from HANA Harness

The contestants of the 2013 HANA Harness Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge, sponsored by the Hambletonian Society, Chicago Racing, IHHA, Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, welcomed the change in scenery this week with many of the challengers being successful on one or both days this weekend.

As a result, while Rusty Nash remains in front, there was considerable movement in the standings this week with the biggest move coming from Richard Scott, who was sixth last week, moving into second place with net profits for the weekend of $192.90. Dennis O’Hara, who remains in third place, was second best for the weekend with a profit of $92.80. Three other handicappers were in the black this past week.

The top play this week was Richard Scott’s $10 WPS ticket on Economy Terror in the Betsy Ross at Harrah’s Philadelphia which returned $168.00. The big winner on Saturday was Dennis O’Hara, whose $5 three horse exacta box in the Dan Patch returned him $113.50, followed by The Horseman and Fair World’s Gordon Waterstone whose $20 win and $10 place wager on Bolt The Duer paid an even $100.00.

Here are the current standings:

Position-Handicapper-Week Gain-Net Profit-Behind-Last Week
1. Rusty Nash–$7.10–$184.10–X–1st
2. Richard Scott–$192.90–$58.39–($125.71)–6th
3. Dennis O’Hara–$92.80–$17.00–($167.10)–3rd
4. Mark McKelvie–($68.00)–($44.70)–($228.80)–2nd
5. Sally Hinckley–$30.90–($61.60)–($245.70)–4th
6. Earl Paulson–($90.00)–($189.90)–($374.00)–5th
7. Gordon Waterstone–$66.00–($200.50)–($384.60)–10th
8. Ray Garnett–($13.80)–($216.20)–($400.30)–8th
9. Ann Stepien–($24.30)–($248.35)–($432.45)–9th
10. Garnet Barnsdale–($90.00)–($258.00)–($442.10)–7th

Ten grace days permitted. After ten days, there is a penalty of $30 per race.

Key Hits: In the Dan Patch, Sally Hinckley had a $10 WPS ticket on Bolt The Duer netting a $52.00 profit, Dennis O’Hara had a $5 exacta box which netted him $83.50, and Gordon Waterstone had a $20 win and $10 to place on Bolt The Duer, netting $70.00. On Sunday’s Betsy Ross, Richard Scott had a $10 WPS ticket on Economy Terror which grossed $168.00.

Contest Schedule This Week
Friday, May 31: Western Fair – $150,000 Molson Pace Invitational
Saturday, June 1: Meadowlands – $218,850 (est.) Golden Girls, $50,000 Meadowlands Pacing FFA; Mohawk Racetrack – $150,000 (est.) Somebeachsomewhere; Yonkers Raceway – $275,000 Art Rooney Pace, $115,000 (est.) Lismore