(May 9, 2017) – With
three legs and eight races contested in the Grand Circuit Handicapping
Challenge this past week, the possibility of the standings being shuffled
existed and it turned out to be the case.
Once the dust settled Russ Adams moved up two places to claim the lead
with a total of 328.12 points versus Rusty Nash’s 315. Last week’s leader Matt Rose fell back to
third with a total of 267.63 points.
The key to this past
week was Saturday’s (May 6) races at Freehold Raceway and the Meadowlands. Favorites ruled the day and Adams and Terry
Wilson jumped on the bandwagon, both tabbing five out of six winners. While each had five winners, Adams’
selections paid $1.50 more than Wilson’s which allowed him to claim the lead.
With the overwhelming
majority of handicappers selecting Hannelore Hanover in the Miami Valley
Distaff Trot on Sunday (May 7), none of the handicappers selected the winner
Charmed Life. The best the handicappers
could do is pick up the crumbs with Hannelore’s second-place finish which meant
having to settle for a net loss of $1.70
Monday (May 8)
afternoon was the opposite of Sunday’s outcome as Lady Shadow ($3.40) didn’t
disappoint in the Chip Noble Memorial Pace.
Including those handicappers who selected Pure Country (whose scratch
meant handicappers were assigned the post-time favorite), ten handicappers had
the day’s winner. However, it was Rusty
Nash, the lone handicapper who selected second place Divas Image whose ($16.40,
$7.80) dividends easily topped the favorite’s payoffs allowing him to finish in
front for the day.
|
Standings as of Monday, May 8, 2017 - Leg #15
|
||||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Overall Net Profit
|
|
1st
|
Russ Adams
|
328.12
|
4
|
4.00
|
|
2nd
|
Rusty Nash
|
315.00
|
4
|
60.00
|
|
3rd
|
Matt Rose
|
267.63
|
3
|
7.80
|
|
4th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
204.36
|
2
|
(54.60)
|
|
5th
|
Bryan Owen
|
181.23
|
2
|
(39.90)
|
|
6th
|
Ray Garnett
|
172.36
|
2
|
(25.70)
|
|
7th
|
Megan Maccario
|
171.98
|
2
|
(68.00)
|
|
8th
|
Steve Horoky
|
167.52
|
1
|
(61.90)
|
|
9th
|
Michael Carter
|
166.36
|
2
|
(69.90)
|
|
10th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
156.12
|
2
|
(70.20)
|
|
11th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
145.36
|
1
|
(34.80)
|
|
12th
|
Terry Wilson
|
136.36
|
1
|
(85.50)
|
|
13th
|
Adam Friedland
|
119.91
|
0
|
(35.20)
|
|
14th
|
Anne Stepien
|
108.09
|
1
|
(96.90)
|
|
15th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
106.59
|
1
|
(96.60)
|
|
16th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
86.00
|
0
|
(31.90)
|
Next Up: Monday was the lone race for the week so with
no contest races this weekend, the focus is on May 20 when the Graduate series
kicks off at the Meadowlands. The
following week features the Ms. Versatility (Mohawk, May 22); Molson Pace
(Western Fair District, May 26); Lismore and Art Rooney (Yonkers, May 27);
Betsy Ross and Maxie Lee Memorial (Harrah’s Philadelphia, May 28).
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.
