(April 23, 2017) – With
the Matchmaker and Levy Series in the books, the 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand
Circuit Handicapping Challenge heads into the first by-week with Matt Rose maintaining
a slight lead over Rusty Nash with a score of 251.63 vs. 246.00. Both handicappers have three leg victories
each, accounting for six of the twelve legs contested thus far. While Rose
leads in total points, Nash reverses the standings with regards to net profit,
$51.40 vs. $32.40.
For this past week, a
quadruple dead-heat for the Friday (4/21) leg occurred as Russ Adams, Steve
Horoky, Megan Maccario, and Dennis O’Hara each successfully picked Da Magician
($4.50) as the winner of Fraser Down’s Kenny Linton Memorial, a bonus race on
the calendar. On Saturday (4/22),
Michael Carter was the sole leg winner as he tabbed three of the five winners
on the contest card; Hidden Land ($9.50) in the Blue Chip Matchmaker
Consolation; Clear Vision ($8.40) in the George Morton Levy Memorial
Consolation; Yoga Pants ($2.30) in the Penny Bath Memorial (from Fraser Downs,
another bonus race).
Standings as of Saturday, April 22, 2017 - Leg #12
|
||||
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Overall Net Profit
|
1st
|
Matt Rose
|
251.63
|
3
|
32.40
|
2nd
|
Rusty Nash
|
246.00
|
3
|
51.40
|
3rd
|
Russ Adams
|
231.89
|
2
|
(8.20)
|
4th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
163.13
|
1
|
(52.30)
|
5th
|
Ray Garnett
|
149.27
|
1
|
0.60
|
6th
|
Megan Maccario
|
148.89
|
1
|
(49.80)
|
7th
|
Steve Horoky
|
146.38
|
1
|
(37.30)
|
8th
|
Michael Carter
|
143.27
|
1
|
(54.20)
|
9th
|
Bryan Owen
|
143.14
|
1
|
(37.70)
|
10th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
122.89
|
1
|
(56.80)
|
11th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
106.13
|
0
|
(34.70)
|
12th
|
Adam Friedland
|
88.77
|
0
|
(25.60)
|
13th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
82.00
|
0
|
(0.50)
|
14th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
80.50
|
0
|
(85.60)
|
15th
|
Anne Stepien
|
80.00
|
0
|
(83.30)
|
16th
|
Terry Wilson
|
65.13
|
0
|
(96.20)
|
Next Up: Six straight weeks of racing at Yonkers
Raceway earns the handicappers a well-deserved week off before the Grand
Circuit becomes the traveling road show it has always been known for. The contest resumes with a three-day stand
(May 6-8) with Saturday action from Freehold Raceway with the kick-off of the
Road to the Hambletonian as the finals of the Lady Suffolk (3yo filly trot) and
Dexter Cup (3yo open trot) are contested.
Contest action continues in the evening at the Meadowlands with the AJ
Cutler Memorial (Open trot) and the first leg of the Graduate series (4yo open
pace) on the docket. Sunday and Monday
has the Miami Valley Distaffs scheduled with Sunday featuring 4yo and older mare
trotters; Monday the 4yo and older mare pacers.
Following these races, there will be a final by-week after which there
is contest action every week until the contest’s conclusion.
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.
