(August 28, 2017) – After three days of competition (8/25-8/27), a familiar name is on top of the harness racing standings for the week and year to date in the Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge as Megan Maccario came out in top for the week with 75 points, just 5 points ahead of Ray Cotolo whose 70 points came in one day; having missed the first two days of the week's competition. For the fourth week in a row, Maccario sits on top of the standings with 779.23 points, 54 points ahead of Rusty Nash's 745.20.
Despite not winning a race on Friday night, Maccario came out on top thanks to her selection of Dream Together in the second division of the Casual Breeze as the horse paid $8.60 for second place (no show wagering). While several handicappers selected the winner of the first division, On A Sunny Day, the payoff was not enough to beat Maccario's tally.
Saturday there was a three-way dead heat for first place for the day's races at Mohawk as Russ Adams, Ray Garnett, and Terry Wilson hit the trifecta selecting all three winners for the night's races; Shadow Moon ($7.90), Percy Bluechip ($2.90), and Pedro Hanover ($5.00) were the winning horses.
Sunday at Tioga Downs, nine stakes races were on the contest sate and a trio of handicappers, Sally Hinckley, Rusty Nash, and Bryan Owen each tabbed five winners but it was Ray Cotolo with four winners who managed to come out ahead as he earned a net profit of $40.10. While Cotolo had a quartet of winners, it was two second place finishers Frost Damage Blues ($21.60 for place and show) In the Artiscape and Cufflink Hanover ($18.60 place and show) in the Crawford Farms which made the difference.
Standings as of Sunday, August 27, 2017 – Leg #44 |
|||||||||||
Pos |
Handicapper |
Total Points Earned |
Legs Won |
Last Week |
Streak |
||||||
1st |
Megan Maccario |
779.23 |
8 |
1st |
4 |
||||||
2nd |
Rusty Nash |
745.20 |
6 |
2nd |
|
||||||
3rd |
Matt Rose |
701.38 |
7 |
3rd |
|
||||||
4th |
Russ Adams |
693.62 |
7 |
4th |
|
||||||
5th |
Ray Garnett |
630.11 |
4 |
8th |
|
||||||
6th |
Sally Hinckley |
629.73 |
6 |
7th |
|
||||||
7th |
Dennis O’Hara |
627.93 |
6 |
6th |
|
||||||
8th |
Anne Stepien |
618.65 |
5 |
5th |
|
||||||
9th |
Gordon Waterstone |
584.00 |
5 |
9th |
|
||||||
10th |
Bryan Owen |
558.23 |
5 |
11th |
|
||||||
11th |
Steve Horoky |
557.16 |
3 |
10th |
|
||||||
12th |
Terry Wilson |
465.72 |
5 |
13th |
|
||||||
13th |
Jay Hochstetler |
455.00 |
3 |
12th |
|
||||||
14th |
Ray Cotolo |
420.33 |
3 |
16th |
|
||||||
15th |
Michael Carter |
405.53 |
3 |
15th |
|
||||||
16th |
Adam Friedland |
370.30 |
2 |
15th |
|
Next Up: Thursday night (8/31) Mohawk Racetrack hosts the Champlain Stake for 2yo filly trotters. On Friday (9/1), Mohawk hosts the Champlain Stakes for 2yo colt and gelding trotters, the Simcoe Stake for 3yo filly trotter. Saturday (9/2), Mohawk hosts the Simcoe for 3yo colt and gelding trotters, the Canadian Pacing Derby, the Champlain stake for 2yo pacers of both sexes while Yonkers Raceway features the Yonkers Trot, Messenger Pace, Lady Maud, and the Hudson Filly Trot. The following week has stakes racing from the Meadowlands, Mohawk Racetrack, and Scioto Downs.
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.
Allan Schott
HANA Harness Racing Coordinator