Nash Weekly Winner; Hochstetler Maintains Overall Lead in Handicapping Contest

(June 26, 2016) – In an abbreviated set on Friday night, Rusty Nash came out the weekly winner 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.  While Nash was the weekly leader, it was the same old same old as Jay Hochstetler remains in front with a total of 665.3 points; 65.68 points over second place Russ Adams. 

With the AJ Cutler Memorial being the featured race for the week coupled with the supplemental F-M Open Handicap Pace each won by heavy favorites, there was no movement in the overall standings but Nash came out on top earning 21.75 points as he played a pair of sevens; tabbing Resolve ($4.20) in the Cutler and Medusa ($3.00) in the Open tilt.  The only handicapper who came close to Nash for the week was Dennis O’Hara whose 17.4 points was good enough for second place for the week.  Mark Deutsch edged out three other handicappers for the show position with 11 points.

Here are the standings after this weekend’s racing action:

June 24 2016 - Leg #25
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	655.90	9.40	665.30	1st	-
2nd	Russ Adams	589.23	10.40	599.63	2nd	65.68
3rd	Mark Deutsch	503.25	11.00	514.25	3rd	151.05
4th	Rusty Nash	485.28	21.75	507.03	4th	158.28
5th	Dennis O'Hara	482.65	17.40	500.05	5th	165.25
6th	Anne Stepien	468.23	6.00	474.23	6th	191.08
7th	Gordon Waterstone	460.58	7.40	467.98	7th	197.33
8th	Adam Friedland	457.50	9.40	466.90	8th	198.40
9th	Matt Rose	434.43	10.40	444.83	9th	220.48
10th	Ray Cotolo	407.58	3.60	411.18	10th	254.13
11th	Bryan Owen	393.10	8.00	401.10	11th	264.20
12th	Ray Garnett	363.33	7.40	370.73	12th	294.58
13th	Sally Hinckley	344.70	10.40	355.10	13th	310.20
14th	Joe Bengston	328.90	7.40	336.30	14th	329.00
15th	Michael Carter	326.58	0.00	326.58	15th	338.73

With the holiday weekend almost upon us, there will be plenty of racing action for the handicappers to consider.  On Friday, July 1, the handicappers will be matching wits on the Tompkins-Geers for three-year-old trotters of both sexes at Tioga Downs while Mohawk Racetrack closes out the Friday night action with a leg of the Miss Versatility Trot.   Saturday night is a power-filled set of races with the Sun Stakes (Hempt, Lynch, and Beal Memorials; Ben Franklin) at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs with Northfield Park hosting the Cleveland Trotting Classic.  With a day off on Sunday, the action resumes on Independence Day as Tioga Downs hosts the Tompkins-Geers for three-year-old pacers of both sexes

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For further information regarding the handicapping challenge, visit HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com, where you will find the handicappers’ selections and results, updated standings, as well a schedule of upcoming contest races.

Hochstetler Stretches Lead in Hambletonian Society Handicapping Contest

(June 19, 2016) – Determined to add some distance between himself and his nearest competitors, Jay Hochstetler was the top handicapper for the week 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 thanks to earning 124.3 points for a grand total of 655.9 points thus far, 66.68 points ahead of second place Russ Adams, who has a total of 589.23 points in the contest.  

Other strong performers for the week were Gordon Waterstone (115.3 points) and Rusty Nash (110.4).

Leading to Hochstetler’s success were his selecting three winners on North America Cup night at Mohawk Racetrack, selecting the winners of the Armbro Flight (Hannelore Hanover, $2.20), Roses Are Red (Lady Shadow, $10.50), and North America Cup champion Betting Line ($4.20) on Saturday night plus sweeping the card on Sunday at Tioga Downs with All Steinem ($20.80), Mcardles Lightning ($2.50) and Roll With Joe winner Rockeyed Optimist ($5.80). 

In addition to Hochstetler, Rusty Nash swept the Tioga races, adding 68.25 to his seasonal total.

Here are the standings after this weekend’s racing action:

June 19 2016 - Leg #24
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	531.60	124.30	655.90	1st	-
2nd	Russ Adams	527.00	62.23	589.23	2nd	66.68
3rd	Mark Deutsch	437.85	65.40	503.25	3rd	152.65
4th	Rusty Nash	374.88	110.40	485.28	8th	170.63
5th	Dennis O'Hara	416.80	65.85	482.65	5th	173.25
6th	Anne Stepien	429.33	38.90	468.23	4th	187.68
7th	Gordon Waterstone	345.28	115.30	460.58	6th	195.33
8th	Adam Friedland	410.58	46.93	457.50	7th	198.40
9th	Matt Rose	377.43	57.00	434.43	9th	221.48
10th	Ray Cotolo	346.98	60.60	407.58	11th	248.33
11th	Bryan Owen	345.23	47.88	393.10	12th	262.80
12th	Ray Garnett	311.63	51.70	363.33	13th	292.58
13th	Sally Hinckley	308.43	36.28	344.70	14th	311.20
14th	Joe Bengston	302.80	26.10	328.90	15th	327.00
15th	Michael Carter	296.50	30.08	326.58	10th	329.33

This coming weekend, there is only one feature race on tap; the AJ Cutler Memorial Trot at Meadowlands Gaming and Entertainment.  After this week, a full slate of races will be contested during the 4^th of July weekend.

For further information regarding the handicapping challenge, visit HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com, where you may find the handicappers’ selections and results, updated standings, as well a schedule of upcoming contest races.