(July 2, 2017) – On Saturday evening (July 1), Ray Garnett and Megan Maccario both tabbed four winners in the Sun Stakes (Pocono Downs) and Cleveland Trotting Classic (Northfield Park) leg of the Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge but when the dust settled, Megan Maccario was declared the night's winner thanks to her taking down Lyons Snyder ($63.40) in the Ben Franklin Consolation at Pocono Downs.
As a result, Maccario (424.5 points) moved from 4th to 2nd place, just 1.8 points out of first where Rusty Nash (426.3 pts.) took over as the overall leader. Matt Rose (420.1 pts.) dropped from 1st to 3rd place, a mere 6.2 points out of the lead, far from out of contention.
While denied the win, Ray Garnett is now on top in the race for overall net profit handicapper with a total of $56.50 while Maccario lands in 2nd with a net profit of $4.80. In third place, overall leader Rusty Nash sits with a $0.20 deficit.
Standings as of Saturday, July 1, 2017 – Leg #25 |
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Pos |
Handicapper |
Total Points Earned |
Legs Won |
Last Leg |
Streak |
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1st |
Rusty Nash |
426.3 |
5 |
2nd |
1 |
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2nd |
Megan Maccario |
424.5 |
5 |
4th |
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3rd |
Matt Rose |
420.1 |
5 |
1st |
|
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4th |
Russ Adams |
377.1 |
5 |
3rd |
|
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5th |
Ray Garnett |
374.9 |
3 |
6th |
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6th |
Dennis O’Hara |
344.0 |
4 |
5th |
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7th |
Gordon Waterstone |
325.1 |
3 |
7th |
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8th |
Sally Hinckley |
288.3 |
3 |
8th |
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9th |
Jay Hochstetler |
284.8 |
3 |
9th |
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10th |
Steve Horoky |
243.4 |
2 |
10th |
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11th |
Michael Carter |
229.4 |
2 |
12th |
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12th |
Bryan Owen |
226.2 |
2 |
11th |
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13th |
Adam Friedland |
203.8 |
1 |
14th |
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14th |
Terry Wilson |
201.5 |
2 |
13th |
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15th |
Anne Stepien |
168.5 |
2 |
15th |
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16th |
Ray Cotolo |
159.3 |
1 |
16th |
Next Up: Friday night has juvenile trotters on display as the Meadowlands hosts the first legs of the Kindergarten for both sexes while on Saturday, the Meadowlands hosts the Graduate finals for four-year-old pacers and trotters. Sunday is our third special non-Grand Circuit event to highlight racing off the beaten path in Canada as Summerside Raceway hosts the Governors Plate Invitational.
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