(July 30, 2017) – With the Hambletonian extravaganza next week,
HANA Harness handicappers were tuning up with seventeen Grand Circuit races at
The Meadows, Plainridge Park, and Meadowlands over a period of two days
(7/28-29). When the final races were
concluded, Megan Maccario earned weekly honors with a total of 92 points,
besting Steve Horoky and Anne Stepien who dead-heated for second with a tally
of 87 points. Maccario’s effort was good
enough to move into second place, on the heels of overall leader Rusty Nash.
Michael Carter, Sally
Hinckley, Stepien and Horoky led the pack on Friday with the quartet each winning
five of six divisions of the Arden Downs at The Meadows (no one tabbed JL Cruz
in the Spirit of Massachusetts), but Stepien bested Horoky by $1.20 to grab the
win picture. Ray Garnett only had two
winners but with his placing dividends, managed to split the quartet to take
show honors. Hinckley landed in fourth
place while Carter completed the Pentafeca.
Despite finishing out
of the money on Friday with three winners, Maccario managed to finish strongly
on Saturday, taking down five winners including Cult Iron ($38) in the second
division of the Mary Lib Miller Arden Downs Pace, allowing her to out-earn
Garnett and Horoky who also had five winning selections thanks to her $40.90
net profit. Garnett’s $22.90 was good
enough for second place for the day while Horoky’s $12.70 allowed him to settle
for third.
Heading into the
Hambletonian leg, Rusty Nash maintains his overall lead for the second straight
week with a total of 620.95 points.
Maccario is right behind with 617.48 points while Matt Rose dropped to
third with 581.13 points.
|
Standings as of
Saturday, July 29, 2017 - Leg #34
|
|||||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Last Week
|
Streak
|
|
1st
|
Rusty Nash
|
620.95
|
6
|
1st
|
2
|
|
2nd
|
Megan Maccario
|
617.48
|
6
|
3rd
|
|
|
3rd
|
Matt Rose
|
581.13
|
6
|
2nd
|
|
|
4th
|
Russ Adams
|
534.12
|
5
|
4th
|
|
|
5th
|
Ray Garnett
|
508.86
|
3
|
7th
|
|
|
6th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
506.75
|
5
|
5th
|
|
|
7th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
492.98
|
5
|
6th
|
|
|
8th
|
Steve Horoky
|
489.41
|
3
|
9th
|
|
|
9th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
477.68
|
5
|
8th
|
|
|
10th
|
Anne Stepien
|
443.15
|
5
|
10th
|
|
|
11th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
346.75
|
3
|
11th
|
|
|
12th
|
Terry Wilson
|
338.47
|
3
|
12th
|
|
|
13th
|
Michael Carter
|
337.03
|
3
|
13th
|
|
|
14th
|
Bryan Owen
|
299.23
|
2
|
14th
|
|
|
15th
|
Adam Friedland
|
279.80
|
1
|
15th
|
|
|
16th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
225.33
|
1
|
16th
|
|
Next Up: Hambletonian Week Is upon us, meaning the
handicappers will be challenged with at least ten races, barring splits. Among those races are the Peter Haughton
Memorial, Fresh Yankee, Jim Doherty Memorial, John Cashman Memorial, Shady
Daisy, Cane Pace, Lady Liberty, U S Pacing Championship, Hambletonian Oaks Final
and of course, the Hambletonian; all contested at the Meadowlands.
Action starts quickly the following week with a couple of
special races contested on Monday, August 7 at Century Downs (Alberta, CA); The
Lady Luck (3yoFP) and Ralph Klein Memorial (3yoCGP). On Friday, August 11, Hoosier Park hosts the
Dan Patch with Saturday having Northfield
Park’s Carl Milstein Memorial on the marquee.
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.
