Hochstetler takes Leg, Nash still on top

(June 4, 2017) – Longshots have finally come home to roost in Grand Circuit harness racing which caused some difficulties for the Grand Circuit handicapping panel but Jay Hochstetler was able to take advantage of the situation as his one winner, Canada's fastest pacer, Dr J Hanover ($32.90) was able to put him on the plus side for the evening, thus the winner of Saturday's (6/3) leg of the handicapping challenge. Hochstetler's victory allowed him to leap frog from 10th to 6th place.

Despite nailing down two short priced winners, overall leader Rusty Nash failed to place in the top five for the week but still maintains his overall lead for the second week, besting 2nd place Matt Rose (388.3 vs. 363.6 points). Russ Adams maintains his 3rd place position, just 22.5 points further back in the hunt.

In the overall profit contest, the standings mirror the points leaders board with Nash leading Rose and Adams.  Thanks to Hochstetler’s selection last night, he moves into 4^th, less than $70 separating the top four.. 

 

Standings as of Sunday, June 3, 2017 – Leg #21
Pos		Handicapper		Total Points Earned		Legs Won		Last Week		Streak
1st		Rusty Nash		388.3		5		1st		2
2nd		Matt Rose		363.6		4		2nd
3rd		Russ Adams		344.1		5		3rd
4th		Megan Maccario		267.5		3		4th
5th		Gordon Waterstone		257.8		3		5th
6th		Jay Hochstetler		256.8		3		10th
7th		Dennis O’Hara		242.5		3		6th
8th		Ray Garnett		240.9		2		8th
9th		Sally Hinckley		226.0		3		7th
10th		Steve Horoky		209.4		2		9th
11th		Bryan Owen		208.2		2		11th
12th		Michael Carter		182.4		2		12th
13th		Terry Wilson		172.5		2		13th
14th		Adam Friedland		169.8		1		14th
15th		Anne Stepien		140.5		2		16th
16th		Ray Cotolo		140.0		1		15th

 

Next Up:  This Saturday (6/10), Scioto Down’s Charlie Hill (Open Trot) is the sole race on the contest slate while Sunday (6/11) brings the Graduate Series (Open) for pacers and trotters to Tioga Downs. The following week returns the contest to Mohawk Racetrack for the Pepsi North America Cup racing program.

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

allan@hanaweb.org

Check out the HANA Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge