While five handicappers have sprinted out to the positive side of the ledger, it is Brandon Valvo who has sprinted out to an early lead in the HANA Harness 2014 Grand Circuit ‘Shoot-Out’ Handicapping Contest.

Valvo has a net profit of $365 for Week 1, followed right behind by Rusty Nash who is in second place with a net profit of $343.

Both Valvo and Nash found themselves hitting the proverbial gold mine by casting a large portion of their lot on the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final, with both hitting the 3-4 Exacta of Somewherovrarainbow and Yagonnakissmeorwhat; Valvo had a $50 Exacta Box worth $270 while Nash had a $100 Exacta worth $540.

In addition to the exacta plays, Valvo had a $100 win ticket on Somewherovrarainbow which paid $345. Other key hits from other handicappers in the contest were Ray Cotolo’s $40 Win ticket on PH Supercam ($128); Sally Hinckley’s $50 Place ticket on Apprentice Hanover ($220); Mark McKelvie’s $50 Win, Place ticket on Somewherovrarainbow ($153); Anne Stepien’s $40 Win, Place wager on the Matchmaker winner ($204).

The standings after the first week are as follows:

After this week’s event, the contest heads down to central New Jersey for the Lady Suffolk (Friday, May 2) and the Dexter Cup (Saturday, May 3) at Freehold Raceway before the Grand Circuit heads to Miami Valley Racing for the first time on Sunday, May 4 for the Miami Valley Distaffs for trotting and pacing fillies.

(HANA)