Sunday, August 28, 2016

Carter on Top for Week in Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit ‘Cap Contest


(August 28, 2016) –  Michael Carter (110.48 points) muscled past Adam Friedland (101.1) to win weekly honors 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.  Finishing third for the week was Sally Hinckley with 99.45 points.  Unlike the first half of the season, this half is much closer with the second half leader (and first half winner) Jay Hochstetler having three handicappers on his tail, less than 50 points separating the quartet.

Overall, Hochstetler is cruising along on his quest for overall champion, still 650.78 points ahead of his nearest competitor, Adam Friedland with Russ Adams sitting in third, another 0.87 points back.  Despite the dominating lead, the second half of the contest is only in its second week and there is much more handicapping to go, so there is time for other handicappers to get hot. 

On Friday night, Michael Carter and Sally Hinckley hit the Pick-4, sweeping the contest card earning 72.28 points with winners in the Muscle Hill and the Crawford Farms Trot at Vernon Downs as well as the two divisions of the Casual Breeze at Mohawk Raceway.

While no one hit the Pick-3 on Saturday evening, Carter, Adam Friedland, Dennis O’Hara, Anne Stepien, and Gordon Waterstone had two out of three but Friedland’s duo was more lucrative than the remainder of the quintet as he took down Wildflower ($31.00) in the Hudson Filly Trot earning 52.5 points to the other’s 18.23 for the evening.

Sunday was Friedland’s day, the only handicapper to pick three out of four selections with his final selection finishing second, earning him 38.5 points.

The condensed standings after this weekend’s action follows.  For the complete standings, visit the HANA Harness contest website.
      
2nd Half and Overall Standings
Position
Handicapper
Points This Week
Total Points
Points Back
Overall Position
Overall Points
Overall Points Back
1st
Jay Hochstetler (FHW)
42.28
307.53
-
1st
2096.63
-
2nd
Russ Adams
42.20
264.05
43.48
3rd
1444.98
651.65
3rd
Sally Hinckley
99.45
262.55
44.98
5th
1432.43
664.20
4th
Michael Carter
110.48
259.85
47.68
8th
1352.40
744.23
5th
Mark Deutsch
46.68
241.78
65.75
9th
1219.98
876.65
6th
Gordon Waterstone
49.93
227.58
79.95
6th
1396.05
700.58
7th
Ray Garnett
26.10
213.35
94.18
14th
1002.13
1,094.50
8th
Dennis O'Hara
61.93
200.13
107.40
7th
1377.03
719.60
9th
Adam Friedland
101.10
199.70
107.83
2nd
1445.85
650.78
10th
Anne Stepien
71.60
175.20
132.33
11th
1111.70
984.93
11th
Joe Bengston
16.10
174.70
132.83
12th
1090.05
1,006.58
12th
Rusty Nash
38.60
146.13
161.40
4th
1442.28
654.35
13th
Matt Rose
42.88
109.43
198.10
10th
1211.48
885.15
14th
Ray Cotolo
36.00
108.55
198.98
15th
904.08
1,192.55
15th
Bryan Owen
30.38
74.05
233.48
13th
1051.33
1,045.30

The action begins early this week as Monday evening Tioga Down’s card wraps up the Tompkins Series for two-year old pacers of both gaits.  The first Thursday evening of the contest season has the handicappers taking on the Champlain Stakes for two-year old filly trotters at Mohawk, followed up by Friday’s Champlain Stakes for two-year old open trotters and Simcoe Stakes for three-year old filly trotters.  Saturday evening has races from Mohawk (Canadian Pacing Derby, Simcoe, She’s A Great Lady) and Yonkers Raceway where the Yonkers Trot and Messenger Stakes will be contested. 
Racing fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other contest-related information from HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.


Monday, August 22, 2016

Hochstetler Begins Second Half of Handicapping Contest in Front

(August 22, 2016) –  The second half 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 starts off as the first half ended; Jay Hochstetler, albeit the smallest of leads, is in first place. 

Hochstetler, who is the overall leader as well by a substantial amount, kicks off the 2nd half of the contest season earning 214.63 points, 0.18 points ahead of Russ Adams who earned 214.45.  In the show spot for the week is Mark Deutsch with 186.5 points. 

The condensed standings after this weekend’s action follows.  For the complete standings, visit the HANA Harness contest website.      

2nd Half and Overall Standings
Position
Handicapper
Points This Week
Total Points
Points Back
Overall Position
Overall Points
Overall Points Back
1st
Jay Hochstetler (FHW)
214.63
214.63
-
1st
2003.73
-
2nd
Russ Adams
214.45
214.45
0.18
2nd
1395.38
608.35
3rd
Mark Deutsch
186.50
186.50
28.13
10th
1164.70
839.03
4th
Gordon Waterstone
170.25
170.25
44.38
4th
1338.73
665.00
5th
Ray Garnett
166.63
166.63
48.00
14th
955.40
1,048.33
6th
Sally Hinckley
155.90
155.90
58.73
6th
1325.78
677.95
7th
Joe Bengston
155.40
155.40
59.23
11th
1070.75
932.98
8th
Michael Carter
140.78
140.78
73.85
8th
1233.33
770.40
9th
Dennis O'Hara
129.60
129.60
85.03
7th
1306.50
697.23
10th
Rusty Nash
98.93
98.93
115.70
3rd
1395.08
608.65
11th
Adam Friedland
90.00
90.00
124.63
5th
1336.15
667.58
12th
Anne Stepien
82.98
82.98
131.65
13th
1019.48
984.25
13th
Ray Cotolo
68.35
68.35
146.28
15th
863.88
1,139.85
14th
Matt Rose
63.75
63.75
150.88
9th
1165.80
837.93
15th
Bryan Owen
43.68
43.68
170.95
12th
1020.95
982.78


This week is a busy week for contest handicappers as the action kicks-off Friday night at Vernon Downs for the Muscle Hill and Crawford Farms Trot for open trotters of both sexes.  Saturday’s action kicks off with the Nadia Lobell at The Meadows, followed by The Lady Maud and Yonkers Filly Trot at Yonkers Raceway.  Sunday begins a double header of action at Tioga Downs where the Artiscape and Reynolds for two year old trotters will be contested, and followed up with Monday’s two year old pacing divisions editions of the Reynolds.   

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