by Rusty Nash for HANA Harness
October 26, 2015 – The results
are in for The Breeders Crown Championships for the 2015 HANA Harness Grand
Circuit Handicapping Challenge presented by the Bellino Stables, DRF Harness, Green
Acquisition Corporation, Hambletonian Society, Isle of Capri Pompano Park, Meadowlands
Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs.
With twelve championships
races on the docket there were two handicappers that soared above the rest of
the flock. We had three handicappers
with 7 wins each. The big question was which
7 races would determine our winner? Ray
Garnett took the honors by almost 100 HANA points bringing home a total of 620 for
the night. His key was Color’s A Virgin
in the 10th who returned $15 to win and a total of 182 HANA points
in that race. Second place went to Bryan
Owen who bagged the biggest win price of the evening when Boston Red Rocks
scored at $38 for a total of 330 HANA points.
The top five was rounded out by Bob Zanakis at 457 points, then two of
our regular top contenders Gordon Waterstone, 448 points and Ann Stepien at 446
points.
One of the things four of
our top five had in common was the selection of Wild Honey. When Mission Brief went off stride in the
lane the bridge jumpers donated $125,000 to the show pool for anyone who took a
contrarian position. Wild Honey returned
$5.20 to win, $2.90 to place and $9.40 to show for 17.50 point times their multipliers. That was a very nice bonus for beating an
odds-on favorite! None of our
handicappers had Im So Fancy at $150 or Speak To Me at $84 to show in the
contest.
There were a lot of
favorites winning on the evening keeping the overall points fairly low. Strategy came into play as many handicappers
took a few shots at some big prices. Ray
and Bryan were rewarded with top honors in correctly coming up with two of the
surprise winners.
Sally Hinckley retains her
overall lead by 266 points over Mark McKelvie.
With another good night at the office Anne Stepien moves into third
place in front of Dennis O’Hara. Gordon
Waterstone retains fifth place and increased his lead over the sixth spot by
several hundred points. Overall there
was a tightening in the standings as most of the field picked up points on the
leaders.
Standings
as of October 24, 2015 - Leg 54
|
||||||
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total
Points
Prior Week |
Points
Earned
This Week |
Overall
Total Points |
Position
Last Week |
Points
Back |
1st
|
Sally Hinckley
|
4,162.20
|
212.40
|
4,374.60
|
1st
|
-
|
2nd
|
Mark McKelvie
|
3,950.60
|
157.90
|
4,108.50
|
2nd
|
266.10
|
3rd
|
Anne Stepien
|
3,561.80
|
446.80
|
4,008.60
|
4th
|
366.00
|
4th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
3,682.70
|
285.10
|
3,967.80
|
3rd
|
406.80
|
5th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
3,425.00
|
448.40
|
3,873.40
|
5th
|
501.20
|
6th
|
Rusty Nash
|
3,322.90
|
195.80
|
3,518.70
|
6th
|
855.90
|
7th
|
Bob Zanakis
|
3,005.80
|
460.80
|
3,466.60
|
8th
|
910.90
|
8th
|
Bryan Owen
|
2,757.60
|
521.70
|
3,279.30
|
11th
|
1,095.30
|
9th
|
Josi Verlingieri
|
2,967.90
|
303.50
|
3,271.40
|
10th
|
1,103.20
|
10th
|
Earl Paulson
|
3,165.10
|
80.00
|
3,245.10
|
7th
|
1,129.50
|
11th
|
Derick Giwner
|
2,980.30
|
99.50
|
3,079.80
|
9th
|
1,294.80
|
12th
|
Ray Garnett
|
2,288.70
|
620.50
|
2,909.20
|
14th
|
1,465.40
|
13th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
2,560.10
|
203.40
|
2,763.50
|
12th
|
1,611.10
|
14th
|
Michael Carter
|
2,337.40
|
339.50
|
2,676.90
|
13th
|
1,697.70
|
15th
|
Garnet Barnsdale
|
2,174.80
|
383.10
|
2,557.90
|
16th
|
1,816.70
|
16th
|
Mark Dezii
|
2,245.00
|
217.50
|
2,462.50
|
15th
|
1,912.10
|
17th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
1,875.80
|
102.00
|
1,977.80
|
17th
|
2,396.80
|
18th
|
Brandon Valvo
|
1,390.30
|
393.50
|
1,783.80
|
18th
|
2,590.80
|
19th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
1,143.90
|
30.50
|
1,174.40
|
19th
|
3,200.20
|
Next week has nine events
scheduled at Hoosier and two at contest sponsor Vernon Downs. The Friday night Hoosier card presents one
more opportunity some big movement in the standings.
