In the last weekend before the Grand Circuit Handicapping Challenge goes into overdrive with daily stakes races in the Midwest, Dennis O’Hara was the top handicapper for the September 8-9 stanza with a total of 98 points, 21 points ahead of Matt Rose, who took the runner-up position.
Rusty Nash finished in the show position with 62 points, which was good enough for him to take the lead in the overall contest.
On Friday evening, it was a Kindergarten Classic extravaganza at the Meadowlands, as eight tilts of two-year-old racing, plus a leg of the Ms Versatility, was contested. When the night was over, Rose and O’Hara had four winners each, but Rose prevailed with a net profit of $17.90. Finishing second was Anne Stepien, who, despite only having two winners, selected KJs Bekah, who paid $10.60 and $5.60 for her second-place finish. O’Hara’s four winners was good enough to take fourth place.
Saturday night, the action moved to Mohawk Racetrack and Scioto Downs and, once again, O’Hara tabbed four winners, but this time he was not to be denied, as he grabbed the top spot with a net profit of $10.70, which was helped by sweeping the Scioto Stakes. Nash, with five winners for the night, had to settle for the place position.
In the year-to-date contest, Nash has moved in front with a grand total of 874.7 points through forty-nine contest legs. Megan Maccario, the leader for the past five weeks, drops back to second place with 849.23 points. Matt Rose (822.38 pts) remains in third. The big mover of the week, Dennis O’Hara (761.18 pts), jumped three spots into fourth.
Next Up: The busiest segment of the grand circuit handicapping contest will begin this coming Wednesday with the Nadia Lobell at Hoosier Park. Friday will see the Meadowlands host the fourth preliminary leg of the Kindergarten Classic for juveniles of both gaits and sexes, followed by Saturday’s quartet of stakes at Mohawk, which includes the Canadian Trotting Classic and Maple Leaf Trot. Sunday’s stakes will coincide with opening day of the Delaware County Fair, where the Standardbred for two-year-old colts and fillies will be contested.
The following week, the Delaware County Fair continues, including the Little Brown Jug, and Harrah’s Philadelphia will host the Simpson for three-year-old filly pacers and trotters. Hoosier Park and Mohawk Racetrack will continue with their stakes program leading to the Red Mile Grand Circuit meet in two weeks.
(HANA Harness)