(April 16, 2017) – With the final legs of the harness racing Matchmaker and Levy pacing series being contested on April 14 and 15, Russ Adams and Gordon Waterstone scored their first victories of the season in the Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge by taking down individual contest cards. With the help of their victories, Adams moved up from fifth to third while Waterstone jumped from ninth to fourth place in the standings.

Despite a lackluster week, Matt Rose remains in front with a total of 242.63 points while Rusty Nash remains in second with 224 points on the ledger. The previously mentioned Adams (196.14 pts) and Waterstone (136.14) round out the top four.

In the overall net-profit competition, Rose's $54.30 net profit is tops with Nash's $51.10 good for second. While Ray Garnett fell to fifth place, he stands in third place based on a net profit of $11.10.

Adams was the star of the weekend, scoring a trifecta Saturday night by tabbing all three winners of the Levy tilts (McWicked, $4.30; Bit Of A Legend N, $4.40; Somewhere In LA, $4.10) to earn a net profit of $11.60 for the night. Waterstone topped Friday by picking the second division winner Regil Elektra ($5.50), and having his first split selection Hidden Land finish second to earn a net profit of $6.00 (no show wagering in either of the two divisions).

The standings through the first ten legs are:

Next Up:  After the first five weeks at the Old Hiltop, the Challenge does take a detour to British Columbia for two special additions, Fraser Downs’ Kenny Linton Memorial (4/21) and the Penny Bath Memorial (4/22), the only two non-restricted stakes races of the entire year in this Western Canadian Province.  In addition to these two tilts, the Matchmaker and Levy Series finals and consolations will be contested at Yonkers Raceway Saturday night.  After the Yonkers finals, there will be a week off before the Grand Circuit begins traveling in earnest, starting at Freehold Raceway and the Meadowlands.

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.blogspot.com. 

Allan Schott

HANA Harness Racing Coordinator

Check out the HANA Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge