(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 |
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Pos |
Handicapper |
Total Points Earned |
Legs Won |
Last Leg |
Streak |
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1st |
Rusty Nash |
471.95 |
6 |
2nd |
1 |
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2nd |
Matt Rose |
451.13 |
5 |
1st |
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3rd |
Megan Maccario |
440.48 |
5 |
3rd |
|
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4th |
Russ Adams |
426.12 |
5 |
4th |
|
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5th |
Gordon Waterstone |
413.75 |
5 |
5th |
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6th |
Sally Hinckley |
391.98 |
5 |
7th |
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7th |
Ray Garnett |
390.86 |
3 |
6th |
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8th |
Dennis O’Hara |
379.68 |
5 |
8th |
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9th |
Jay Hochstetler |
311.75 |
3 |
9th |
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10th |
Steve Horoky |
265.41 |
2 |
10th |
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11th |
Michael Carter |
265.03 |
3 |
11th |
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12th |
Bryan Owen |
237.23 |
2 |
12th |
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13th |
Anne Stepien |
232.15 |
3 |
15th |
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14th |
Adam Friedland |
219.80 |
1 |
14th |
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15th |
Terry Wilson |
215.47 |
2 |
13th |
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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.
by Allan Schott, for HANA