by Dan Leary, USTA director of marketing and communications

Columbus, OH — Andrea Nash of Elkridge, Md. and Mark Levine from Stratham, N.H., won the weekend’s two USTA World Harness Handicapping Championship Free, Online Qualifiers to earn berths ($1,000 value) to the $100,000 World Harness Handicapping Championship at the Meadowlands on Saturday (April 13).

Nash had eight winners and two second-place finishers in Northfield Park’s 15 races on Friday for a total bankroll of $179.20 to win by $30.80. She had two picks that paid more than $30 to win, Hula Lu ($30.60, $6.60) in the opener and Ilooklikemygranny ($32.20, $12.80) in the 13th race. There were 1,043 players entered.

On Saturday’s 11 races from Pompano Park, Levine selected seven winners. His biggest score came with his alternate pick Competition Cam, who paid $16.80, $4.80 when his top selection Allamerican Major was scratched. But it was Blow Em Away ($11.20, $5.80) in the 11th and final race that clinched the victory for Levine who was best among the 1,065 who entered.

Free entries, limited to 1,250 per contest, for the final two contests for Northville Downs on Friday (Feb. 15) and Buffalo Raceway on Saturday (Feb. 16) opened at 9 a.m. on Monday (Feb. 11) at www.horsetourneys.com.

A link to Free TrackMaster Platinum Past Performances on their site will be available for each weekend’s contests two days before each event at www.horsetourneys.com.

Following are the top 10 finishers in the seventh and eighth USTA free, online qualifiers for the WHHC:

Qualifier 7–Northfield Park, Friday, Feb. 8
No.-Name-Earnings
1. Andrea Nash–$179.20
2. Bridget Nash–$148.40
3. Kathleen Nash–$140.60
4. Jeff Klahr–$138.60
5. David Stratton–$137.20
6. Rodney Browder–$135.00
7. Russell Nash–$134.00
8. Victoria Kolnick–$133.40
9. Carlo Romei–$132.40
10. Rich Zenor–$130.20

Qualifier 8–Pompano Park, Saturday, Feb. 10
No.-Name-Earnings
1. Mark Levine–$92.60
2. Charles Spicuzza–$86.00
3. Bob Bandzwolek–$83.40
4. Mike Maguire–$82.00
5. Dino Parrella–$80.00
6. Darrell Albert–$79.40
7. Anthony Porter–$79.20
8. Tony Valentini–$77.20
9t. Pat Hagan–$76.00
9t. Randy Sailsbery–$76.00

The USTA World Harness Handicapping Championship Free, Online Qualifying Series consists of 10 tournaments during January and February over five consecutive weekends and involve handicapping races at 10 different USTA member racetracks.

Following is the schedule/results with featured racetracks for the USTA Free, Online WHHC Qualifying Series:

Date-Track-Winner
Fri. Jan. 18–Meadowlands–Sally Goodall (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Sat. Jan. 19–Balmoral Park–Brenda Hogan (Jeffersonville, Ind.)
Fri. Jan. 25–Maywood Park–Paul Groffie (Trenton, N.J.)
Sat. Jan. 26–Cal Expo–William Woodrum (Lexington, Ky.)
Fri. Feb. 1–The Meadows–Michael Rosenthal (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Sat. Feb. 2–Yonkers Raceway–Ira Schwartz (Sunny Isles, Fla.)
Fri. Feb. 8–Northfield Park–Andrea Nash (Elkridge, Md.)
Sat. Feb. 9–Pompano Park–Mark Levine (Stratham, N.H.)
Fri. Feb. 15–Northville Downs
Sat. Feb 16–Buffalo Raceway