Meadowlands Pace Weekend brought 14 tilts for consideration by the Hambletonian Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge handicappers and when the dust settled, Matt Rose took top honours for the week, as he earned 92 points which allowed him to retake the overall lead with a grand total of 543.13 points, 1.18 points ahead of second place Rusty Nash (541.95 pts).

On Friday night’s (July 14) Meadowlands card, Rose swept the evening’s slate of four races, which earned him a net profit of $10.10 in the ‘fave-fest.’ Anne Stepien, with only two winners, came in second with a net profit of $7.20 besting a quadruplet of handicappers with three winners each.

Meadowlands Pace night (July 15) was another night that favoured favourites. Steve Horoky and Rusty Nash each had a 70 per cent strike rate with seven winners, but it was Terry Wilson and his five winners that won the leg with a net profit of $40.10. He selected the lone longshot of the evening, Mach It So ($34.60), to win the William Haughton Memorial. Finishing second for the night, also tabbing the longshot, was Megan Maccario with $38.20 net.

Next Up: Juveniles of both gaits and sexes will take to the Meadowlands for another leg of the Kindergarten Classic on Friday, July 21. Saturday evening features the Joe Gerrity Memorial at Saratoga Harness. The following weekend will feature the Arden Downs and the inaugural Spirit of Massachusetts at the Meadows and Plainridge Park on Friday, while Saturday will be Adios Day card at the Meadows, as the Meadowlands will host the Hambletonian Oaks eliminations in addition to the Reynolds for three-year-old trotters.

(HANA)