(September
18, 2016) – If the first three days of
the current nine-day consecutive streak of racing 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 is any
indication, there may be some more bold made during the week. For evidence of this, one only needs to look
at Matt Rose, who is the top handicapper for the week with 433.4 points (871.18
pts total second half), who moved from fifth to first in the second half of the
contest and from eighth to second place overall with a total of 1,942.35
points, behind overall leader Jay Hochstetler by 480.8 pts.
Taking the place position for the week is Russ Adams whose 254.83
points for the week (713.65 – second half; 1,894.58 overall) which lands him in
third place overall while Bryan Owen picked up show honors with 146.65 points.
Rose can attribute his success this week primarily to his
selection of Royal Charm in the final of the Elegantimage as the horse paid
$67.50 to win and an eye-opening $122.20 place dividend on his way to earning a
total of 379.93 points for his four bagger on Saturday (9/17) evening.
Adam’s big evening was Friday (9/16) night as he nailed four
winners and a second place finisher in five races including Kindergarten
Classic division winner Limerence ($37.80) on his way to a total of 167.28
points for the evening.
|
2nd Half and Overall
Standings
|
|||||||
|
Position
|
Handicapper
|
Points This Week
|
Total Points
|
Points Back
|
Overall Position
|
Overall Points
|
Overall Points Back
|
|
1st
|
Matt Rose
|
433.40
|
871.18
|
-
|
2nd
|
1973.23
|
460.33
|
|
2nd
|
Russ Adams
|
254.83
|
713.65
|
157.53
|
3rd
|
1894.58
|
538.98
|
|
3rd
|
Ray Garnett
|
82.05
|
669.25
|
201.93
|
11th
|
1458.03
|
975.53
|
|
4th
|
Jay Hochstetler (FHW)
|
103.88
|
644.45
|
226.73
|
1st
|
2433.55
|
-
|
|
5th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
96.33
|
608.30
|
262.88
|
4th
|
1778.18
|
655.38
|
|
6th
|
Bryan Owen
|
146.65
|
579.68
|
291.50
|
9th
|
1556.95
|
876.60
|
|
7th
|
Dennis O'Hara
|
112.75
|
503.20
|
367.98
|
7th
|
1680.10
|
753.45
|
|
8th
|
Adam Friedland
|
63.50
|
482.78
|
388.40
|
5th
|
1728.93
|
704.63
|
|
9th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
56.83
|
463.80
|
407.38
|
8th
|
1632.28
|
801.28
|
|
10th
|
Mark Deutsch
|
32.00
|
436.98
|
434.20
|
12th
|
1415.18
|
1,018.38
|
|
11th
|
Michael Carter
|
76.20
|
427.65
|
443.53
|
10th
|
1520.20
|
913.35
|
|
12th
|
Rusty Nash
|
81.50
|
419.58
|
451.60
|
6th
|
1715.73
|
717.83
|
|
13th
|
Joe Bengston
|
69.30
|
378.60
|
492.58
|
14th
|
1293.95
|
1,139.60
|
|
14th
|
Anne Stepien
|
44.80
|
363.03
|
508.15
|
13th
|
1299.53
|
1,134.03
|
|
15th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
11.90
|
351.95
|
519.23
|
15th
|
1147.48
|
1,286.08
|
The handicappers will be busy this week as every day is contest
day starting on Monday (9/19) with the Bobby Quillen Memorial at Harrington
Raceway. The contest then returns to the
Delaware County Fair for three more days of racing; Tuesday - The Standardbred
(2yo filly trotters); Wednesday - The Standardbred (2yo filly pacers), The
Buckette (3yo filly trotters), The Jugette (3yo filly pacers); Thursday -
Little Brown Jug (3yo pacers), The Standardbred (2yo colt trotters), Ms.
Versatility (mare trotters), and Old Oaken Bucket (3yo trotters). Friday and Saturday brings the contest to
Hoosier Park for the Kentuckiana Stallion Stakes for 2yo filly trotters on
Friday, continuing on Saturday with the Kentuckiana for 2yo filly pacers,
Centaur (open Trotters), Jennas Beach Boy (3yo colt pacers), The Elevation (2yo
colt pacers), and the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby (3yo colt pacers). The contest closes out Saturday evening with
the Milton (filly and mare pacers) at Mohawk Racetrack.
Racing
fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other
contest-related information such as the complete standings from HANA Harness’
contest website http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.
