(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.
