Hochstetler Juggernaut Roles on in Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge

(July 25, 2016) – Another week, another impressive performance by Jay Hochstetler 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, as Hochstetler padded his overall lead with 310.23 points, good for a seasonal total of 1,481.45.  With the weekend’s action concluded, this leaves Hochstetler 511.13 points ahead of his nearest competitor, Russ Adams who sits in second place with a total of 970.33 points.

While Hochstetler topped the field for weekly honors, second place honors for the weekend goes to Joe Bengston whose 248.75 points moved him from last to 12^th place.  Show honors belong to Russ Adams with 126.25, nosing out Anne Stepien’s 121.2.

The tone for the weekend was set Friday evening (July 22) when Bengston and Hochstetler both tabbed Kindergarten Winner Muscles Jared ($80.40).  While Hochstetler had three winners on the evening’s program to Bengtson’s two, the latter added Sunshine Delight ($25.60) to his winning tally allowing him to win the evening 208.05 to 205.05.   Continuing his hot streak, Hochstetler was a perfect four for four Saturday (7/23) evening allowing him to add another 72.8 to his tally while Adams responded Sunday night (7/24) nailing three of six at Vernon Downs, including Zweig Filly Stake Champion Flower N Songs ($18.40), adding another 87.75 points to his total.

At the conclusion of the weekend’s racing action, here are the standings:

July 24, 2016 - Leg #33
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	1,171.23	310.23	1,481.45	1st	-
2nd	Russ Adams	844.08	126.25	970.33	2nd	511.13
3rd	Rusty Nash	769.40	80.65	850.05	3rd	631.40
4th	Adam Friedland	722.30	61.88	784.18	5th	697.28
5th	Mark Deutsch	725.35	58.60	783.95	4th	697.50
6th	Gordon Waterstone	701.90	68.23	770.13	6th	711.33
7th	Dennis O'Hara	664.20	78.55	742.75	7th	738.70
8th	Michael Carter	637.60	95.50	733.10	8th	748.35
9th	Anne Stepien	602.40	121.20	723.60	11th	757.85
10th	Bryan Owen	613.73	83.13	696.85	9th	784.60
11th	Matt Rose	606.63	61.90	668.53	10th	812.93
12th	Joe Bengston	412.90	248.75	661.65	15th	819.80
13th	Sally Hinckley	554.03	78.75	632.78	12th	848.68
14th	Ray Cotolo	506.28	50.53	556.80	13th	924.65
15th	Ray Garnett	469.38	68.60	537.98	14th	943.48

As the mid-way point of the contest approaches on August 14, it looks like Hochstetler will easily be the first half champion, earning his rescue a $250 award.

Contest action resumes Friday (7/29) and Saturday (7/30) with Adios weekend at The Meadows with multiple tilts of the Arden Downs plus the Adioo Volo and The Adios in addition to Reynolds action for 3yo colt and gelding trotters at the Meadowlands.  The contest then moves on to August 6 for the Hambletonian Day card at the Meadowlands.

Racing fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other contest-related information from HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.

Carter Comes out on top in Handicapping Challenge

(July 17, 2016) – With eleven races on the contest slate Saturday night (July 16) 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, the opportunity for leader Jay Hochstetler to open up more day light on the rest of the field existed, but it was Michael Carter who came out on top with 196.73 points to jump from 13^th to 8^th place.  In addition, Russ Adams (147.85 points) and Rusty Nash (116.10), who were second and third for the week respectively, managed to close the gap a bit on Hochstetler whose lead has been cut to 327.15 points.

On a night where primarily first or second choices were race winners, Carter managed to nail eight of the eleven winners on the evenings card, missing out only on the Hambletonian Maturity, the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace, and the Lawrence B. Sheppard.  Adams and Nash both ended up winning six of the evening’s tilts.

Here are the standings after Saturday’s racing:

July 16, 2016 - Leg #30
Pos	Handicapper	Total Points Prior Week	Points Earned This Week	Overall Total Points	Position Last Week	Points Back
1st	Jay Hochstetler	1,093.33	77.90	1,171.23	1st	-
2nd	Russ Adams	696.23	147.85	844.08	2nd	327.15
3rd	Rusty Nash	653.30	116.10	769.40	3rd	401.83
4th	Mark Deutsch	637.15	88.20	725.35	5th	445.88
5th	Adam Friedland	639.70	82.60	722.30	4th	448.93
6th	Gordon Waterstone	627.45	44.90	672.35	6th	498.88
7th	Dennis O'Hara	600.53	63.68	664.20	7th	507.03
8th	Michael Carter	440.88	196.73	637.60	13th	533.63
9th	Bryan Owen	522.93	90.80	613.73	10th	557.50
10th	Matt Rose	555.68	50.95	606.63	8th	564.60
11th	Anne Stepien	555.30	47.10	602.40	9th	568.83
12th	Sally Hinckley	459.93	94.10	554.03	12th	617.20
13th	Ray Cotolo	480.88	25.40	506.28	11th	664.95
14th	Ray Garnett	417.43	51.95	469.38	14th	701.85
15th	Joe Bengston	376.30	36.60	412.90	15th	758.33

With the contest less than half way through the series, there is plenty of time for movement in the standings so no can be ruled out of the running.

The Challenge continues with a weekend full of racing.  Friday night has first leg of the Kindergarten series for two year old trotters of both sexes at the Meadowlands while Saturday evening has the Kindergarten races for two year old pacers in East Rutherford plus Saratoga’s Joe Gerrity Memorial for Open class pacers.  The weekend concludes Sunday with the Zweig Memorials for three year old fillies and three year old 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.