(April 2, 2017) – While in the early stages, the race is tightening in the Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge as Rusty Nash and Bryan Owen each won a leg of the challenge at Yonkers Raceway this week, reducing front runner Matt Rose’s lead (165.5 points) to 12.5 points. With his win on Friday (3/31) night, Owen (108 pts) leapfrogged from 12th place to 4th while Nash’s (153 pts) Saturday (4/1) night victory allowed him to move up one place to 2nd. Ray Garnett (111 pts) dropped into the show spot, 3 points ahead of Owen.
Owen managed to beat three other handicappers Friday evening who had two out of three winners thanks to finishing second in race 6. Owen’s wins were Bedroomconfessions ($3.80) in first division of the Matchmaker and Shesjustadelight N ($4.70) in the third tilt.
While Steve Horoky had three out of four Levy elimination winners (Soto, 1st division, $10.00; Missile J, 2nd div, $2.70; Keystone Velocity, 3rd div, $3.10) Saturday evening, Nash managed to take top honors by selecting the 1st and 3rd division winners along with the second place finish of Great Vintage in the second split; allowing him to win the night with a net profit of $8.30 versus Horoky’s $7.80.
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In the overall net-profit competition, Nash ($54.50) remains on top, leading Rose ($53.00) by $1.50. Ray Garnett sits in the show spot with a net profit of $29.50 as Ray Cotolo fills out the superfecta with a net profit of $16.70.
The standings after the first six legs are:
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
1st
|
Matt Rose
|
165.5
|
2
|
2nd
|
Rusty Nash
|
153.0
|
2
|
3rd
|
Ray Garnett
|
111.0
|
1
|
4th
|
Bryan Owen
|
108.0
|
1
|
5th
|
Steve Horoky
|
91.5
|
0
|
6th
|
Russ Adams
|
82.0
|
0
|
7th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
64.0
|
0
|
8th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
63.5
|
0
|
9th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
61.0
|
0
|
10th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
59.0
|
0
|
11th
|
Megan Maccario
|
56.0
|
0
|
12th
|
Anne Stepien
|
55.0
|
0
|
13th
|
Adam Friedland
|
51.5
|
0
|
14th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
42.0
|
0
|
15th
|
Terry Wilson
|
42.0
|
0
|
16th
|
Michael Carter
|
42.0
|
0
|
Next Up: The Challenge continues this week at Yonkers Raceway on Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8 for the fourth legs of the Matchmaker and Levy Memorial Series. The Challenge remains at Yonkers Raceway until the conclusion of the two series on April 22.
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.
