Adios Weekend Scrambles Standings in Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge

(July 31, 2016) – While Jay Hochstetler remains firmly ensconced in the lead 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, the 18 race smorgasbord known as Adios weekend at The Meadows scrambled the rest of the leaderboard with handicappers exchanging positions below the top spot.  One of those handicappers, last year’s champion Sally Hinckley moved from 13^th to 6^th place by virtue of her 318.65 points, to earn the title of ‘best handicapper’ for the week

Other handicappers making big moves this weekend were Adam Friedland whose 312.63 points moved him up 2 slots from 4^th to 2^nd place and Michael Carter whose 255.3 points moved him from 8^th to 5^th.  Of note are other handicappers who scored 200 plus points this weekend, Rusty Nash (203.4) and Matt Rose (213.73).

Hinckley was prolific both days, scoring 170.2 points on Friday with 5 out of 6 winners including Youvegotwhatittakes ($15.60) and Muay Hanover ($17.40) following it up with 7 winners on Saturday good for 148.45 points.  While Friedland’s performance was unremarkable on Friday, Saturday was another story tabbing 8 out of 12 races for the day which earned him 276.9 points.

At the conclusion of Adios week, here are the standings:

July 30, 2016 - Leg #35
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	1,481.45	155.08	1,636.53	1st	-
2nd	Adam Friedland	784.18	312.63	1,096.80	4th	539.73
3rd	Russ Adams	970.33	91.28	1,061.60	2nd	574.93
4th	Rusty Nash	850.05	203.40	1,053.45	3rd	583.08
5th	Michael Carter	733.10	255.30	988.40	8th	648.13
6th	Sally Hinckley	632.78	318.65	951.43	13th	685.10
7th	Dennis O'Hara	742.75	199.80	942.55	7th	693.98
8th	Gordon Waterstone	770.13	168.40	938.53	6th	698.00
9th	Mark Deutsch	783.95	113.05	897.00	5th	739.53
10th	Matt Rose	668.53	213.73	882.25	11th	754.28
11th	Bryan Owen	696.85	119.00	815.85	10th	820.68
12th	Joe Bengston	661.65	125.63	787.28	12th	849.25
13th	Anne Stepien	723.60	57.20	780.80	9th	855.73
14th	Ray Cotolo	556.80	116.98	673.78	14th	962.75
15th	Ray Garnett	537.98	110.30	648.28	15th	988.25

The Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge moves to the Meadowlands on Saturday afternoon for its Hambletonian Day extravaganza with the Hambletonian (3yo Open Trot), Hambletonian Oaks (3yo Filly Trot), Cane Pace (3yo C&G Pace), Shady Daisy (3yo Filly Pace), Jim Doherty Memorial (2yo Filly Trot), Peter Haughton Memorial (2yo C&G Trot), Fresh Yankee (Filly and Mare Trot), John Cashman Memorial (Open Trot), Lady Liberty (Filly & Mare Pace), and US Pacing Championship (Open Pace).

Racing fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other contest-related information from HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.

Hochstetler Juggernaut Roles on in Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge

(July 25, 2016) – Another week, another impressive performance by Jay Hochstetler 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 Hochstetler padded his overall lead with 310.23 points, good for a seasonal total of 1,481.45.  With the weekend’s action concluded, this leaves Hochstetler 511.13 points ahead of his nearest competitor, Russ Adams who sits in second place with a total of 970.33 points.

While Hochstetler topped the field for weekly honors, second place honors for the weekend goes to Joe Bengston whose 248.75 points moved him from last to 12^th place.  Show honors belong to Russ Adams with 126.25, nosing out Anne Stepien’s 121.2.

The tone for the weekend was set Friday evening (July 22) when Bengston and Hochstetler both tabbed Kindergarten Winner Muscles Jared ($80.40).  While Hochstetler had three winners on the evening’s program to Bengtson’s two, the latter added Sunshine Delight ($25.60) to his winning tally allowing him to win the evening 208.05 to 205.05.   Continuing his hot streak, Hochstetler was a perfect four for four Saturday (7/23) evening allowing him to add another 72.8 to his tally while Adams responded Sunday night (7/24) nailing three of six at Vernon Downs, including Zweig Filly Stake Champion Flower N Songs ($18.40), adding another 87.75 points to his total.

At the conclusion of the weekend’s racing action, here are the standings:

July 24, 2016 - Leg #33
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	1,171.23	310.23	1,481.45	1st	-
2nd	Russ Adams	844.08	126.25	970.33	2nd	511.13
3rd	Rusty Nash	769.40	80.65	850.05	3rd	631.40
4th	Adam Friedland	722.30	61.88	784.18	5th	697.28
5th	Mark Deutsch	725.35	58.60	783.95	4th	697.50
6th	Gordon Waterstone	701.90	68.23	770.13	6th	711.33
7th	Dennis O'Hara	664.20	78.55	742.75	7th	738.70
8th	Michael Carter	637.60	95.50	733.10	8th	748.35
9th	Anne Stepien	602.40	121.20	723.60	11th	757.85
10th	Bryan Owen	613.73	83.13	696.85	9th	784.60
11th	Matt Rose	606.63	61.90	668.53	10th	812.93
12th	Joe Bengston	412.90	248.75	661.65	15th	819.80
13th	Sally Hinckley	554.03	78.75	632.78	12th	848.68
14th	Ray Cotolo	506.28	50.53	556.80	13th	924.65
15th	Ray Garnett	469.38	68.60	537.98	14th	943.48

As the mid-way point of the contest approaches on August 14, it looks like Hochstetler will easily be the first half champion, earning his rescue a $250 award.

Contest action resumes Friday (7/29) and Saturday (7/30) with Adios weekend at The Meadows with multiple tilts of the Arden Downs plus the Adioo Volo and The Adios in addition to Reynolds action for 3yo colt and gelding trotters at the Meadowlands.  The contest then moves on to August 6 for the Hambletonian Day card at the Meadowlands.

Racing fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other contest-related information from HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.