(May 9, 2017) – With
three legs and eight races contested in the Grand Circuit Handicapping
Challenge this past week, the possibility of the standings being shuffled
existed and it turned out to be the case.
Once the dust settled Russ Adams moved up two places to claim the lead
with a total of 328.12 points versus Rusty Nash’s 315. Last week’s leader Matt Rose fell back to
third with a total of 267.63 points.
The key to this past
week was Saturday’s (May 6) races at Freehold Raceway and the Meadowlands. Favorites ruled the day and Adams and Terry
Wilson jumped on the bandwagon, both tabbing five out of six winners. While each had five winners, Adams’
selections paid $1.50 more than Wilson’s which allowed him to claim the lead.
With the overwhelming
majority of handicappers selecting Hannelore Hanover in the Miami Valley
Distaff Trot on Sunday (May 7), none of the handicappers selected the winner
Charmed Life. The best the handicappers
could do is pick up the crumbs with Hannelore’s second-place finish which meant
having to settle for a net loss of $1.70
Monday (May 8) afternoon was the opposite of Sunday’s outcome as Lady
Shadow ($3.40) didn’t disappoint in the Chip Noble Memorial Pace. While seven handicappers had the winner, it
was Rusty Nash, the lone handicapper who selected second place Divas Image whose
($16.40, $7.80) dividends easily topped the favorite’s payoffs allowing him to
finish in front for the day
Standings as of Monday, May 8, 2017 - Leg #15
Pos
Handicapper
Total Points Earned
Legs Won
Overall Net Profit
1st
Russ Adams
328.12
4
4.00
2nd
Rusty Nash
315.00
4
60.00
3rd
Matt Rose
267.63
3
7.80
4th
Gordon Waterstone
204.36
2
(54.60)
5th
Bryan Owen
181.23
2
(39.90)
6th
Ray Garnett
172.36
2
(25.70)
7th
Megan Maccario
171.98
2
(68.00)
8th
Steve Horoky
167.52
1
(61.90)
9th
Michael Carter
166.36
2
(69.90)
10th
Dennis O’Hara
156.12
2
(70.20)
11th
Jay Hochstetler
145.36
1
(34.80)
12th
Terry Wilson
136.36
1
(85.50)
13th
Adam Friedland
119.91
0
(35.20)
14th
Anne Stepien
108.09
1
(96.90)
15th
Sally Hinckley
106.59
1
(96.60)
16th
Ray Cotolo
86.00
0
(31.90)
Next Up: Monday was the lone race for the week so with
no contest races this weekend, the focus is on May 20 when the Graduate series
kicks off at the Meadowlands. The
following week features the Ms. Versatility (Mohawk, May 22); Molson Pace
(Western Fair District, May 26); Lismore and Art Rooney (Yonkers, May 27);
Betsy Ross and Maxie Lee Memorial (Harrah’s Philadelphia, May 28).
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.
Standings as of Monday, May 8, 2017 - Leg #15
|
||||
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Overall Net Profit
|
1st
|
Russ Adams
|
328.12
|
4
|
4.00
|
2nd
|
Rusty Nash
|
315.00
|
4
|
60.00
|
3rd
|
Matt Rose
|
267.63
|
3
|
7.80
|
4th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
204.36
|
2
|
(54.60)
|
5th
|
Bryan Owen
|
181.23
|
2
|
(39.90)
|
6th
|
Ray Garnett
|
172.36
|
2
|
(25.70)
|
7th
|
Megan Maccario
|
171.98
|
2
|
(68.00)
|
8th
|
Steve Horoky
|
167.52
|
1
|
(61.90)
|
9th
|
Michael Carter
|
166.36
|
2
|
(69.90)
|
10th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
156.12
|
2
|
(70.20)
|
11th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
145.36
|
1
|
(34.80)
|
12th
|
Terry Wilson
|
136.36
|
1
|
(85.50)
|
13th
|
Adam Friedland
|
119.91
|
0
|
(35.20)
|
14th
|
Anne Stepien
|
108.09
|
1
|
(96.90)
|
15th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
106.59
|
1
|
(96.60)
|
16th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
86.00
|
0
|
(31.90)
|
