Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Hinckley Paces Away From the Field

by Rusty Nash for HANA Harness

November 24, 2015 – The final opportunity for major movement in the standings occurred last week in 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. 

The team was tasked with four races from The New Meadowlands on Friday and six on Saturday.  Friday evening saw three favorites and a single winner at 4-1 in Double Exposure.  That meant another low scoring night and little movement. 

Anne Stepien and Gordon Waterstone each tabbed three of four races for 93 points each.  Neither had a tie breaker in the money so Friday night was declared a dead heat.  Four handicappers were able to come up with Double Exposure.  They were Earl Paulson, JoniJosi Verlingieri, Derick Giwner and Mark Dezii.  Derick Giwner had the best tiebreaker and finished the night with 64 points while Mark Dezii had 62.  There were some longshots that got close.  Bobby Zanakis had both Haughty and Blue Moon Stride who both finished second at big prices.  It could have been an exciting night had the chalk not been so strong again.

Saturday night was the last time the handicappers had an opportunity to land a big multiplier as there were six races on tap.  Four races again featured low price winners.  A dead took away a nice opportunity when the favorite chopped at 7-1 price down to 2-1.  Two players were able to string together five winners.  Mark Dezii has been red hot lately and simply crushed the field when he landed Bettor’s Edge at $40.  With four of the other five other winners he totaled an impressive 496 points for the night!  Contest leader Sally Hinckley landed the first five winners for a total of 213 points. 

For the week Mark Dezii earned top honors with 524 total points.  Sally Hinckley put a virtual lock on the win by scoring 262 points.  Most of the team went in search of prices and were disappointed.  Completing our weekly pentafecta were Earl Paulson (134), Anne Stepien (130) and Gordon Waterstone (123).

Sally Hinckley padded her lead by more than 200 points extending it to an unprecedented 567.  The real competition next week will be for some of the smaller prizes for our very deserving horse rescues.  Dennis O’Hara leads in the race for “Best of the Rest” by 137 points over Anne Stepien, 242 over Gordon Waterstone and 252 over Mark McKelvie.


PosHandicapperTotal Points
Prior Week
Points Earned
This Week
Overall
Total Points
Position
Last
Week
Points
Back

1stSally Hinckley4,785.80262.805,048.601st            -   
2ndDennis O'Hara 4,431.8049.204,481.002nd      567.60 
3rdAnne Stepien4,212.70130.604,343.304th      705.30 
4thGordon Waterstone4,115.70123.004,238.706th      809.90 
5thMark McKelvie4,179.8049.004,228.805th      819.80 
6thJosi Verlingieri4,045.5062.004,107.503rd      941.10 
7thRusty Nash3,865.708.803,874.507th   1,174.10 
8thDerick Giwner3,672.2097.803,770.009th   1,278.60 
9thBob Zanakis3,673.1080.003,753.108th   1,295.50 
10thEarl Paulson3,524.00134.203,658.2011th   1,390.40 
11thBryan Owen3,542.0011.203,553.2010th   1,495.40 
12thMark Dezii2,884.70524.203,408.9014th   1,639.70 
13thJay Hochstetler 3,300.2090.203,390.4012th   1,658.20 
14thRay Garnett3,178.3036.603,214.9013th   1,833.70 
15thGarnet Barnsdale2,690.500.002,690.5015th   2,358.10 
16thMichael Carter 2,676.900.002,676.9016th   2,371.70 
17thRay Cotolo2,128.700.002,128.7017th   2,919.90 
18thBrandon Valvo1,886.2049.801,936.0019th   3,112.60 
19thMark Deutsch1,197.100.001,197.1018th   3,851.50 


The HANA handicappers will be back in action for the final time this year with The Courageous Lady and The Progress Pace.  We will formally crown our champion and runners up and the winning horse rescues.  For everyone here at HANA Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge we wish you all a great Thanksgiving holiday.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Verlingieri Makes a Big Move, Hinckley Just a Few Strides from Victory!

by Rusty Nash for HANA Harness

November 16, 2015 – The first big move in the home stretch occurred last week in 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. 

