Longshots have finally come home to roost in Grand Circuit racing, which have caused some difficulties for the Grand Circuit handicapping panel.
Even given the difficulties, Jay Hochstetler was able to take advantage of the situation as his one winner, Canada’s fastest pacer, Dr J Hanover ($32.90), was able to put him on the plus side for the evening, thus the winner of Saturday’s (6/3) leg of the handicapping challenge. Hochstetler’s victory allowed him to leap frog from tenth to sixth place.
Despite nailing down two short-priced winners, overall leader Rusty Nash failed to place in the top five for the week, but still maintains his overall lead for the second week, besting second-place Matt Rose (388.3 vs. 363.6 points). Russ Adams maintains his third-place position, just 22.5 points further back in the hunt.
In the overall profit contest, the standings mirror the points leaders board with Nash leading Rose and Adams. Thanks to Hochstetler’s selection, he moves into fourth, less than $70 separating the top four.
Next Up: This Saturday (6/10), Scioto Downs’ Charlie Hill (Open Trot) is the sole race on the contest slate, while Sunday (6/11) brings the Graduate Series (Open) for pacers and trotters to Tioga Downs. The following week returns the contest to Mohawk Racetrack for the Pepsi North America Cup racing program.
(HANA Harness)