Mark Streiff of Mission Viejo, CA, crushed race 9 in the Del Mar Fall Challenge to finish well clear of the 60 other entries. Streiff, down to $1,300 going into the last race scored huge with a series of trifecta wagers keyed by two longshots in first and third paying over $52,000. Dan Kaplan from Las Vegas finished second with a $100 late double for an $18,000 payout. Players began the contest with a $3,000 live money bankroll in the two-day Challenge.
Overall prizes included nearly $50,000 in cash, three $10,000 entries in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) and three entries in the 2019 $2.5 million National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). The Challenge buy-in was $4,500 with $3,000 going to the player bankroll and $1,500 to the prize pool. 100% of the prize pool was distributed back to the prizewinners with Del Mar adding a $1 million bonus opportunity which will be paid to Streiff if he goes on to win the BCBC.
In addition to Streiff’s $52,812 in bankroll winnings, he receives $30,000 in cash, a $10,000 BCBC entry plus the $1 million bonus opportunity.| 2018 FINAL PLACINGS | ||
|---|---|---|
| PLACE | NAME | FINAL BANKROLL & PRIZES |
| 1 | Mark Streiff | $52,812 ($30,000 cash and BCBC entry) |
| 2 | Dan Kaplan | $19,000 ($12,500 cash and BCBC entry) |
| 3 | Mikael Christen | $15,875 ($4,000 cash and BCBC entry) |
| 4 | Mark Deaton | $12,720 ($2,000 cash, NHC entry & $1,000 travel) |
| 5 | Anthony Mattera | $12,460 (NHC entry & $1,000 travel) |
| 6 | Davis Basler | $9,163 (NHC entry & $1,000 travel) |
| 7 | Shawn Turner | $8,106 |
| 8 | Ed Spaunhurst | $6,250 |
| 9 | Linda Rodriguez | $5,190 |
| 10 | Chris Podratz | $4,141 |