There were three evenings of competition this last week.  Thursday had six races and was the only evening where any significant ground looked like it could be picked up.  And picking up ground is just what happened.  JoniJosi Verlingieri nailed five of six winners to crush the field.  JoniJosi had all four winning chalks plus the big bomber, Storm Point, who won at $36!  All totaled, JoniJosi won the evening by more than 300 points over the whole field and even more on some of the others.  Dennis O’Hara and Derick Giwner tied for second with 103 points and tied for fourth with 99 points were Sally Hinckley, Rusty Nash and Mark Dezii.

Friday and Saturday had only two races each evening.  No one was able to go two for two on Friday night.  Six of the handicappers had no problem selecting in Shake It Cerry to beat Bee A Magician.  Shake It Cerry was worth 13 HANA points for Derick Giwner, Rusty Nash, Dennis O’Hara, Earl Paulson, Anne Stepien, and Gordon Waterstone.  They each understood how eliminations tend to unfold and took the early speed in the short field.  Ironically the top score of the night did not include a winner!  Bryan Owen has had a knack all season for selecting live longshots.  In this case Skippin By was only second best but still returned 17 total HANA points. 

Saturday evening was another twofer that did not look like it would produce any scoring fireworks.  No one was able to land both winners.  Two were able to figure out that Mach It So was the way to go and he was worth 14 total points.  It turns out that both Bob Zanakis and Rusty Nash both had the same tie breaker with E L Titan.  He finished second and both gents had the identical sum of 19 HANA points.     Five handicappers selected Resolve and earned 9 HANA points.  They were Mark Dezii, Derick Giwner, Sally Hinckley, Dennis O’Hara, and Earl Paulson.

For the week JoniJosi Verlingieri obliterated the field with 420 total points.  An extremely well beaten second was Rusty Nash who landed a mere 132 points.  Dennis O’Hara and Derick Giwner tied for third with 126 points.  Tied for the last spot on our weekly pentafecta ticket with 109 points were Mark Dezii and Contest leader Sally Hinckley.

Sally Hinckley retains her lead by a slightly diminished 354 points.  The balance of the top four remain the same as last week, Dennis O’Hara, Anne Stepien, Mark McKelvie and Gordon Waterstone.  With her big move this week, JoniJosi Verlingieri gave Rusty Nash real fright as she zoomed right on by him into sixth place.   Six handicappers are still less that one thousand points behind leader Hinckley.  Sally has easily fended off all challengers since rising to the top and appears to be under wraps as we approach the wire.

Standings as of November 14, 2015 - Leg 61
PosHandicapperTotal Points
Prior Week
Points Earned
This Week
Overall
Total Points
Position
Last
Week
Points
Back
1stSally Hinckley4,676.70109.104,785.801st            -  
2ndDennis O'Hara 4,305.40126.404,431.802nd      354.00
3rdAnne Stepien4,181.8030.904,212.703rd      573.10
4thMark McKelvie4,137.2042.604,179.804th      606.00
5thGordon Waterstone4,069.4046.304,115.705th      670.10
6thJosi Verlingieri3,625.20420.304,045.507th      740.30
7thRusty Nash3,733.30132.403,865.706th      920.10
8thBob Zanakis3,614.4058.703,673.108th   1,112.70
9thDerick Giwner3,545.80126.403,672.209th   1,113.60
10thBryan Owen3,490.1051.903,542.0010th   1,243.80
11thEarl Paulson3,438.4085.603,524.0011th   1,261.80
12thJay Hochstetler 3,236.4063.803,300.2012th   1,485.60
13thRay Garnett3,085.8092.503,178.3013th   1,607.50
14thMark Dezii2,775.60109.102,884.701th   1,901.10
15thGarnet Barnsdale2,690.500.002,690.5015th   2,095.30
16thMichael Carter 2,676.900.002,676.9016th   2,108.90
17thRay Cotolo2,128.700.002,128.7017th   2,657.10
18thBrandon Valvo1,855.5030.701,886.2019th   2,899.60
19thMark Deutsch1,197.100.001,197.1018th   3,588.70


The HANA handicappers will be back in action with two exciting days of competition this coming week.  This will be the last opportunity for any significant movement as there are four races on Friday and six on Saturday.  All our action will be at one of our contest sponsors, The New Meadowlands.  Only the Courageous Lady and The Progress Pace remain after this weekend.  

