Mark Evans from Tempe, AZ turned his starting $2,000 bankroll into $17,000, propelled by a big score in the Grade II Seabiscuit Handicap. Along with his cash and prize winnings of $35,500, Mark takes home a total of $52,500 on Closing Weekend of the Del Mar live meet.
Evan Topol of La Jolla, CA was the second place finisher with $15,840 while Dennis Hubbard from Daly City took third place, closing out the day with $15,477. The top three finishers received 2026 $10,000 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge entries.
Evans bet just shy of $1,000 in the Seabiscuit Handicap on Win, Exacta, and Trifecta wagers featuring extreme longshot Call Sign Seven, at odds of 68-1. The longshot charged home for the upset victory, delivering a massive payout of $17,600 that rocketed Evans into the top position and he held on from there.
Players competed either on-track at Del Mar or online on TVG.com, with prizes awarded to the top eight finishers. Also awarded were entries to the 2026 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).
| PLACE | NAME | FINAL BANKROLL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Evans | $17,000.90 |
| 2 | Evan Topol | $15,840.20 |
| 3 | Dennis Hubbard | $10,004.00 |
| 4 | Bill Chenvert | $9,335.00 |
| 5 | Frank Mariani | $8,000.00 |
| 6 | Alan Hoffman | $7,700.50 |
| 7 | Elio Imbornnone | $6,410.00 |
| 8 | Scott Robers | $14,290.00 |