John Smith from La Habra Heights, CA, turned his $4,000 starting bankroll into $18,340 on day one of Del Mar’s signature two-day event, the 22nd Annual Summer Challenge. John scored big with a $2,000 double wager in races 7 & 8 for a payout of $16,600 to vault into the lead.
Smith 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, August 30.
Rounding out the top three are Roger McDow of Las Vegas with $13,800 and Scotty McKeever, from Fort Lauderdale, FL, with $10,490.
The on-track only Challenge drew 117 entries from top players from throughout the country. Participants are vying for more than $230,000 in total prizes. The top 12 finishers receive a combination of prizes including cash, seven entries to the $10,000 Breeders Cup Betting Challenge at Del Mar, up to seven National Horseplayers Championship spots and entries to the Pacific Classic Betting Challenge.
| PLACE | NAME | FINAL BANKROLL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Smith 2 | $18,340.00 |
| 2 | Roger McDow 2 | $13,800.00 |
| 3 | Scotty McKeever 2 | $10,490.00 |
| 4 | Vic Stauffer | $6,900.00 |
| 5 | Mickey Hopkins | $6,532.50 |
| 6 | Jim Tipps | $5,140.00 |
| 7 | Ben Beychok | $4,690.00 |
| 8 | Jeannie King | $4,660.00 |
| 9 | Kevin Bogart | $4,571.50 |
| 10 | Bob Madrigale | $4,454.00 |