(June 18, 2017) – While
Dennis O’Hara gets to claim a moral victory by selecting four of the six stake
winners on Saturday’s (June 17) Pepsi North America Cup card at Mohawk
Racetrack, it was only good enough for second place as Ray Garnett managed to take
top honors in this leg of the Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping
Challenge by selecting Bettors Up ($24.40) in the Fan Hanover. In the overall contest, Matt Rose (415.1
points) maintains his lead over Rusty Nash (414.3 pts.) by a mere 0.8 points.
In addition to Bettors
Up, Garnett’s performance was aided with his selection of Macs Jackpot who
finished second in the North America Cup consolation as it returned a combined $17.90
for place and show. His other winners
Saturday were Hannelore Hanover ($2.40) in the Armbro Flight and Lady Shadow ($3,60)
in the Roses Are Red. With his win,
Garnett moves up from eighth to sixth place.
In the overall net
profit competition, Rusty Nash leads Ray Garnett by $12.90. Matt Rose trails in third, back an additional
$17.50.
.
Standings as of Saturday,
June 17, 2017 - Leg #24
|
|||||
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Last Leg
|
Streak
|
1st
|
Matt Rose
|
415.1
|
5
|
1st
|
3
|
2nd
|
Rusty Nash
|
414.3
|
5
|
2nd
|
|
3rd
|
Russ Adams
|
365.1
|
5
|
3rd
|
|
4th
|
Megan Maccario
|
354.5
|
4
|
4th
|
|
5th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
332.0
|
4
|
5th
|
|
6th
|
Ray Garnett
|
329.9
|
3
|
8th
|
|
7th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
313.1
|
3
|
6th
|
|
8th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
281.3
|
3
|
7th
|
|
9th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
277.8
|
3
|
9th
|
|
10th
|
Steve Horoky
|
230.4
|
2
|
10th
|
|
11th
|
Bryan Owen
|
219.2
|
2
|
11th
|
|
12th
|
Michael Carter
|
209.4
|
2
|
12th
|
|
13th
|
Terry Wilson
|
194.5
|
2
|
14th
|
|
14th
|
Adam Friedland
|
176.8
|
1
|
13th
|
|
15th
|
Anne Stepien
|
161.5
|
2
|
16th
|
|
16th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
157.3
|
1
|
16th
|
Next Up: A week off for the handicappers before the
challenge resumes on July 1 with Sun Stakes Saturday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono
Downs and the Cleveland Trot Classic at Northfield Park. The following weekend
features the contest’s first appearance of two year olds in the Kindergarten
Series (Friday) plus the Graduate Series (Saturday) at the Meadowlands, and
concludes with the non-Grand Circuit Governors Cup at Summerside Raceway.
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.