(June 4, 2017) – Longshots have finally come home to roost in Grand Circuit racing which caused some difficulties for the Grand Circuit handicapping panel but Jay Hochstetler was able to take advantage of the situation as his one winner, Canada’s fastest pacer, Dr J Hanover ($32.90) was able to put him on the plus side for the evening, thus the winner of Saturday’s (6/3) leg of the handicapping challenge. Hochstetler’s victory allowed him to leap frog from 10th to 6th place.
Despite nailing down two short priced winners, overall leader Rusty Nash failed to place in the top five for the week but still maintains his overall lead for the second week, besting 2nd place Matt Rose (388.3 vs. 363.6 points). Russ Adams maintains his 3rd place position, just 22.5 points further back in the hunt.
In the overall profit contest, the standings mirror the points leaders board with Nash leading Rose and Adams. Thanks to Hochstetler’s selection last night, he moves into 4th, less than $70 separating the top four.
.
Standings as of Sunday, June 3, 2017 - Leg #21
| |||||
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Last Week
|
Streak
|
1st
|
Rusty Nash
|
388.3
|
5
|
1st
|
2
|
2nd
|
Matt Rose
|
363.6
|
4
|
2nd
| |
3rd
|
Russ Adams
|
344.1
|
5
|
3rd
| |
4th
|
Megan Maccario
|
267.5
|
3
|
4th
| |
5th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
257.8
|
3
|
5th
| |
6th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
256.8
|
3
|
10th
| |
7th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
242.5
|
3
|
6th
| |
8th
|
Ray Garnett
|
240.9
|
2
|
8th
| |
9th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
226.0
|
3
|
7th
| |
10th
|
Steve Horoky
|
209.4
|
2
|
9th
| |
11th
|
Bryan Owen
|
208.2
|
2
|
11th
| |
12th
|
Michael Carter
|
182.4
|
2
|
12th
| |
13th
|
Terry Wilson
|
172.5
|
2
|
13th
| |
14th
|
Adam Friedland
|
169.8
|
1
|
14th
| |
15th
|
Anne Stepien
|
140.5
|
2
|
16th
| |
16th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
140.0
|
1
|
15th
| |
Next Up: This Saturday (6/10), Scioto Down’s Charlie Hill (Open Trot) is the sole race on the contest slate while Sunday (6/11) brings the Graduate Series (Open) for pacers and trotters to Tioga Downs. The following week returns the contest to Mohawk Racetrack for the Pepsi North America Cup racing program.
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.
