Sunday, July 23, 2017

Horoky Week’s Best; Nash Retakes Lead in HSGCHC

(July 23, 2017) –   Steve Horoky was the top handicapper for the weekend of July 21-22 in the Hambletonian Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge by earning 67 points, besting Anne Stepien by 5 points with her 62 points.  Rusty Nash finished third for the week with 50 which allowed him to retake the overall lead by the largest margin of the season. 

Horoky owes his victory thanks to a trio of winners (Seven Iron, $6; Grand Teton, $6.20; Kissin In The Sand $3.20) and a couple of second place finishes in the Kindergarten Classic series at the Meadowlands Friday evening which gave him first place for the evening with an $18.00 net profit.  Also with three winners were Nash who finished second with a profit of $11.60 while Russ Adams landed in third with his $8.00 profit.

Saturday evening, the Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace from Saratoga Raceway was the sole race on the card and the victory of Bit Of Legend N ($32.20) was a surprise to all but handicapper Anne Stepien who took down the longshot for first place honors for the night.  A quintet of handicappers dead-heated for second as Boston Red Socks took show honors to salvage the card for them. 

Nash’s overall performance the weekend places him in first with 591.95 points, approximately 40 points ahead of Matt Rose’s 552,13 pts.  Megan Maccario remains in third place with 525.48 points while Russ Adams completes the superfecta with 499.12. 


Standings as of Saturday, July 22, 2017 - Leg #32
Pos
Handicapper
Total Points Earned
Legs Won
Last Week
Streak
1st
Rusty Nash
591.95
6
2nd
1
2nd
Matt Rose
552.13
6
1st
3rd
Megan Maccario
525.48
5
3rd

4th
Russ Adams
499.12
5
4th

5th
Gordon Waterstone
469.75
5
5th
6th
Sally Hinckley
452.98
5
6th
7th
Ray Garnett
436.86
3
7th
8th
Dennis O’Hara
435.68
5
8th
9th
Steve Horoky
402.41
2
9th
10th
Anne Stepien
356.15
4
12th
11th
Jay Hochstetler
322.75
3
10th
12th
Terry Wilson
319.47
3
11th
13th
Michael Carter
298.03
3
13th
14th
Bryan Owen
270.23
2
14th
15th
Adam Friedland
262.80
1
15th
16th
Ray Cotolo
196.33
1
16th




Next Up:  The Handicapping Challenge heads to Western Pennsylvania with Friday’s slate of Arden Downs races for 2yo trotters.  In addition, the Grand Circuit Challenge visits Plainridge Park for their inaugural Spirit of Massachusetts for Open Trotters.  Saturday afternoon, the series returns to the Meadows for the Adios and Adioo Volo for 3yo trotters plus the Arden Downs for 2yo pacers while the Meadowlands takes center stage in the evening, hosting the Reynolds for 3yo trotters plus the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations.  The following week, the Meadowlands Hambletonian Day card takes center stage.


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.