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Dennis O’Hara Continues to Roll, Sally Hinckley Extends Lead

by Rusty Nash for HANA Harness

November 10, 2015 – The first week of the Matron from Dover and the American National at Balmoral are in the books 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. 

The HANA handicappers had two opportunities to catch contest leader Sally Hinckley with plenty of action on both nights.  On Thursday evening the results were not kind to those trailing the top tier.  The results were all chalk or missed longshot plays.  Mark Dezii and Gordon Waterstone had the best chalk boards with three winners each for 83 and 68 points respectively.  Bob Zanakis, JoniJose Verlingieri, and Dennis O’Hara completed the nightly pentafecta with scores in the forties.  Everyone else was licking their wounds.

Saturday evening at Balmoral Sally Hinckley, Dennis O’Hara and Jay Hochstetler each picked six of seven winning favorites.  The tie breaker went to our cast’s “leading lady” Sally Hinckley (237) when her seventh horse, Bright Baby Blues, finished second (237) and Dennis and Jay’s horse, Muscle Baby Doll, finished third.  Mark Dezii and yours truly finish fourth and fifth when the prices we took shot a with missed.

Dennis O’Hara had the best two day total of 275 points.  He won the photo over Sally Hinckley’s 259.5 and Jay Hochstetler at 259.30.  Mark Dezii was a close fourth with 237 and yours truly was a well beaten fifth at 168.
Sally Hinckley not only retains her lead but let it out a notch or two and extended her advantage to almost 400 points.  Dennis O’Hara and Mark McKelvie swapped positions with Dennis taking second and Mark slipping to fourth.  Anne Stepien retained her third place spot and Gordon Waterstone kept a solid fifth position as Rusty Nash was again not able to apply any pressure.


Standings as of November 7, 2015 - Leg 58
Pos Handicapper Total Points
Prior Week
Points Earned
This Week
Overall
Total Points
Position
Last
Week
Points
Back
1st Sally Hinckley 4,417.20 259.50 4,676.70 1st             -  
2nd Dennis O'Hara  4,029.60 275.80 4,305.40 4th       371.30
3rd Anne Stepien 4,071.30 110.50 4,181.80 3rd       494.90
4th Mark McKelvie 4,108.50 28.70 4,137.20 2nd       539.50
5th Gordon Waterstone 3,903.40 166.00 4,069.40 5th       607.30
6th Rusty Nash 3,565.30 168.00 3,733.30 6th       943.40
7th Josi Verlingieri 3,474.60 150.60 3,625.20 8th    1,051.50
8th Bob Zanakis 3,505.50 108.90 3,614.40 7th    1,062.30
9th Derick Giwner 3,454.10 91.70 3,545.80 9th    1,130.90
10th Bryan Owen 3,445.60 44.50 3,490.10 10th    1,186.60
11th Earl Paulson 3,299.80 138.60 3,438.40 11th    1,238.30
12th Jay Hochstetler  2,977.10 259.30 3,236.40 13th    1,440.30
13th Ray Garnett 3,016.50 69.30 3,085.80 12th    1,590.90
14th Mark Dezii 2,538.10 237.50 2,775.60 16th    1,901.10
15th Garnet Barnsdale 2,687.30 3.20 2,690.50 14th    1,986.20
16th Michael Carter  2,676.90 0.00 2,676.90 15th    1,999.80
17th Ray Cotolo 2,033.70 95.00 2,128.70 17th    2,548.00
18th Brandon Valvo 1,834.40 21.10 1,855.50 18th    2,821.20
19th Mark Deutsch 1,197.10 0.00 1,197.10 19th    3,479.60


The HANA handicappers will be back in action with three exciting days of competition this coming week.  We are back at Dover for the Matron on Thursday.  A total of six HANA legs to be raced.  That is followed with both Friday and Saturday evening action at The New Meadowlands.  There are two eliminations of the TVG Open Mares on Friday and TVG FFA on Saturday.


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

A Pick Six for Giwner, Hinckley Retains Lead

 by Rusty Nash for HANA Harness

November 3, 2015 – 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 had a relatively quiet week after all the excitement on Breeders Crown night.

