Harold “Sonny” Winslow
wins $50,000 World Harness Handicapping Championship
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (April 29, 2017) – Horseplayers
were salivating at the prospects of chasing a rare Pick Four carryover entering
Saturday's program at the Meadowlands. The first such carryover since December
of nearly $62,000 attracted more than $226,000 in new money to comprise a total
pool of $288,482.
Players looking to lean on a favorite were disappointed as
the chalk went 0 for 4. Second-choice Sam Hill kicked off the Pick Four, winning
a narrow photo over favored JK Will Power to pay $8.20.
Four-year-old stakes horses prepping for next week's
Graduate Series Pace took center stage in Race 8. Little Brown Jug runner-up
and Breeders Crown elimination winner Western Fame converted a perfect pocket
trip behind millionaire Check Six to score at $16.80 with even-money favorite
Boston Red Rocks third.
Down Under import Quick Asa Trick made his North American
debut a winning one for fellow Down Under imports Darran Cassar and Andrew
McCarthy. The $13.60 mutuel set the stage for the payoff leg.
9-1 chance Dustlanemissmolly went right to the front for Joe
Bongiorno and held off the late charge of 6-5 favorite Phyllis Jean to close
out the sequence.
The winning 50-cent combination returned $1,036.50.
The action was also intense in the $50,000 BetAmerica World
Harness Handicapping Championship. A field of 92 took their shot at the $20,000
first-place prize and title of harness handicapper of the year. Harold “Sonny”
Winslow from Central New York turned his $300 bankroll into $1,809 to capture
the title. He won by $460 over K. Koper. 2014 champion Robert McMasters
finished third with $1,323.50. Winslow won his way into the final by winning a
qualifying tournament at Vernon Downs. Fellow Vernon qualifier Jeffrey Billings
finished fifth while Brandon Valvo, 21, from Upstate New York playing in his
first tournament, finished fourth.
Total handle on the 11-race card was $2,767,494. Racing
resumes next Friday. Post time is 7:15 p.m.
