Adams Surges in Hambletonian Society Handicapping Contest

(May 29, 2016) – After nine weeks of blowing away the rest of the handicappers, Jay Hochstetler all of a sudden finds himself in a horse race in 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 as Russ Adams continues his hot streak in week ten by being the top handicapper for the second straight week earning 146.9 points for this week's efforts.

What was a triple-digit lead a mere two weeks ago is now a single-digit lead thanks to the surge by Adams who resides in second place, a mere 9.3 points off the lead after being eleventh and 193.45 points behind two weeks ago.  Over the last two weeks, he earned a combined 241.15 points. 

Adams can thank his selection of Evenin of Pleasure ($74.30) to win the Molson Pace which earned him 99.7 of his 146.9 points for the week.  In addition to the Molson score, he selected the winner of a division of the Ms. Versatility Trot as well as the Lismore and the Maxie Lee Memorial the rest of the week which featured four days of contest action.

Second place honors for the past week went to Adam Friedland who earned 92.05 points to move from seventh to fourth place which is attributable to him sweeping the Betsy Ross, Maxie Lee, and Dorothy Mullin Invites including Venus Delight ($20.40), earning him 77.85 points of his weekly total.  Bryan Owen picked up show honors, edging out Rusty Nash 74.05 to 71.43.

Following Sunday afternoon’s racing, the standings are as follows:

May 29, 2016 - Leg #19
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	431.75	45.30	477.05	1st	-
2nd	Russ Adams	320.85	146.90	467.75	3rd	9.30
3rd	Mark Deutsch	315.95	68.73	384.68	6th	92.38
4th	Adam Friedland	284.13	92.05	376.18	7th	100.88
5th	Anne Stepien	339.15	30.70	369.85	2nd	107.20
6th	Dennis O'Hara	319.35	39.90	359.25	5th	117.80
7th	Matt Rose	320.03	26.10	346.13	4th	130.93
8th	Rusty Nash	263.13	71.43	334.55	10th	142.50
9th	Ray Cotolo	284.08	27.00	311.08	8th	165.98
10th	Gordon Waterstone	263.23	34.80	298.03	9th	179.03
11th	Bryan Owen	208.45	74.05	282.50	15th	194.55
12th	Michael Carter	220.30	57.90	278.20	12th	198.85
13th	Ray Garnett	249.13	28.00	277.13	11th	199.93
14th	Joe Bengston	217.50	49.60	267.10	13th	209.95
15th	Sally Hinckley	211.18	41.60	252.78	14th	224.28

The handicappers get a breather this week as the only action on the docket is at Mohawk Raceway where the Graduate series continues and the Somebeachsomewhere stakes will be contested.

As a reminder, visit http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com, where you can find the handicappers’ selections and results, updated standings, as well as see what stakes are coming up.

Stepien, Adams Surge in Hambletonian Society Handicapping Contest

(May 22, 2016) – Anne Stepien and Russ Adams surged from mid-pack to move into second and third place respectively in week nine 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.  Stepien was the top handicapper for the week, earning 101.55 (339.15 total) points while Adams was just off the pace, finishing second with 94.25 (320.85) points.  Jay Hochstetler remains the overall leader with 339.15 points, his lead shrinking slightly to 92.6 points.  This makes it nine weeks straight with Hochstetler in the lead.

Stepien managed to win three of the four races for the evening, winning the first division of the Graduate Trot with Crazshana ($17.20), the Graduate Pace with Artistic Major ($20.40), and Wiggle It Jiggleit ($3.00) in the Battle of Lake Erie; her only miss was in the second division of the Graduate Trot when Pinkman finished third.  Adams also had Crazshana and Artistic Major but his selection of Crescent Fashion finished second in the second division of the Graduate Trot while Foiled Again ran out of the money in the Battle of Lake Erie.  It was far back to Dennis O’Hara who finished third for the week with 50.08 points.

Following Saturday night’s action, the standings are as follows:

May 21, 2016 - Leg #15
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	420.05	11.70	431.75	1st	-
2nd	Anne Stepien	237.60	101.55	339.15	10th	92.60
3rd	Russ Adams	226.60	94.25	320.85	11th	110.90
4th	Matt Rose	302.13	17.90	320.03	3rd	111.73
5th	Dennis O'Hara	269.28	50.08	319.35	6th	112.40
6th	Mark Deutsch	311.75	4.20	315.95	2nd	115.80
7th	Adam Friedland	242.03	42.10	284.13	9th	147.63
8th	Ray Cotolo	284.08	0.00	284.08	4th	147.68
9th	Gordon Waterstone	249.13	14.10	263.23	7th	168.53
10th	Rusty Nash	251.43	11.70	263.13	5th	168.63
11th	Ray Garnett	242.83	6.30	249.13	8th	182.63
12th	Michael Carter	195.10	25.20	220.30	14th	211.45
13th	Joe Bengston	188.10	29.40	217.50	15th	214.25
14th	Sally Hinckley	197.08	14.10	211.18	13th	220.58
15th	Bryan Owen	199.75	8.70	208.45	12th	223.30

This week is a busy week for the handicapping team.  The week begins Monday, with two divisions of the Miss Versatility Trot at Mohawk Raceway.  The the Memorial Day weekend is busy with the Molson Pace on Friday, May 27 at The Raceway at Western Fair District followed by Saturday, May 28’s Art Rooney and Lismore stakes at Yonkers Raceway.   The contest weekend concludes on Sunday, May 28 with a trio of races, the Betsy Ross Mares Invitational, Dorothy Mullen Invitational, and Maxie Lee Memorial at Harrah’s Philadelphia. 

As a reminder, visit http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com, where you can find the handicappers’ selections and results, updated standings, as well as see what upcoming stakes are coming up.