There were eight races on Friday evening at Hoosier Park and two on Saturday at Vernon Downs.  Just as one of our contest sponsors, Vernon Downs, turned back the clock on Saturday evening, we will take a look at Saturday’s results before moving back to Friday.

With only two races you would think there might not be a lot of points to be made but it could have been a huge night.  Could have when the favored Takter entry failed to hit the board in one of the Kindergarten divisions it was won by Wildflower and Ake Svenstedt at $185!  Unfortunately none of our handicappers were able to land the biggest win price of the HANA contest this season.  Two of our handicappers did not pick a winner but topped the night chart.  Both had Sweet Ashley T and received 52 points for the show price!  Those two very smart souls were Garnet Barnsdale and Jay Hochstetler.  Garnet won the evening’s tie breaker with Mavens Way to show.  In the other Kindergarten event six handicappers finished tied for third winning with Dog Gone Lucky for 10 HANA contest points.  They were Ray Cotolo, Mark Dezii, Sally Hinckley, Rusty Nash, Earl Paulson and Anne Stepien.

Friday evening saw quite a bit more action and one clear winner.  Accepting the accolades of all involved was Derrick Giwner who selected six of eight winners.  That was two more winners than his closest competitor.  For his excellence Derrick earned 374 HANA contest points.  Three other players were able to select a different set of four winners each. Jonijosi Verlingieri (203) out pointed both Bryan Owen (166) and Jay Hochstetler (161).  Ms. Verlingieri’s key was Foiled Again who had the best return win price among the quad winners.

There were no major moves in the standings given the difficult and short prices on Friday evening at Hoosier Park.  The top five remain the same as last week, Sally Hinckley, Mark McKelvie, Anne Stepien, Dennis O’Hara and Gordon Waterstone.  Sally was able to pad her lead over Mark to 308 points.  However the field continued to tighten up behind Mark.  There are now ten handicappers separated by less than 1,000 points.


Standings as of October 31, 2015 - Leg 56
Pos
Handicapper
Total Points
Prior Week
Points Earned
This Week
Overall
Total Points
Position
Last
Week
Points
Back
1st
Sally Hinckley
4,374.60
42.60
4,417.20
1st
            -  
2nd
Mark McKelvie
4,108.50
0.00
4,108.50
2nd
      308.70
3rd
Anne Stepien
4,008.60
62.70
4,071.30
3rd
      345.90
4th
Dennis O'Hara 
3,967.80
61.80
4,029.60
7th
      387.60
5th
Gordon Waterstone
3,873.40
30.00
3,903.40
4th
      513.80
6th
Rusty Nash
3,518.70
46.60
3,565.30
5th
      851.90
7th
Bob Zanakis
3,466.60
38.90
3,505.50
6th
      911.70
8th
Josi Verlingieri
3,271.40
203.20
3,474.60
9th
      942.60
9th
Derick Giwner
3,079.80
374.30
3,454.10
11th
      963.10
10th
Bryan Owen
3,279.30
166.30
3,445.60
8th
      971.60
11th
Earl Paulson
3,245.10
54.70
3,299.80
10th
   1,117.40
12th
Ray Garnett
2,909.20
107.30
3,016.50
12th
   1,400.70
13th
Jay Hochstetler 
2,763.50
213.60
2,977.10
13th
   1,440.10
14th
Garnet Barnsdale
2,557.90
129.40
2,687.30
15th
   1,729.90
15th
Michael Carter 
2,676.90
0.00
2,676.90
14th
   1,740.30
16th
Mark Dezii
2,462.50
75.60
2,538.10
16th
   1,879.10
17th
Ray Cotolo
1,977.80
55.90
2,033.70
17th
   2,383.50
18th
Brandon Valvo
1,783.80
50.60
1,834.40
18th
   2,582.80
19th
Mark Deutsch
1,174.40
22.70
1,197.10
19th
   3,220.10


We have a very busy two days on tap this week.  We kick things off with six races Thursday evening at Dover with the Matron for 2 year olds.  Saturday we shift north and west to Balmoral Park for the American National where we will have at least eight more puzzles to try and solve.