from HANA Harness

Just last week the headlines indicated a log jam formed in the top four positions in HANA Harness’ 2013 Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by the Hambletonian Society, Chicago Harness, IHHA, Meadowlands, Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs. What a difference a week makes.

With Richard Scott gaining $1,023.40 over the last four contest days, he has built a $755 lead over Rusty Nash, who also had a productive week, gaining $472 over the same period. Earl Paulson had a more modest gain of $114 over the weekend. Many of the other handicappers also had some impressive hits.

Scott managed to build his lead with a combination of wagers, such as his $30 win wager Thursday on Love Detective in the Tompkins-Geers at Tioga which paid $438 and a $602 return on a $15 win/place wager Friday on Aneqada in the Tompkins-Geers at Tioga Downs. On Sunday, Scott even pulled off a $172 mutuel, boxing the entire field in a $1 exacta for a total cost of $30. There was little Scott touched that didn’t pay dividends.

Standings as of July 21, 2013:

Pos.-Name-Week Gain-Net Profit-Behind-Last Pos.-Days Missed
1. Richard Scott-$1,023.40-$778.09-X-2-3
2. Rusty Nash-$472.50-$22.85-($755.24)-6-0
3. Dennis O’Hara-($53.60)-($317.35)-($1,095.44)-3-2
4. Mark McKelvie-($136.80)-($350.84)-($1,128.93)-1-0
5. Ann Stepien-($206.00)-($469.85)-($1,247.94)-4-0
6. Ray Garnett-($49.00)-($722.55)-($1,500.64)-8-1
7. Sally Hinckley-($421.55)-($817.70)-($1,595.79)-5-0
8. Earl Paulson-$114.00-($924.35)-($1,702.44)-9-1
9. Gordon Waterstone-($281.50)-($946.45)-($1,724.54)-7-3
10. Garnet Barnsdale-($360.00)-($1,522.50)-($2,300.59)-10-6

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

Key Hits (unless specified, at Tioga Downs): Rusty Nash (Thursday)-$15 win, place on Winning Pursuit paid $160.50; (Friday)-$10 Pick-3 paid $151.20; $1 trifecta wheel ($30) on El Bloombito paid $99.00; (Saturday)–$15 Pine Credit-Crazy About Pat exacta paid $355.50, $30 Win on Forty Five Red paid $114.00 in the Lawrence B. Sheppard (Yonkers Raceway); Anne Stepien (Thursday)-$10 win, place, show on Winning Pursuit paid $125.00; Richard Scott (Thursday)-$30 win on Love Detective paid $438.00; (Friday)-$15 win, place on Anegada paid $602.25; (Sunday)-$1 exacta box (All/All) on Bet The Moon-Troon paid $172.00; Ray Garnett (Friday)-$10 win, place on Anegada paid $401.50; Sally Hinckley (Saturday)-$6 show on Clear Vision in the Battle of Lake Erie (Northfield Park) paid $104.40; Dennis O’Hara (Saturday) $5 exacta on Forty Five Red-Thereisapaceforus paid $126.25 in the Lawrence B. Sheppard (Yonkers Raceway); $1 trifecta box ($24) in the Tompkins-Geers paid $99.75.

Contest Schedule This Week
Wednesday, July 24–The Meadows-$60,000 (est.) Arden Downs (2-year-old colt trot), $85,000 (est.) Arden Downs (2-year-old filly trot).

Friday, July 26–The Meadows-$73,000 (est.) Arden Downs (3-year-old colt trot), $66,000 (est.) Arden Downs (3-year-old filly trot).

Saturday, July 27–The Meadows-$140,000 (est.) Adioo Volo (3-year-old filly pace), $500,000 (est.) Adios (3-year-old colt pace), $90,000 (est.) Arden Downs (2-year-old filly pace), $100,000 (est.) Arden Downs (2-year-old colt pace); Yonkers-$450,000 Yonkers Trot (3-year-old Open Trot).