In perhaps the most competitive week of the competition, Brandon Valvo finished ahead of six other handicappers with positive ROIs in Leg 49 of HANA Harness’ Grand Circuit Shoot-Out Handicapping Contest thanks to his weekly net profit of $1,220 (-$385 overall), $660 ahead of overall leader Garnet Barnsdale.

With Barnsdale’s weekly profit of $560, he returns to the top of the standings with a net profit of $2,541 as the handicappers head into the bye week before the Breeders Crown finals.

Finishing third this past week was Brian McEvoy ($500, $128.50 overall), followed by Gordon Waterstone ($320, -$1,031.30), Dennis O’Hara ($200, -$3,801.65), Earl Paulson ($90, -$2,317.50) and Josi Verlingieri ($85, -$530.40).

Valvo owes his success this week thanks to two $200 Win wagers placed in this past Thursday’s Matron Stakes at Dover Downs – the first wager in the two-year-old colt and gelding pacer tilt returning $480, while his stake in the three-year-old filly pacer event paid a generous $1,140 dividend. Barnsdale successfully let it ride in the two-year-old colt and gelding pace, as his $400 Win investment returned $960. Third-place finisher McEvoy’s profit was attributable to a $100 Win and $150 Place stake in the two-year-old filly pace which returned a combined $750.

Other significant wagers this week were made by Dennis O’Hara, whose $200 straight Trifecta in the three-year-old filly pace paid $600; Earl Paulson’s two $50 Win wagers in the two-year-old colt and gelding trot returned $155, and the two-year-old filly pace paid $210; Josi Verlingieri’s $150 Win bet in the two-year-old colt and gelding pace returned $360; Gordon Waterstone’s $300 wager in the freshman colt and gelding pace paid $720.

The current standings after the completion of this past week’s action are:

The Handicapping Shoot-Out will take a week off in preparation for Breeders Crown Finals weekend. For Breeders Crown weekend, each handicapper will be able to wager up to $400 on each night. After the Breeders Crown, the contest has three more legs – the Meadowlands Racetrack for the TVG Finals, Dover Downs’ Progress Pace, and then the Cleveland Classic at Northfield Park.

(With files from HANA)