The opening two legs of the 2017 Hambletonian Society Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge are in the books. Matt Rose and Rusty Nash have sprinted to the early lead after each having won a leg.

However, with more winners for the weekend, Rose has taken a 76.5-67 point lead over Nash as the total prize pool reaches a record $8,000 thanks to the added Gold Sponsorship of WEG Entertainment and the Silver Sponsorship of Aquaflow, LLC.

While the Levy tends to be the home of favourites, several of handicappers were undeterred in going against the anticipated chalk and they were successful. Hitting second division winner Long Live Rock ($38.60) were Ray Cotolo, Ray Garnett, and Nash. Taking down fourth division winner Soto ($14.00) were Cotolo, Adam Friedland, Jay Hochstetler, Steve Horoky, Nash, Bryan Owen, and Rose.

In the near-miss category, Rose just missed a big price in the third division of the Matchmaker on Friday evening when Hidden Land was bested by Regil Elektra in a photo. While denied the winning mutuel, Rose picked up the place and show mutuels of $15 and $13 respectively, which helped his net profit in the early going. In the net-profit competition, Nash ($58.90) leads Cotolo ($42.40) and Rose ($35.40).

Next Up: The challenge will return to Yonkers Raceway on Friday, March 24 for the second leg of the Matchmaker series, while Saturday (5/25) is the second leg of the Levy Memorial.

(HANA)