Joey Affleck of Charlottetown, PEI was the winner in the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club’s online handicapping contest on Century Downs’ season opening card of racing on Saturday.
Authentic Pizzazz and driver Mike Hennessy winning the first race of the meet on March 17. (Kyle Meller/Coady Photo)
Over 150 people participated in the contest with two of the entrants finishing with 16 out of a possible 20 points. Joey was declared the winner following a blind draw.
Affleck, a fan and former groom at Greenwood and Mohawk Racetracks isn’t new to the handicapping game. In 2011 he had the highest score in the Breeders Crown Fantasy Pool which earned him a seat in the Trot Canada National Handicapping Championship in London, Ont. that same year.
Congratulations to Joey who has won a $50.00 gift certificate to the Canadian harness racetrack of his choice and a Fan Club swag package.
Below are the contest answers and Joey’s selections:
1. Select the leading money-winning driver for the day’s races (3 points).
Joey’s Selection: Mike Hennessy
Result: Mike Hennessy raced in every race on opening day, winning three of ten races and $14,830 in purse earnings.
2. Select the leading money-winning trainer for the day’s races (3 points).
Joey’s Selection: Rod Hennessy
Result: The leading money-winning trainer was Rod Hennessy who won four of ten races and earnings of $18,009.
3. Select the race that will have the fastest finishing time of the day (4 points).
Joey’s Selection: Race 5
Result: Race 10 was the fastest with Silent Rescue pacing to a 1:58.4 victory.
4. Select the post position that will return the highest number of wins on the day (4 points).
Joey’s Selection: Post 3
Result: Five of the ten races were won from Post 3: Races 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8.
5. Select the Winner of Race 7 (3 points).
Joey’s Selection: Nightime Chase
Result: Keith Clark drove Nightime Chase to a 2:00.1 winning effort in race 7.
6. Select the Winner of Race 9 (3 points).
Joey’s Selection: Blue Star Maverick
Result: Blue Star Maverick won the race in 1:59.2 as the post-time favourite, with trainer-driver Rod Hennessy in the bike.