Harness: Barnsdale powers Team Gallo Blue Chip to handicapping contest win

The Breeders Crown Team Handicapping Contest on last Saturday’s (Oct. 27) Breeders Crown championship card at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono was over before the half. When Garnet Barnsdale turned his total $360 in wagers on the 3-Year-Old Colt Trot (Race 7) into a cash of $2,895, it propelled Team Gallo Blue Chip to an easy victory. As a result, New Vocations will receive the first-place prize of $1,000 from the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown, which sponsored the contest that included 12 of harness racing’s top handicappers.

The 12 players were divided into three teams of four members each, playing for three designated charities: Harness Horse Youth Foundation, New Vocations and Standardbred Retirement Foundation. Each team member handicapped three Crown finals. All wagers were mythical and players were limited to $100 maximum win or win/place combination, $100 maximum in total exacta wagers, and $120 maximum in total trifecta wagers.

Barnsdale, the Woodbine Mohawk Park handicapper for DRF Harness, took full advantage of altering his selections when morning-line favorite Six Pack was an early scratch. While Barnsdale already had a $100 win bet on eventual champ Tactical Landing, he switched his exacta and trifecta selections and was able to nail both. While his win wager resulted in a cash of just $140, Barnsdale had a $100 straight exacta ticket that returned $1,250 and a $10 trifecta ticket that was worth $1,505.

Barnsdale’s total cash of $2,895 was actually more than each of the other two teams had in total. With teammates Gordon Waterstone cashing for a total of $1,158.50, Gabe Prewitt for $692.50, and Ellie Sarama for $578, Team Gallo Blue Chip’s total cash was $5,324.

Finishing second with a total of $2,730 and earning $500 for the Harness Horse Youth Foundation was Team Foiled Again, which consisted of Allan Schott, Dave Brower, Derick Giwner and Dave Weaver. Slightly more than half the team’s bankroll came from Weaver, who was the only handicapper in the contest to cash in all three of his designated races. Weaver, a host on the TVG network, saw his biggest return come in the Open Pace, where he had a $50 place wager on Filibuster Hanover, the runner-up to McWicked, as well as a two-horse $50 exacta box and a $5 trifecta box that in all totaled $868.50 and brought his overall total to $1,403.50.

Finishing third with a total of $2,346.90 and earning $250 for the Standardbred Retirement Foundation was Team Moni Maker, which consisted of Mark McKelvie, Megan Maccario, Michael Carter and Sally Hinckley. It was Hinckley, a longtime oddsmaker and handicapper, who led the team with a final bankroll of $1,522.50. Hinckley’s biggest cash of $1,070 came in the 3-Year-Old Colt Pace, where she had a $50 place wager on Lather Up, who was second to Dorsoduro Hanover, and a $50 two-horse exacta box that returned $965.

“Great job by all the Breeders Crown handicappers,” said Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown COO Moira Fanning. “The 12 championships from The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono had a little something for everyone, from favorites to longshots. The Hambletonian Society is happy to sponsor this contest which results in real dollars for some very special charities --- Standardbred aftercare and the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. Thanks to all for the efforts.”

-release (Breeders Crown)