(October
31, 2016) – Breeders Crown 2016 has come
and gone and by the time the dust had settled Anne Stepien came out on top with
276.63 points for the weekend 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. Further back in second was Gordon Waterstone
with 193.3 points while show honors went to Rusty Nash with 148.55 points, just
edging out Sally Hinckley by 2.17 points.
The top two handicappers on
Friday’s (10/28) card at the Meadowlands were Dennis O’Hara and Gordon
Waterstone, both with four out of the six races (Kindergarten Classic races
were played both evenings as well); O’Hara earning 76.8 points with Waterstone
tallying 65.8 points.
Out of the ten races on
Saturday (10/29), Anne Stepien tabbed six winners, including Someonesomewhere
($36) in the Breeders Crown 2yo filly pacing final on her way to a 233.33 point
tally. Waterstone also earned six
winners for the card, minus a long shot which resulted in him earning ‘only’ 127.5
points, while Rusty Nash also had a six-pack of winners earning him 121.05 points.
With regards to the
second-half award, it is still a horse race with Matt Rose (1,756.48 points)
leading Jay Hochstetler (1,679.18) by 77.3 points. Sally Hinckley (1,592.08) still has the
opportunity to grab the $250 bonus for her rescue as she is only 87.1 points
further behind.
For the overall season championship,
for all practical purposes the contest appears to be a walk-over with Hochstetler
(3,468.28) being 609.75 points ahead of second place Rose (2,858.53). Starting with the place position, there is
still an active contest as sitting in third is Hinckley (2,761.95), less than
100 points behind Rose. As for fourth
place handicapper Waterstone (2,580.73), it will take a huge effort to get into
a cashing position as he is roughly 180 points further behind.
This week’s racing action
begins Thursday at Dover Downs with the Matron Stakes. Action continues Friday evening with a slate
of stakes races at Hoosier Park and the weekend concludes on Meadowlands with
the finals of the Kindergarten Classic being contested at the Meadowlands.
Racing
fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other
contest-related information such as the complete standings from HANA Harness’
contest website http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.
2nd Half and Overall Standings
|
|||||||
Position
|
Handicapper
|
Points This Week
|
Total Points
|
Points Back
|
Overall Position
|
Overall Points
|
Overall Points Back
|
1st
|
Matt Rose
|
124.90
|
1,756.48
|
0.00
|
2nd
|
2858.53
|
609.75
|
2nd
|
Jay Hochstetler (FHW)
|
60.65
|
1,679.18
|
77.30
|
1st
|
3468.28
|
0.00
|
3rd
|
Sally Hinckley
|
146.38
|
1,592.08
|
164.40
|
3rd
|
2761.95
|
706.33
|
4th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
193.30
|
1,412.25
|
344.23
|
6th
|
2580.73
|
887.55
|
5th
|
Ray Garnett
|
84.25
|
1,367.53
|
388.95
|
12th
|
2156.30
|
1,311.98
|
6th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
130.75
|
1,361.38
|
395.10
|
7th
|
2538.28
|
930.00
|
7th
|
Anne Stepien
|
276.63
|
1,339.03
|
417.45
|
10th
|
2275.53
|
1,192.75
|
8th
|
Adam Friedland
|
92.83
|
1,338.45
|
418.03
|
5th
|
2584.60
|
883.68
|
9th
|
Russ Adams
|
121.00
|
1,326.70
|
429.78
|
8th
|
2507.63
|
960.65
|
10th
|
Rusty Nash
|
148.55
|
1,304.68
|
451.80
|
4th
|
2600.83
|
867.45
|
11th
|
Michael Carter
|
77.93
|
1,222.73
|
533.75
|
9th
|
2315.28
|
1,153.00
|
12th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
42.20
|
1,203.88
|
552.60
|
11th
|
2182.08
|
1,286.20
|
13th
|
Bryan Owen
|
53.45
|
1,145.20
|
611.28
|
13th
|
2122.48
|
1,345.80
|
14th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
31.20
|
1,056.75
|
699.73
|
14th
|
1852.28
|
1,616.00
|
15th
|
Joe Bengston
|
25.40
|
744.38
|
1012.10
|
15th
|
1659.73
|
1,808.55
|
