(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
.
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.