Sunday, April 23, 2017

Rose on Top Heading into By-week of Hambletonian GC Handicapping Contest

(April 23, 2017) –   With the Matchmaker and Levy Series in the books, the 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge heads into the first by-week with Matt Rose maintaining a slight lead over Rusty Nash with a score of 251.63 vs. 246.00.  Both handicappers have three leg victories each, accounting for six of the twelve legs contested thus far. While Rose leads in total points, Nash reverses the standings with regards to net profit, $51.40 vs. $32.40. 

For this past week, a quadruple dead-heat for the Friday (4/21) leg occurred as Russ Adams, Steve Horoky, Megan Maccario, and Dennis O’Hara each successfully picked Da Magician ($4.50) as the winner of Fraser Down’s Kenny Linton Memorial, a bonus race on the calendar.  On Saturday (4/22), Michael Carter was the sole leg winner as he tabbed three of the five winners on the contest card; Hidden Land ($9.50) in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Consolation; Clear Vision ($8.40) in the George Morton Levy Memorial Consolation; Yoga Pants ($2.30) in the Penny Bath Memorial (from Fraser Downs, another bonus race).   



Standings as of Saturday, April 22, 2017 - Leg #12
Pos
Handicapper
Total Points Earned
Legs Won
Overall Net Profit
1st
Matt Rose
251.63
3
32.40
2nd
Rusty Nash
246.00
3
51.40
3rd
Russ Adams
231.89
2
(8.20)
4th
Gordon Waterstone
163.13
1
(52.30)
5th
Ray Garnett
149.27
1
0.60
6th
Megan Maccario
148.89
1
(49.80)
7th
Steve Horoky
146.38
1
(37.30)
8th
Michael Carter
143.27
1
(54.20)
9th
Bryan Owen
143.14
1
(37.70)
10th
Dennis O’Hara
122.89
1
(56.80)
11th
Jay Hochstetler
106.13
0
(34.70)
12th
Adam Friedland
88.77
0
(25.60)
13th
Ray Cotolo
82.00
0
(0.50)
14th
Sally Hinckley
80.50
0
(85.60)
15th
Anne Stepien
80.00
0
(83.30)
16th
Terry Wilson
65.13
0
(96.20)




Next Up:  Six straight weeks of racing at Yonkers Raceway earns the handicappers a well-deserved week off before the Grand Circuit becomes the traveling road show it has always been known for.  The contest resumes with a three-day stand (May 6-8) with Saturday action from Freehold Raceway with the kick-off of the Road to the Hambletonian as the finals of the Lady Suffolk (3yo filly trot) and Dexter Cup (3yo open trot) are contested.  Contest action continues in the evening at the Meadowlands with the AJ Cutler Memorial (Open trot) and the first leg of the Graduate series (4yo open pace) on the docket.  Sunday and Monday has the Miami Valley Distaffs scheduled with Sunday featuring 4yo and older mare trotters; Monday the 4yo and older mare pacers.  Following these races, there will be a final by-week after which there is contest action every week until the contest’s conclusion.

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.