from HANA Harness

The racing experts may have thought Smilin Eli couldn’t lose, but Sally Hinckley wasn’t convinced and it turned out she was right as she earned $138 by supporting Corky in the Earl Beal, Jr. Memorial.

That scored allowed Hinckley to cap off a big night in HANA Harness’ 2013 Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by the Hambletonian Society, Chicago Harness, IHHA, Meadowlands, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs, as she jumped from seventh to fourth place with her $233.50 profit at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. On top of the big hit with Corky, Hinckley had three of the four trifectas offered.

While most handicappers didn’t do well, Dennis O’Hara was able to jump to the top of the standings, leapfrogging former leader Rusty Nash, who stumbled this past week to fall into third and Mark McKelvie, who remained in second place. Completing the shake-up was Earl Paulson, who by virtue of his $29.50 net profit, was able to move from tenth to eighth place.

This week, the Handicapping Challenge has an early start with Monday night’s Miss Versatility Trot (the second and 11th races) at Mohawk Racetrack. Selections are available on the contest’s website.

Standings as of June 29, 2013 — Unofficial

Pos-Name-Week Gain-Net Profit-Behind-Last Pos -Days Missed
1. Dennis O’Hara-($23.00)-($57.25)-X-3rd-2
2. Mark McKelvie-($86.00)-($116.94)-($59.69)-2nd-0
3. Rusty Nash-($124.80)-($122.95)-($65.70)-1st-0
4. Sally Hinckley-$233.50-($183.85)-($126.60)-7th-0
5. Ann Stepien-($99.00)-($393.95)-($336.70)-5th-0
6. Richard Scott-($106.70)-($400.91)-($343.66)-4th-0
7. Gordon Waterstone-($101.00)-($441.85)-($384.60)-6th-3
8. Earl Paulson-$29.50-($620.35)-($563.10)-10th-0
9. Ray Garnett-($74.70)-($668.15)-($610.90)-9th-0
10. Garnet Barnsdale-($150.00)-($777.50)-($720.25)-8th-3

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

Key Hits: Sally Hinckley-$10 win, place, show on Corky returned $138.00; $1 trifecta part wheel on James Lynch Memorial earning $84.10; $2 trifecta box on Ben Franklin FFA earning $55.40; $1 trifecta box on Max C. Hempt Memorial paid $57.60. Earl Paulson had a $2 trifecta box on the Ben Franklin FFA earning $55.40.

Contest Schedule This Week
Monday, July 1–Mohawk Racetrack-C$40,000 Miss Versatility (Open trotting mares)
Friday, July 5–Meadowlands-$46,000 (est.) Reynolds (3-year-old colt trotters) and $56,000 (est.) Reynolds (3-year-old filly trotters)
Saturday, July 6–Meadowlands-$50,000 TVG/Meadowlands FFA (trotters); Yonkers Raceway-$110,000 (est.) Hudson Filly Trot (3-year-olds).