Christian Hellmers scored with a huge exacta wager in race 10, the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes, amassing $32,000 for the Day One lead. Del Mar’s signature handicapping contest, the 20th annual Del Mar Summer Challenge, attracted 128 entries for the two-day event held on-track only.
Hellmers, from Del Mar, CA, wins the first day prize of an entry to the $4,000 Pacific Classic Betting Challenge played at Del Mar or online through TVG.com on Saturday, September 2.
Participants started with a $4,000 live money bankroll in the two-day Challenge offering more than $250,000 in total prizes and over $100,000 to the winner. The top 12 finishers receive a combination of prizes including cash, six $10,000 Breeders Cup Betting Challenge entries, National Horseplayers Championship spots and entries to the Pacific Classic Betting Challenge.
| PLACE | NAME | CURRENT BANKROLL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christian Hellmers | $31,616 |
| 2 | Frank Mustari (2) | $26,120 |
| 3 | Frank Mustari | $18,100 |
| 4 | Todd Cady | $11,390 |
| 5 | Vaughn Bair | $11,385 |
| 6 | Cory Shorr (2) | $10,588 |
| 7 | Andrew Brown | $10,560 |
| 8 | Matthew Baiungo (2) | $9,781 |
| 9 | Ben Beychok | $8,700 |
| 10 | Gene Cahalan | $8,513 |