Ontario Racing handicapper Nicholas Barnsdale inched six points closer to Leamington Raceway announcer Nathan Bain in the second-last leg of the $500 Hiawatha Horse Park Youth Handicapping Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 11.

Barnsdale recorded 67 points to Bain's 61, but it may be a case of "too little, too late" as Bain is already a lock to win the overall contest, holding a commanding 84-point lead (894 to 810).

Barnsdale won Saturday because his top pick only missed the board in one of the day’s 12 races. While Bain picked one more winner (four, to Barnsdale’s three), there were four races where he didn’t score because his top choice did not hit the board. Both handicappers' Best Bets clicked: Bain correctly forecasted that Windsun Gaga ($2.90) would take race three, while Barnsdale’s top pick Jayport High Class ($4.80) captured the finale.

The competition – for which the $300 first prize and $200 second prize are generously supplied by Hiawatha Horse Park – concludes on closing day this Saturday, Sept. 18. Follow Bain's (@NBainracing) and Barnsdale's (@AceBarnsdale) weekly Hiawatha selections on Twitter every Saturday afternoon. Barnsdale's selections also appear on the Ontario Racing "Tips from the Pros" handicapping page.

Try your luck as well: Hiawatha Horse Park is available for online wagering via Horseplayer Interactive and other ADWs.

(USHWA)