Prize Fund
Now Stands at Record $8,000
(March 19, 2017) – The
opening two legs of the 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping
Challenge are in the books with Matt Rose and Rusty Nash sprinting to the early
lead, each winning a leg. However, with more
winners for the weekend, Rose takes a 76.5-67point lead over Nash as the total
prize pool reaches a record $8,000 thanks to the added Gold Sponsorship of WEG
Entertainment and the Silver Sponsorship of Aquaflow, LLC.
While the Levy tends to
be the home of favorites, several of handicappers were undeterred in going
against the anticipated chalk and they were successful. Hitting 2nd division winner Long
Live Rock ($38.60) were Ray Cotolo, Ray Garnett, and Nash. Taking down 4th division winner Soto
($14.00) were Cotolo, Adam Friedland, Jay Hochstetler, Steve Horoky, Nash,
Bryan Owen, and Rose.
In the near-miss
category, Rose just missed a big price in the 3rd division of the
Matchmaker on Friday evening when Hidden Land was bested by Regil Elektra in a
photo. While denied the winning mutual,
Rose picked up the place and show mutuels of $15 and $13 respectively, helping
his net profit in the early going. In
the net-profit competition, Nash ($58.90) leads Cotolo ($42.40) and Rose
($35.40).
Standings as of March 27, 2017 - Leg #4
|
||||
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Overall Net Profit
|
1st
|
Matt Rose
|
76.5
|
1
|
35.40
|
2nd
|
Rusty Nash
|
67.0
|
1
|
58.90
|
3rd
|
Ray Cotolo
|
37.0
|
0
|
42.40
|
4th
|
Steve Horoky
|
35.5
|
0
|
8.70
|
5th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
35.5
|
0
|
(1.20)
|
6th
|
Adam Friedland
|
28.5
|
0
|
12.40
|
7th
|
Bryan Owen
|
24.0
|
0
|
2.20
|
8th
|
Ray Garnett
|
19.0
|
0
|
18.20
|
9th
|
Jay Hochstetler-
|
19.0
|
0
|
9.80
|
10th
|
Michael Carter
|
19.0
|
0
|
(4.80)
|
11th
|
Russ Adams
|
17.0
|
0
|
(14.00)
|
12th
|
Megan Maccario
|
15.0
|
0
|
(6.00)
|
13th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
9.0
|
0
|
(8.00)
|
14th
|
Anne Stepien
|
9.0
|
0
|
(19.40)
|
15th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
9.0
|
0
|
(29.10)
|
16th
|
Terry Wilson
|
9.0
|
0
|
(34.40)
|
Next Up: The Challenge returns to Yonkers Raceway on
Friday, March 24 for the second leg of the Matchmaker series while Saturday
(5/25) is the second leg of the Levy Memorial.
The 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit
Handicapping Challenge is sponsored
by Adam Friedland, DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The
Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and
Entertainment, Northfield Park, Ontario Harness Horse Association, Red Shores
Charlottetown/Summerside, Tioga Downs, Vernon Downs, Wellbourne Farms, and WEG
Entertainment. The contest is
administered by HANA Harness, the harness racing division of HANA, the
Horseplayers Association of North America.
Fans may follow the challenge by visiting the contest site at http;//hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.
