80
18th
   2,590.80
19th
Mark Deutsch
1,143.90
30.50
1,174.40
19th
   3,200.20
  

Next week has nine events scheduled at Hoosier and two at contest sponsor Vernon Downs.  The Friday night Hoosier card presents one more opportunity some big movement in the standings.