(July 30, 2017) – With the Hambletonian extravaganza next week, HANA Harness Racing handicappers were tuning up with seventeen Grand Circuit races at The Meadows, Plainridge Park, and Meadowlands over a period of two days (7/28-29). When the final races were concluded, Megan Maccario earned weekly honors with a total of 92 points, besting Steve Horoky and Anne Stepien who dead-heated for second with a tally of 87 points. Maccario's effort was good enough to move into second place, on the heels of overall leader Rusty Nash.
Michael Carter, Sally Hinckley, Stepien and Horoky led the pack on Friday with the quartet each winning five of six divisions of the Arden Downs at The Meadows (no one tabbed JL Cruz in the Spirit of Massachusetts), but Stepien bested Horoky by $1.20 to grab the win picture. Ray Garnett only had two winners but with his placing dividends, managed to split the quartet to take show honors. Hinckley landed in fourth place while Carter completed the Pentafeca.
Despite finishing out of the money on Friday with three winners, Maccario managed to finish strongly on Saturday, taking down five winners including Cult Iron ($38) in the second division of the Mary Lib Miller Arden Downs Pace, allowing her to out-earn Garnett and Horoky who also had five winning selections thanks to her $40.90 net profit. Garnett's $22.90 was good enough for second place for the day while Horoky's $12.70 allowed him to settle for third.
Heading into the Hambletonian leg, Rusty Nash maintains his overall lead for the second straight week with a total of 620.95 points. Maccario is right behind with 617.48 points while Matt Rose dropped to third with 581.13 points.
Standings as of Saturday, July 29, 2017 – Leg #34 |
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Pos |
Handicapper |
Total Points Earned |
Legs Won |
Last Week |
Streak |
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1st |
Rusty Nash |
620.95 |
6 |
1st |
2 |
||||||
2nd |
Megan Maccario |
617.48 |
6 |
3rd |
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3rd |
Matt Rose |
581.13 |
6 |
2nd |
|
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4th |
Russ Adams |
534.12 |
5 |
4th |
|
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5th |
Ray Garnett |
508.86 |
3 |
7th |
|||||||
6th |
Gordon Waterstone |
506.75 |
5 |
5th |
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7th |
Sally Hinckley |
492.98 |
5 |
6th |
|||||||
8th |
Steve Horoky |
489.41 |
3 |
9th |
|||||||
9th |
Dennis O’Hara |
477.68 |
5 |
8th |
|||||||
10th |
Anne Stepien |
443.15 |
5 |
10th |
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11th |
Jay Hochstetler |
346.75 |
3 |
11th |
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12th |
Terry Wilson |
338.47 |
3 |
12th |
|||||||
13th |
Michael Carter |
337.03 |
3 |
13th |
|||||||
14th |
Bryan Owen |
299.23 |
2 |
14th |
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15th |
Adam Friedland |
279.80 |
1 |
15th |
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16th |
Ray Cotolo |
225.33 |
1 |
16th |
Next Up: Hambletonian Week Is upon us, meaning the handicappers will be challenged with at least ten races, barring splits. Among those races are the Peter Haughton Memorial, Fresh Yankee, Jim Doherty Memorial, John Cashman Memorial, Shady Daisy, Cane Pace, Lady Liberty, U S Pacing Championship, Hambletonian Oaks Final and of course, the Hambletonian; all contested at the Meadowlands.
Action starts quickly the following week with a couple of special races contested on Monday, August 7 at Century Downs (Alberta, CA); The Lady Luck (3yoFP) and Ralph Klein Memorial (3yoCGP). On Friday, August 11, Hoosier Park hosts the Dan Patch with Saturday having Northfield Park’s Carl Milstein Memorial on the marquee.
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