Sunday, July 16, 2017

Rose on Top in ‘Cap Contest

(July 16, 2017) –   Meadowlands Pace Weekend brought fourteen tilts for consideration by the Hambletonian Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge handicappers and when the dust settled, Matt Rose took top honors for the week earning 92 points which allowed him to retake the overall lead with a grand total of 543.13 points, 1.18 points ahead of second place Rusty Nash (541.95 pts.). 

On Friday night’s (July 14) Meadowlands card, Rose swept the evening’s slate of four races, earning a net profit of $10.10 in the fave fest.  Anne Stepien, with only two winners, came in second with a net profit of $7.20 besting a quadruplet of handicappers with three winners each.

Meadowlands Pace night (July 15) was another night favoring favorites which brought us Steve Horoky and Rusty Nash who each had a 70% strike rate with seven winners but it was Terry Wilson with five winners who took the leg with a net profit of $40.10 by selecting the lone longshot of the evening  Mach It So ($34.60) to win the William Haughton Memorial.  Finishing second for the night, also tabbing the longshot was Megan Maccario with $38.20 net.



Standings as of Saturday, July 15, 2017 - Leg #30
Pos
Handicapper
Total Points Earned
Legs Won
Last Week
Streak
1st
Matt Rose
543.13
6
2nd
1
2nd
Rusty Nash
541.95
6
1st
3rd
Megan Maccario
510.48
5
3rd

4th
Russ Adams
470.12
5
4th

5th
Gordon Waterstone
452.75
5
5th
6th
Sally Hinckley
430.98
5
6th
7th
Ray Garnett
419.86
3
7th
8th
Dennis O’Hara
418.68
5
8th
9th
Steve Horoky
335.41
2
10th
10th
Jay Hochstetler
318.75
3
9th
11th
Terry Wilson
297.47
3
15th
12th
Anne Stepien
294.15
3
13th
13th
Michael Carter
294.03
3
11th
14th
Bryan Owen
266.23
2
12th
15th
Adam Friedland
253.80
1
14th
16th
Ray Cotolo
192.33
1
16th


Next Up:  Juveniles of both gaits and sexes take to the Meadowlands for another leg of the Kindergarten Classic on Friday, July 21.  Saturday evening features the Joe Gerrity Memorial at Saratoga Harness.  The following weekend features the Arden Downs and the inaugural Spirit of Massachusetts at The Meadows and Plainridge Park on Friday while Saturday brings us the Adios Day card at The Meadows as the Meadowlands hosts the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations in addition to the Reynolds for three-year-old trotters.

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