(September 10,
2017) – In the last
weekend before the Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge goes into overdrive
with daily stakes races in the Midwest, Dennis O’Hara was the top handicapper
for the September 8-9 stanza with a total of 98 points, 21 points ahead of Matt
Rose who took the runner-up position. Rusty
Nash finished in the show position with 62 points which was good enough for him
to take the lead in the overall contest.
On
Friday evening, it was a Kindergarten Classic extravaganza at the Meadowlands
with eight tilts of 2yo racing plus a leg of the Ms Versatility being contested. When the night was over, Rose and O’Hara had
four winners each but Rose prevailed with a net profit of $17.90. Finishing second was Anne Stepien who despite
only having two winners, selected Kj’s Bekah who paid $10.60 and $5.60 for her second-place
finish. O’Hara’s four winners was good enough to take
fourth place.
Saturday
night, the action moved to Mohawk Racetrack and Scioto Downs and once again, O’Hara
tabbed four winners but this time he was not to be denied as he grabbed the top
spot with a net profit of $10.70, helped by sweeping the Scioto Stakes. Nash, with five winners for the night had to
settle for the place position.
In
the year to date contest, Nash has moved in front with a grand total of 874.7
points through forty-nine contest legs.
Megan Maccario, the leader for the past five weeks drops back to second place
with 849.23 points. Matt Rose (822.38
pts), remains in third with the big mover of the week, Dennis O’Hara (761.18
pts) jumping three spots into fourth.
.
|
Standings thru Saturday, September 9, 2017 -
Leg #49
|
|||||
|
Pos
|
Handicapper
|
Total Points Earned
|
Legs Won
|
Last Week
|
Streak
|
|
1st
|
Rusty Nash
|
874.70
|
6
|
2nd
|
1
|
|
2nd
|
Megan Maccario
|
849.23
|
8
|
1st
|
|
|
3rd
|
Matt Rose
|
822.38
|
8
|
3rd
|
|
|
4th
|
Dennis O’Hara
|
761.18
|
7
|
7th
|
|
|
5th
|
Russ Adams
|
757.87
|
7
|
4th
|
|
|
6th
|
Anne Stepien
|
745.15
|
6
|
5th
|
|
|
7th
|
Sally Hinckley
|
688.98
|
6
|
6th
|
|
|
8th
|
Gordon Waterstone
|
685.00
|
6
|
8th
|
|
|
9th
|
Ray Garnett
|
678.11
|
4
|
9th
|
|
|
10th
|
Steve Horoky
|
623.16
|
3
|
11th
|
|
|
11th
|
Bryan Owen
|
614.23
|
5
|
10th
|
|
|
12th
|
Terry Wilson
|
551.47
|
5
|
13th
|
|
|
13th
|
Jay Hochstetler
|
545.50
|
3
|
12th
|
|
|
14th
|
Ray Cotolo
|
491.33
|
3
|
14th
|
|
|
15th
|
Michael Carter
|
446.53
|
3
|
15th
|
|
|
16th
|
Adam Friedland
|
370.30
|
2
|
16th
|
|
.
Next Up: The busiest segment of the grand circuit handicapping contest
begins this Wednesday (9/13) with the Nadia Lobell at Hoosier Park. Friday (9/15) has the Meadowlands hosting the
fourth preliminary leg of the Kindergarten Classic for juveniles of both gaits
and sexes followed by Saturday’s (9/16) quartet of stakes at Mohawk including
the Canadian Trotting Classic and Maple Leaf Trot. Sunday’s (9/17) stakes coincide with opening
day of the Delaware County Fair where the Standardbred for 2yo colts and
fillies will be contested.
The following week, the
Delaware County Fair continues, including the Little Brown Jug and Harrah’s
Philadelphia hosts the Simpson for 3yo filly pacers and trotters. Hoosier Park and Mohawk Racetrack continue
with their stakes program leading to the Red Mile Grand Circuit meet in two
weeks.
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.
