Adams takes lead in Handicapping Challenge

(May 9, 2017) – With three legs and eight races contested in the harness racing Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge this past week, the possibility of the standings being shuffled existed and it turned out to be the case. Once the dust settled Russ Adams moved up two places to claim the lead with a total of 328.12 points versus Rusty Nash's 315. Last week's leader Matt Rose fell back to third with a total of 267.63 points.

The key to this past week was Saturday's (May 6) races at Freehold Raceway and the Meadowlands. Favorites ruled the day and Adams and Terry Wilson jumped on the bandwagon, both tabbing five out of six winners. While each had five winners, Adams' selections paid $1.50 more than Wilson's which allowed him to claim the lead.

With the overwhelming majority of handicappers selecting Hannelore Hanover in the Miami Valley Distaff Trot on Sunday (May 7), none of the handicappers selected the winner Charmed Life. The best the handicappers could do is pick up the crumbs with Hannelore's second-place finish which meant having to settle for a net loss of $1.70

Monday (May 8) afternoon was the opposite of Sunday's outcome as Lady Shadow ($3.40) didn't disappoint in the Chip Noble Memorial Pace. While seven handicappers had the winner it was Rusty Nash, the lone handicapper who selected second place Divas Image whose ($16.40, $7.80) dividends easily topped the favorite's payoffs allowing him to finish in front for the day.