Sunday, April 10, 2016

Longshots Propel Cotolo in Grand Circuit Handicapping Contest


(April 10, 2016) – Week four of the 2016 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs in the books, Ray Cotolo took advantage of longshots in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series Friday night to leapfrog  into fourth place from fifteenth place. 

With his 118.68 points for the week, Cotolo was the top handicapper for the week while Jay Hochstetler continues to be the overall leader with 326.73 points, 80.8 points in front of his closest competitors Mark Deutsch (245.93), closely followed by Matt Rose (240.33) who was just behind the duo in third.  Honorable mention goes to Russ Adams whose 65.1 points for the past weekend moved him from twelfth to fifth place. 

While running off the board in the last of the Matchmaker series, Cotolo took advantage of the first two races by selecting CarolsIdeal ($19.80) in the fifth race and Yagonnakissmeornot ($37.80) in the sixth to earn 110.88 points of his 118.68 of his weekend total.  Russ Adams had only one winner on Friday but made the most of it by earning 58.8 of his weekend total of 65.1 by connecting with Yagonnakissmeornot.

With Saturday night having favorites winning three of the four contest divisions it was hard to make any real movement based solely on Saturday’s performance and it was evident by the performances of Sally Hinckley and Matt Rose as both earned 29.85 of their weekly total, having three out of four winners on Saturday, missing only in the fifth race where Take It Back Terry finished a neck back denying both of them the evening grand slam.  Eight other handicappers had two out of four winners Saturday evening.

The current standings are as follows:

Standings as of April 9, 2016 - Leg #8
Pos
Handicapper
Total Points
Prior Week
Points Earned
This Week
Overall
Total Points
Position
Last
Week
Points
Back
1st
Jay Hochstetler
286.10
40.63
326.73
1st
            -  
2nd
Mark Deutsch
213.15
32.78
245.93
2nd
       80.80
3rd
Matt Rose
197.98
42.35
240.33
3rd
       86.40
4th
Ray Cotolo
59.50
118.68
178.18
15th
      148.55
5th
Russ Adams
112.00
65.10
177.10
12th
      149.63
6th
Adam Friedland
136.88
32.75
169.63
6th
      157.10
7th
Dennis O'Hara
141.20
24.85
166.05
4th
      160.68
8th
Sally Hinckley
125.45
36.95
162.40
9th
      164.33
9th
Anne Stepien
133.93
27.98
161.90
8th
      164.83
10th
Rusty Nash
137.48
13.90
151.38
5th
      175.35
11th
Gordon Waterstone
125.15
24.75
149.90
10th
      176.83
12th
Bryan Owen
133.70
11.00
144.70
7th
      182.03
13th
Ray Garnett
91.00
53.43
144.43
13th
      182.30
14th
Joe Bengston
119.50
24.20
143.70
11th
      183.03
15th
Michael Carter
78.48
28.93
107.40
14th
      219.33


The 2016 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge continues with the fifth and final preliminary round of the Matchmaker and Levy Memorial series at Yonkers Raceway on Friday (4/15) and Saturday (4/16).  For further information regarding the contest, you may visit http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.