August 3, 2015 – With the multiplier feature of the 2015 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge presented by the Bellino Stables, DRF Harness, Hambletonian Society, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs, the potential of the contest standings changing dramatically existed. At the conclusion of the weekend, those predictions came true.
After missing Friday night's contest leg, Mark McKelvie responded with a roar, winning nine of the sixteen legs on Saturday, earning 1,075.9 points, which with his previous 717.6 points thus far has now propelled into first place with a total of 1,793.5, a lead of 126.6 points over Sally Hinckley's 1,666.9. Previous leader Bob Zanakis now sits third, with 1,372.3.
Other big movers this week were Gordon Waterstone who moved from seventh to fourth place, Josi Verlingieri (ninth to fifth), Rusty Nash (thirteenth to eighth), Mark Dezii (sixteenth to tenth), and Dennis O'Hara (seventeenth to twelfth).
While McKelvie already had eight winners at the end of the Meadow's card, his coupe de grace was the fourth race at the Meadowlands where his last and final winner of the day pick in the TVG Trot of Flanagan Memory ($26.40, $9.00, $7.20) earned him a total of 383.4 points.
Standings as of August 1, 2015 – Leg 24 |
|||||
Total Points |
Points Earned |
Overall |
Position |
||
Pos |
Handicapper |
Prior Week |
This Week |
Total Points |
Last Week |
1st |
Mark McKelvie |
717.60 |
1,075.90 |
1,793.50 |
4th |
2nd |
Sally Hinckley |
1,014.30 |
652.60 |
1,666.90 |
2nd |
3rd |
Bob Zanakis |
1,059.50 |
312.80 |
1,372.30 |
1st |
4th |
Gordon Waterstone |
641.70 |
442.20 |
1,083.90 |
7th |
5th |
Josi Verlingieri |
631.90 |
450.10 |
1,082.00 |
9th |
6th |
Michael Carter |
749.50 |
275.40 |
1,024.90 |
3rd |
7th |
Ann Stepien |
703.00 |
303.50 |
1,006.50 |
5th |
8th |
Rusty Nash |
569.90 |
436.30 |
1,006.20 |
13th |
9th |
Derick Giwner |
618.60 |
374.30 |
992.90 |
10th |
10th |
Mark Dezii |
546.40 |
416.70 |
963.10 |
16th |
11th |
Brandon Valvo |
561.40 |
395.10 |
956.50 |
15th |
12th |
Earl Paulson |
614.20 |
334.20 |
948.40 |
11th |
12th |
Dennis O'Hara |
483.20 |
446.50 |
929.70 |
17th |
14th |
Garnet Barnsdale |
639.00 |
267.20 |
906.20 |
8th |
15th |
Jay Hochstetler |
566.90 |
322.50 |
889.40 |
14th |
16th |
Bryan Owen |
570.00 |
306.70 |
876.70 |
12th |
17th |
Ray Garnett |
693.90 |
154.70 |
848.60 |
6th |
18th |
Ray Cotolo |
362.70 |
351.70 |
714.40 |
18th |
19th |
Mark Deutsch |
203.70 |
230.30 |
434.00 |
19th |
This week the contest kicks off on Thursday, with the Whenuwishuponastar early closer final at Mohawk Racetrack and then finishes up on Saturday with the Hambletonian with its minimum of ten contest races. Handicapper selections, results and standings are available at http://hanaharnesscontest.
Allan Schott