(September 10,
2017) – In the last weekend before the Grand Circuit
Handicapping Challenge goes into overdrive with daily stakes races in the
Midwest, Dennis O’Hara was the top handicapper for the September 8-9 stanza
with a total of 98 points, 21 points ahead of Matt Rose who took the runner-up
position. Rusty Nash finished in the show position with 62 points which
was good enough for him to take the lead in the overall contest.
On Friday evening, it was a Kindergarten
Classic extravaganza at the Meadowlands with eight tilts of 2yo racing plus a
leg of the Ms Versatility being contested. When the night was over, Rose
and O’Hara had four winners each but Rose prevailed with a net profit of
$17.90. Finishing second was Anne Stepien who despite only having two
winners, selected Kj’s Bekah who paid $10.60 and $5.60 for her second-place
finish. O’Hara’s four winners was good enough to take fourth place.
Saturday night, the action moved to
Mohawk Racetrack and Scioto Downs and once again, O’Hara tabbed four winners
but this time he was not to be denied as he grabbed the top spot with a net
profit of $10.70, helped by sweeping the Scioto Stakes. Nash, with five
winners for the night had to settle for the place position.
In the year to date contest, Nash has
moved in front with a grand total of 874.7 points through forty-nine contest
legs. Megan Maccario, the leader for the past five weeks drops back to
second place with 849.23 points. Matt Rose (822.38 pts), remains in third
with the big mover of the week, Dennis O’Hara (761.18 pts) jumping three spots
into fourth.
.
|
Standings thru Saturday,
September 9, 2017 - Leg #49
|
|||||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Last Week
|
Streak
|
|
1st
|
Rusty
Nash
|
874.70
|
6
|
2nd
|
1
|
|
2nd
|
Megan
Maccario
|
849.23
|
8
|
1st
|
|
|
3rd
|
Matt
Rose
|
822.38
|
8
|
3rd
|
|
|
4th
|
Dennis
O’Hara
|
761.18
|
7
|
7th
|
|
|
5th
|
Russ
Adams
|
757.87
|
7
|
4th
|
|
|
6th
|
Anne
Stepien
|
745.15
|
6
|
5th
|
|
|
7th
|
Sally
Hinckley
|
688.98
|
6
|
6th
|
|
|
8th
|
Gordon
Waterstone
|
685.00
|
6
|
8th
|
|
|
9th
|
Ray
Garnett
|
678.11
|
4
|
9th
|
|
|
10th
|
Steve
Horoky
|
623.16
|
3
|
11th
|
|
|
11th
|
Bryan
Owen
|
614.23
|
5
|
10th
|
|
|
12th
|
Terry
Wilson
|
551.47
|
5
|
13th
|
|
|
13th
|
Jay
Hochstetler
|
545.50
|
3
|
12th
|
|
|
14th
|
Ray
Cotolo
|
491.33
|
3
|
14th
|
|
|
15th
|
Michael
Carter
|
446.53
|
3
|
15th
|
|
|
16th
|
Adam
Friedland
|
370.30
|
2
|
16th
|
|
.
Next Up: The busiest segment of the grand circuit handicapping contest
begins this Wednesday (9/13) with the Nadia Lobell at Hoosier Park.
Friday (9/15) has the Meadowlands hosting the fourth preliminary leg of the
Kindergarten Classic for juveniles of both gaits and sexes followed by
Saturday’s (9/16) quartet of stakes at Mohawk including the Canadian Trotting
Classic and Maple Leaf Trot. Sunday’s (9/17) stakes coincide with opening
day of the Delaware County Fair where the Standardbred for 2yo colts and fillies
will be contested.
The following week, the
Delaware County Fair continues, including the Little Brown Jug and Harrah’s
Philadelphia hosts the Simpson for 3yo filly pacers and trotters. Hoosier
Park and Mohawk Racetrack continue with their stakes program leading to the Red
Mile Grand Circuit meet in two weeks.
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.
