Friedland Weekly Top Dog in Handicapping Challenge

(July 10, 2016) – While the leader board shows Jay Hochstetler the overall leader in the 2016 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs with 1,093.33 points, honors for the week belong to Adam Friedland whose 63.88 points was 10.33 ahead of second place finisher Michael Carter (53.55 points).  Bryan Owen took the show position with his 44.38 points for the week’s efforts.

Honorable mention goes to Rusty Nash and Matt Rose for earning 18.75 points by selecting both winners in the Tompkins-Geers stakes at Tioga Downs on Monday.

While Friedland had only two winners, All The Time ($2.10) and Wiggle It Jiggleit ($3.00), he managed to earn 41 of his 57.88 points for the evening thanks to his selection of Centurion ATM in the Graduate Trot Final who finished second and paid $24.80 to place and $16.20 for show.  Carter, earned all his points on Saturday night, adding Graduate Trot winner Musical Rhythm ($12.20) to Friedland’s two winners to score the hat-trick and 53.55 points.    

Here are the standings after the week’s racing:

July 9, 2016 - Leg #29
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	1,070.45	22.88	1,093.33	1st	-
2nd	Russ Adams	661.33	34.90	696.23	2nd	397.10
3rd	0Rusty Nash	617.68	35.63	653.30	4th	440.03
4th	Adam Friedland	575.83	63.88	639.70	6th	453.63
5th	Mark Deutsch	632.55	4.60	637.15	3rd	456.18
6th	Gordon Waterstone	600.18	27.28	627.45	5th	465.88
7th	Dennis O'Hara	572.55	27.98	600.53	7th	492.80
8th	Matt Rose	516.73	38.95	555.68	9th	537.65
9th	Anne Stepien	539.70	15.60	555.30	8th	538.03
10th	Bryan Owen	478.55	44.38	522.93	11th	570.40
11th	Ray Cotolo	480.88	0.00	480.88	10th	612.45
12th	Sally Hinckley	431.95	27.98	459.93	12th	633.40
13th	Michael Carter	387.33	53.55	440.88	14th	652.45
14th	Ray Garnett	399.33	18.100	417.43	13th	675.90
15th	Joe Bengston	356.30	20.00	376.30	15th	717.03

While there is only one contest date this week, Saturday, is a big one eight contest races.  The Meadowlands Pace, Hambletonian Maturity, Mistletoe Shalee, Delvin Miller Memorial, William R Haughton Memorial, Golden Girls, and Ms. Versatility will be contested at the Meadowlands while Yonkers Raceway hosts the Lawrence B. Sheppard.

For further information regarding the handicapping challenge, visit HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com, where you will find the handicappers’ selections and results, updated standings, as well a schedule of upcoming contest races.

Hochstetler Explodes in Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge

(July 3, 2016) – In an amazing display of handicapping prowess, Jay Hochstetler has opened up an over 400-point lead in the 2016 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs.  Hochstetler earned 405.15 points for a grand total of 1,070.45.  The nearest competitor is Russ Adams with 661.33 points with Mark Deutsch taking the show position with 632.55 points.

Hochstetler’s incredible weekend started Friday evening, selecting the winner of 4 out of 6 races topped with Dominion Beach ($80.00) in the Tompkins-Geers for 3yo trotting colts and geldings, earning him 172.03 of his 207.6 points for the evening.  Adam Friedland also tabbed 4 winners, alas minus Dominion Beach, earning 61.98 points.

Although lacking price, Hochstetler made up for it with volume as he nailed down 6 of the 8 contest races on Saturday.  Topping the list was Earl Beal Memorial Jr. Consolation winner Milligan’s School ($21.80) which gave the contest leader 81.9 of his 197.55 points for the evening.  With the exception of the Beal Final and the Cleveland Trotting Classic, he won all the consolations and finals, namely Call Me Queen Be ($3.40), the aforementioned Milligan’s School, Luck Be Withyou ($6.60), Pure Country ($4.80), Racing Hill ($3.20), and Always B Miki ($5.20).  Also with 6 winners on the card was Gordon Waterstone, earning 94.35 points for his evening’s work.

Here are the standings after this weekend’s racing action:

July 2, 2016 - Leg #27
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	665.30	405.15	1,070.45	1st	-
2nd	Russ Adams	599.63	61.70	661.33	2nd	409.13
3rd	Mark Deutsch	514.25	118.30	632.55	3rd	437.90
4th	Rusty Nash	507.03	110.65	617.68	4th	452.78
5th	Gordon Waterstone	467.98	132.20	600.18	7th	470.28
6th	Adam Friedland	466.90	108.93	575.83	8th	494.63
7th	Dennis O'Hara	500.05	72.50	572.55	5th	497.90
8th	Anne Stepien	474.23	65.48	539.70	6th	530.75
9th	Matt Rose	444.83	71.90	516.73	9th	553.73
10th	Ray Cotolo	411.18	69.70	480.88	10th	589.58
11th	Bryan Owen	401.10	77.45	478.55	11th	591.90
12th	Sally Hinckley	355.10	76.85	431.95	13th	638.50
13th	Ray Garnett	370.73	28.60	399.33	12th	671.13
14th	Michael Carter	326.58	60.75	387.33	15th	683.13
15th	Joe Bengston	336.30	20.00	356.30	14th	714.15

With more than half of the races remaining, there is plenty of contest remaining so all positions including the top spot remain up for grabs.  This week’s contest races will be contested on the 4^th of the July with Tioga Downs hosting the Tompkins-Geers for three-year-old pacers of both sexes and on Saturday, July 9 at the Meadowlands where the Reynolds for 3yo Filly Trotters will be contested along with the finals of the Graduate Series for 4yo open pacers and trotters.

For further information regarding the handicapping challenge, visit HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com, where you will find the handicappers’ selections and results, updated standings, as well a schedule of upcoming contest races.