Stepien dominates in Handicapping Challenge

(September 16, 2017) – Anne Stepien continues to ride her recent streak to be the top harness racing handicapper for the week in the Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge moving from 6th to 3rd place overall thanks to her 103.67 point tally for the period of September 13-15. In the overall contest, Rusty Nash holds on to the overall lead for the second week straight, albeit with a shrinking lead of 0.80 points.

On Wednesday (9/13) six handicappers dead-heated for the night, selecting Blazin Britches ($3.80) in the Nadia Lobell at Hoosier Park. Each handicapper selecting Blazin Britches, including Stepien, earned 21.67 points for the evening.

Friday (9/15) was another Kindergarten Night at the Meadowlands where ten of the eleven races were divisions of the Kindergarten Classic. Gordon Waterstone was best with six winners for the evening, besting Ray Cotolo (2nd) and Steve Horoky (3rd) based on net profit. Stepien ran out of the money but still earned 22 points with four winners for the evening.

Saturday (9/16) was a big stakes night at Mohawk Racetrack and eight handicappers had two out of four races tabbed so it came to net profit in determining placing points awaarded. Stepien bested the octet by selecting Blue Moon Stride ($14.30). While Terry Wilson had no winners for the evening, he finished second by cashing in all four races with Dream Together ($3.40; second in Elegantimage), Long Tom ($4.20; third in Canadian Trotting Classic), L A Delight ($8.50 and $4.60; second in Milton), and JL Cruze ($7.50 and $3.90; second in Maple Leaf Trot).

In the year to date contest, Nash leads with 905.70 points, ahead of Megan Maccario’s 904.90.  Stepien now sits in third with a total of 848.82.

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Next Up: Grand Circuit activity continues every day this week with racing from the Delaware County Fair, Harrah’s Philadelphia, Hoosier Park, and Mohawk Racetrack.  Following this week, stakes action moves to Dayton Raceway and The Red Mile in addition to continuing at Harrah’s.

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