(August
7, 2016) – With eleven contest races on
the Hambletonian Day card 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 HANA Harness Handicappers made their best
picks with hopes of making a bold move forward.
When the dust settled, DRF Harness’ Matt Rose came out on top with 147.4
points for the week on a card where favorites were prominent, moving from 10th
to 8th place and besting Sally Hinckley’s 113.2 weekly total. Nosing out others for third was Gordon
Waterstone with 96.4 points.
Seven handicappers, Hinckley,
Jay Hochstetler, Rust Nash, Dennis O’Hara, Rose, Anne Stepien, and Waterstone all
had five winners for the day but Rose muscled past them thanks to the selection
of What The Hill ($18.60) in the Peter Haughton Memorial. Other winners which Rose tabbed were
Hannelore Hanover ($2.20), Ariana G ($3.20), Resolve ($4.40), and Bar Hopping
($3.00). In addition to the five
winners, four of his other selections managed to finish second; striking out in
only two of the eleven races.
As for the overall contest, Hochstetler
remains comfortably in front with a total of 1,726.93 points, leading the rest
of the field by over 550 points. Despite
this lead, other handicappers, while acknowledging the first half prize is apparently
Hochstetler’s, are not conceding the contest to Hochstetler.
This week the handicappers have
the entire weekend to contest starting on Friday evening with the Dan Patch
Invitational at Hoosier Park and the Tompkins-Geers for 2yo pacers at Tioga
Downs. Saturday’s stakes are the Carl
Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park and the Moni Maker at The Meadows. Sunday will have the contest return to Tioga
Downs for the fourth leg of the Ms. Versatility for distaff trotters.
|
Standings as of August 6,
2016 - Leg #36
|
||||||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points
Prior Week |
Points Earned
This Week |
Overall
Total Points |
Position
Last Week |
Points
Back |
|
1st
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
1,636.53
|
90.40
|
1,726.93
|
1st
|
-
|
|
2nd
|
Adam Friedland
|
1,096.80
|
77.10
|
1,173.90
|
2nd
|
553.03
|
|
3rd
|
Rusty Nash
|
1,053.45
|
93.20
|
1,146.65
|
4th
|
580.28
|
|
4th
|
Russ Adams
|
1,061.60
|
67.30
|
1,128.90
|
3rd
|
598.03
|
|
5th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
951.43
|
113.20
|
1,064.63
|
6th
|
662.30
|
|
6th
|
Michael Carter
|
988.40
|
60.70
|
1,049.10
|
5th
|
677.83
|
|
7th
|
G. Waterstone
|
938.53
|
96.40
|
1,034.93
|
8th
|
692.00
|
|
8th
|
Matt Rose
|
882.25
|
147.40
|
1,029.65
|
10th
|
697.28
|
|
9th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
942.55
|
86.60
|
1,029.15
|
7th
|
697.78
|
|
10th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
897.00
|
30.00
|
927.00
|
9th
|
799.93
|
|
11th
|
Anne Stepien
|
780.80
|
95.80
|
876.60
|
13th
|
850.33
|
|
12th
|
Bryan Owen
|
815.85
|
59.38
|
875.23
|
11th
|
851.70
|
|
13th
|
Joe Bengston
|
787.28
|
59.38
|
846.65
|
12th
|
880.28
|
|
14th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
673.78
|
80.85
|
754.63
|
15th
|
972.30
|
|
15th
|
Ray Garnett
|
648.28
|
49.00
|
697.28
|
14th
|
1,029.65
|
Racing
fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other
contest-related information from HANA Harness’ contest website http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.
