Carter on top in Grand Circuit ‘Cap Contest’

(August 28, 2016) – Michael Carter (110.48 points) muscled past Adam Friedland (101.1) to win weekly honors in the 2016 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge sponsored by DRF Harness, Green Acquisition Corporation, The Hambletonian Society, Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment, Northfield Park, The Raceway at Western Fair District, Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park, Tioga Downs, and Vernon Downs. Finishing third for the week was Sally Hinckley with 99.45 points. Unlike the first half of the harness racing season, this half is much closer with the second half leader (and first half winner) Jay Hochstetler having three handicappers on his tail, less than 50 points separating the quartet.

Overall, Hochstetler is cruising along on his quest for overall champion, still 650.78 points ahead of his nearest competitor, Adam Friedland with Russ Adams sitting in third, another 0.87 points back. Despite the dominating lead, the second half of the contest is only in its second week and there is much more handicapping to go, so there is time for other handicappers to get hot.

On Friday night, Michael Carter and Sally Hinckley hit the Pick-4, sweeping the contest card earning 72.28 points with winners in the Muscle Hill and the Crawford Farms Trot at Vernon Downs as well as the two divisions of the Casual Breeze at Mohawk Raceway.

While no one hit the Pick-3 on Saturday evening, Carter, Adam Friedland, Dennis O'Hara, Anne Stepien, and Gordon Waterstone had two out of three but Friedland's duo was more lucrative than the remainder of the quintet as he took down Wildflower ($31.00) in the Hudson Filly Trot earning 52.5 points to the other's 18.23 for the evening.

Sunday was Friedland's day, the only handicapper to pick three out of four selections with his final selection finishing second, earning him 38.5 points.

The condensed standings after this weekend's action follows. For the complete standings, visit the HANA Harness contest website.

The action begins early this week as Monday evening Tioga Down’s card wraps up the Tompkins Series for two-year old pacers of both gaits.  The first Thursday evening of the contest season has the handicappers taking on the Champlain Stakes for two-year old filly trotters at Mohawk, followed up by Friday’s Champlain Stakes for two-year old open trotters and Simcoe Stakes for three-year old filly trotters.  Saturday evening has races from Mohawk (Canadian Pacing Derby, Simcoe, She’s A Great Lady) and Yonkers Raceway where the Yonkers Trot and Messenger Stakes will be contested.  

Racing fans may continue getting the handicappers’ selections and other contest-related information from HANA Harness’ contest website  http://hanaharnesscontest.blogspot.com.

Allan Schott

Check out the HANA Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge