(July 17, 2016) – With eleven
races on the contest slate Saturday night (July 16) 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, the opportunity for leader Jay Hochstetler to
open up more day light on the rest of the field existed, but it was Michael
Carter who came out on top with 196.73 points to jump from 13th to 8th
place. In addition, Russ Adams (147.85
points) and Rusty Nash (116.10), who were second and third for the week
respectively, managed to close the gap a bit on Hochstetler whose lead has been
cut to 327.15 points.
On a night where primarily
first or second choices were race winners, Carter managed to nail eight of the
eleven winners on the evenings card, missing out only on the Hambletonian
Maturity, the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace, and the Lawrence B. Sheppard. Adams and Nash both ended up winning six of
the evening’s tilts.
Here are the
standings after Saturday’s racing:
|
July 16, 2016 - Leg
#30
|
||||||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points
Prior Week |
Points Earned
This Week |
Overall
Total Points |
Position
Last Week |
Points
Back |
|
1st
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
1,093.33
|
77.90
|
1,171.23
|
1st
|
-
|
|
2nd
|
Russ Adams
|
696.23
|
147.85
|
844.08
|
2nd
|
327.15
|
|
3rd
|
Rusty Nash
|
653.30
|
116.10
|
769.40
|
3rd
|
401.83
|
|
4th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
637.15
|
88.20
|
725.35
|
5th
|
445.88
|
|
5th
|
Adam Friedland
|
639.70
|
82.60
|
722.30
|
4th
|
448.93
|
|
6th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
627.45
|
44.90
|
672.35
|
6th
|
498.88
|
|
7th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
600.53
|
63.68
|
664.20
|
7th
|
507.03
|
|
8th
|
Michael Carter
|
440.88
|
196.73
|
637.60
|
13th
|
533.63
|
|
9th
|
Bryan Owen
|
522.93
|
90.80
|
613.73
|
10th
|
557.50
|
|
10th
|
Matt Rose
|
555.68
|
50.95
|
606.63
|
8th
|
564.60
|
|
11th
|
Anne Stepien
|
555.30
|
47.10
|
602.40
|
9th
|
568.83
|
|
12th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
459.93
|
94.10
|
554.03
|
12th
|
617.20
|
|
13th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
480.88
|
25.40
|
506.28
|
11th
|
664.95
|
|
14th
|
Ray Garnett
|
417.43
|
51.95
|
469.38
|
14th
|
701.85
|
|
15th
|
Joe Bengston
|
376.30
|
36.60
|
412.90
|
15th
|
758.33
|
With the contest
less than half way through the series, there is plenty of time for movement in
the standings so no can be ruled out of the running.
The Challenge continues with a weekend full of
racing. Friday night has first leg of
the Kindergarten series for two year old trotters of both sexes at the
Meadowlands while Saturday evening has the Kindergarten races for two year old
pacers in East Rutherford plus Saratoga’s Joe Gerrity Memorial for Open class
pacers. The weekend concludes Sunday
with the Zweig Memorials for three year old fillies and three year old
trotters.
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.
