(July 11, 2017) – After
three days of competition (July 7-9), Sally Hinckley was the top handicapper
earning 129.84 points for the week in the Hambletonian Grand Circuit
Handicapping Challenge but when the action was completed, it was Rusty Nash who
opened a lead of 20 points, the biggest lead in this year’s contest.
Hinckley managed to be
the week’s winner, winning the Friday night stanza at the Meadowlands in a
squeaker as she was one of five handicappers with two winners tagged but she
was the victor by earning $7 more than second place Russ Adams. On Saturday evening, Hinckley finished in
third with one winner and $2.60 behind leg victor Gordon Waterstone. Sundays’ special leg at Summerside Raceway
found Hinckley one of six handicappers who dead-heated for the win, selecting
both heavy favorites in the Governor’s Plate eliminations.
In the overall
contest, Rusty Nash earned 71.84 points, giving him the lead with 471.95
points, 20.82 points ahead of Matt Rose whose 451.13 points allowed him to move
from third to second. Megan Maccario
slips from second to third with 440.48 points.
This week’s winner Hinckley moved up from eighth to sixth with this week’s
performance.
|
Standings as of Sunday, July 9, 2017 - Leg #28
|
|||||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Last Leg
|
Streak
|
|
1st
|
Rusty Nash
|
471.95
|
6
|
2nd
|
1
|
|
2nd
|
Matt Rose
|
451.13
|
5
|
1st
|
|
|
3rd
|
Megan Maccario
|
440.48
|
5
|
3rd
|
|
|
4th
|
Russ Adams
|
426.12
|
5
|
4th
|
|
|
5th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
413.75
|
5
|
5th
|
|
|
6th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
391.98
|
5
|
7th
|
|
|
7th
|
Ray Garnett
|
390.86
|
3
|
6th
|
|
|
8th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
379.68
|
5
|
8th
|
|
|
9th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
311.75
|
3
|
9th
|
|
|
10th
|
Steve Horoky
|
265.41
|
2
|
10th
|
|
|
11th
|
Michael Carter
|
265.03
|
3
|
11th
|
|
|
12th
|
Bryan Owen
|
237.23
|
2
|
12th
|
|
|
13th
|
Anne Stepien
|
232.15
|
3
|
15th
|
|
|
14th
|
Adam Friedland
|
219.80
|
1
|
14th
|
|
|
15th
|
Terry Wilson
|
215.47
|
2
|
13th
|
|
|
16th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
170.33
|
1
|
16th
|
|
Next Up: This week, two year old pacers of both sexes
do battle in the Kindergarten series at the Meadowlands Friday evening. Saturday has the Meadowlands Pace
highlighting the racing action which will include the Delvin Miller Memorial,
Stanley Dancer Memorial. Mistletoe Shalee, Hambletonian Maturity, and Golden
Girls; the Lawrence B Sheppard final at Yonkers Raceway. The following week, Friday night features another
leg of the Kindergarten Series for two year old pacers and trotters at the
Meadowlands while Saturday night older pacers will compete in the final of the
Joe Gerrity Memorial at Saratoga Harness.
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.
