(August 8, 2017) – Hambletonian weekend provided plenty of races for the harness racing handicappers to digest and when the weekend was over, Bryan Owen was a runaway winner for the week with a total of 103.75 points, 48 points ahead of his nearest competitor. Meanwhile, Megan Maccario's 55.75 points for the week were enough to take the overall lead from Rusty Nash.
Owen won the 11-race Hambletonian (August 5) slate with only three winners on the card, but only needed Sam McKee Memorial Winner Check Six ($79) which credited his tally with $111.40, netting him a net profit of $72.40 for the day. Jay Hochstetler and Nash both earned honorable mention by selecting four winners for the day.
On Monday (August 7), designated a Special Stakes Day, the handicappers took on the inaugural Lady Luck and Ralph Klein Memorial at Century Downs and with a duo of favorites winning, a quartet of handicappers, Russ Adams, Jay Hochstetler, Maccario, and Nash, dead0heaated by tabbing the two winners.
With regards to the overall contest lead, Maccario’s tally of 55.75 points for the week gives her a total of 678.23 which puts her in first place. Nash’s 34 points (654.95 points) was good to place him second while Matt Rose’s 29 points (610.3 points overall) allows him to remain in third. Thanks to his performance this week, Owen advanced from fourteenth to eleventh place.
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Standings as of Monday, August 7, 2017 – Leg #36 |
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Pos |
Handicapper |
Total Points Earned |
Legs Won |
Last Week |
Streak |
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|
1st |
Megan Maccario |
673.23 |
6 |
2nd |
1 |
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|
2nd |
Rusty Nash |
654.95 |
6 |
1st |
|
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|
3rd |
Matt Rose |
610.13 |
6 |
3rd |
|
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|
4th |
Russ Adams |
584.87 |
5 |
4th |
|
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|
5th |
Sally Hinckley |
543.73 |
5 |
7th |
|
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|
6th |
Ray Garnett |
537.86 |
3 |
5th |
|
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|
7th |
Gordon Waterstone |
530.75 |
5 |
6th |
|
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|
8th |
Dennis O’Hara |
506.68 |
5 |
9th |
|
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|
9th |
Steve Horoky |
501.41 |
3 |
8th |
|
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|
10th |
Anne Stepien |
487.15 |
5 |
10th |
|
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|
11th |
Bryan Owen |
402.98 |
3 |
14th |
|
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|
12th |
Jay Hochstetler |
391.75 |
3 |
11th |
|
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|
13th |
Terry Wilson |
380.47 |
4 |
12th |
|
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|
14th |
Michael Carter |
364.03 |
3 |
13th |
|
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|
15th |
Adam Friedland |
296.80 |
1 |
15th |
|
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|
16th |
Ray Cotolo |
249.33 |
1 |
16th |
|
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Next Up: A light weekend is ahead for the HANA Handicappers as the Dan Patch Invitational will be contested Friday evening (August 11) at Hoosier Park while the Carl Milstein Memorial will be contested Saturday (August 12) at Northfield park.
The following week has the contest heading north for the Zweig Memorial for 3yo trotters of both sexes at Vernon Downs on Friday while Tioga Downs hosts the Roll With Joe for Open pacers and the Miss Versatility for older trotting mares. In addition, Hippodrome 3R will present the Prix d’Ete Pace for 4yo pacers.
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
