Business was brisk at HorseTourneys during the first weekend of Del Mar and the final weekend prior to Saratoga.
Our NHC qualifier was completely sold out, allowing us to had a fourth NHC package to the prize pool. When the scores were tabulated, NHC seats were won by Sean Nolan, James Hall, Larry Burns and Richard Seidl. It should be noted that Gary McMaster also had an excellent tournament, finishing second. Since Gary already had two NHC berths in his pocket (something we weren’t alerted to until after the tourney’s completion), we had the happy duty of letting Richard Seidl know that he, too, would be going to the NHC. Congratulations to our four NHC seat winners, and to Gary McMaster for his impressive haul of NHC Tour Points.
A day of good opinions was doubly rewarding for the aforementioned James Hall. In addition to his NHC package, Hall won our Monmouth qualifier that awarded two packages to that August 13 event. The other winner was runner-up Ronald Peltz. Good luck at the Jersey Shore, guys!
Other Saturday highlights were Hesham Ragab, taking the top spot (good for $7,000) in our $15,000 guaranteed tourney, and Helen Straughn, who won a full package to the Gold Coast tournament, coming up later this month in Las Vegas.
One of the more popular contests this past weekend (and last weekend as well) was our Battle of Saratoga qualifier held on Sunday. For the second straight week, we awarded no fewer than six full, two-day packages, included an enhanced $750 travel component. This week’s “Saratoga Six” were Kevin Cox (The “Brooklyn Cowboy” is certainly no stranger to the Spa), Francis Drew, Kenneth McMahan, Kimberley Shortleff, John Ferraro and Jim Templin. As one might expect in a high-participation event, scores were high and tightly bunched at the end with many “in the frame” at the wire. We’ll be doing it all again this week with feeders aplenty.
The select The Big One field increased by two on Sunday with Shawn Turner (adding to a recent NHC seat win) posting a solid victory over fellow qualifier Jill Himes, who had just enough to grab that second berth. Only 57 may participate in September’s The Big One at Laurel, so if you haven’t qualified yet, keep firing. Time is growing short.
Speaking of time growing short, Paul Kirnos rolled to an authoritative victory in our Last Chance Del Mar qualifier. Also winning berths were Eric Pineiro and Curtis Meyer. Here’s hoping Paul, Eric, Curtis or one of the other HorseTourneys qualifiers brings home the big money when they do battle this weekend where “The Turf Meets the Surf”.
Last but not least, congratulations to Robert Ramirez and Peter Osella who prevailed in a hotly-contested Wynn Handicapping Challenge qualifier on Sunday. And to Mark Simonovic, who won a package to Hawthorne.
Congratulations to all this weekend’s winners, and may you have a winning week ahead.