With the Hambletonian extravaganza next week, HANA Harness handicappers were tuning up with seventeen Grand Circuit races at The Meadows, Plainridge Park, and Meadowlands over a period of two days (July 28 and 29).
When the final races were concluded, Megan Maccario earned weekly honours with a total of 92 points, besting Steve Horoky and Anne Stepien who dead-heated for second with a tally of 87 points. Maccario’s effort was good enough to move into second place, on the heels of overall leader Rusty Nash.
Michael Carter, Sally Hinckley, Stepien and Horoky led the pack on Friday with the quartet each winning five of six divisions of the Arden Downs at the Meadows (no one tabbed JL Cruz in the Spirit of Massachusetts), but Stepien bested Horoky by $1.20 to grab the win picture. Ray Garnett only had two winners but with his placing dividends, managed to split the quartet to take show honours. Hinckley landed in fourth place while Carter completed the Pentafeca.
Despite finishing out of the money on Friday with three winners, Maccario managed to finish strongly on Saturday, taking down five winners including Cult Iron ($38) in the second division of the Mary Lib Miller Arden Downs Pace, allowing her to out-earn Garnett and Horoky who also had five winning selections thanks to her $40.90 net profit. Garnett’s $22.90 was good enough for second place for the day while Horoky’s $12.70 allowed him to settle for third.
Heading into the Hambletonian leg, Rusty Nash maintains his overall lead for the second straight week with a total of 620.95 points. Maccario is right behind with 617.48 points while Matt Rose dropped to third with 581.13 points.
Next Up: Hambletonian Week is upon us, meaning the handicappers will be challenged with at least ten races, barring splits. Among those races are the Peter Haughton Memorial, Fresh Yankee, Jim Doherty Memorial, John Cashman Memorial, Shady Daisy, Cane Pace, Lady Liberty, U S Pacing Championship, Hambletonian Oaks Final and of course, the Hambletonian; all contested at the Meadowlands.
Action will start quickly the following week, as a couple of special races will be contested on Monday, August 7 at Century Downs; The Lady Luck (three-year-old filly pace) and Ralph Klein Memorial (three-year-old colt and gelding pace). On Friday, August 11, Hoosier Park will host the Dan Patch. Saturday will have Northfield Park’s Carl Milstein Memorial on the marquee.
(HANA)