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Sunday, October 22, 2017

Owen Scores Double in Handicapping Contest

(October 22, 2017) –  The old axiom is “It only takes one race”, and it was evident this weekend in the Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge.  What made it strange was this was proven twice this weekend by one handicapper as Bryan Owen was the top handicapper this week.  For the second week in the row, Rusty Nash sits on top of the overall contest with a shuffling of the standings below him.

While Rusty Nash had five winners selected on Friday (10/20) night at Hoosier Park, it was good only for second place as Owen selected Ella Christina ($72.00) in the Breeders Crown elimination for three year old pacing fillies as his lone winner for the evening.  With his selection of the daughter of Western Ideal, Owen picked up a net profit of $98.40 for the evening the dividend for win, place, and show on Ella Christina was $123.60.    

On Saturday (10/21) night, the axiom was even more evident as Sally Hinckley pick seven winners on the Breeders Crown Elimination night card yet ended up with a net loss of $4.90.  However, completing the double was Owen with a net profit of $58.40 despite having no winners for the evening.  This was accomplished thanks to Beckhams Z Tam finishing third which was good for a $92.80 show mutuel, the beneficiary of a failed bridge jumper gambit. 

For the second week in a row, Nash topped the season-long standings, 37.38 points ahead of his nearest competitor Anne Stepien who moved into second place.  Gordon Waterstone moved up one spot into third place while Megan Maccario slipped from second to fourth place. A total of 50.30 points separates first from fourth place meaning the contest may come down to the last day of the contest.  
  
Standings thru Saturday, October 21, 2017 - Leg #71

Pos
Handicapper
Total Points Earned
Legs Won
Points Back
Last Week
Streak
1st
Rusty Nash
1,325.20
6

1st
2
2nd
Anne Stepien
1,287.82
9
37.38
3rd

3rd
Gordon Waterstone
1,275.50
10
49.70
4th

4th
Megan Maccario
1,274.90
9
50.30
2nd

5th
Matt Rose
1,198.88
10
126.32
6th

6th
Dennis O’Hara
1,183.85
10
141.35
5th

7th
Sally Hinckley
1,180.98
8
144.22
7th

8th
Russ Adams
1,143.54
8
181.66
8th

9th
Steve Horoky
1,110.83
4
214.37
9th

10th
Ray Garnett
1,055.11
6
270.09
10th

11th
Bryan Owen
1,025.90
9
299.30
11th

12th
Jay Hochstetler
858.50
4
466.70
12th

13th
Terry Wilson
796.47
5
528.73
15th

14th
Michael Carter
794.03
3
531.17
14th

15th
Ray Cotolo
762.33
4
562.87
13th

16th
Rich Mattei
618.30
2
706.90
16th



Next Up: While the focus will be on the Breeders Crown races on Friday and Saturday (10/27-28), the contest week begins on Thursday (10/26) as the Kindergarten Classic’s fifth and final preliminary leg will be contested for late blooming juveniles on Thursday (10/26) at Vernon Downs.  Hoosier Park will host in addition to the Crown finals The Pegasus for three year old fillies of both gaits on Friday; three year old colts and geldings on Saturday. 

The following week, Saturday (11/4) has an overflow of stakes from the Meadowlands and Hoosier Park of which the ten races will the highest purses will be used for the contest.


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.