(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.
