Andrew Osborne of Rochester, N.Y. won the $5,000 buy-in Bally's Moolah contest on April 18-19. He earned $38,575 and a trip back to Bally's - Las Vegas for DRF/NTRA NHC V.

The first time was in the third race at Keeneland, a $40,000 claimer in which Osborne had 14-1 longshot Deputy Stripe. Osborne had been in sixth place after Friday in the $5,000 buy-in tournament that drew 14 contestants - easily the lowest number to compete for a berth in the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship - and he was looking to get back into contention.

Deputy Stripe opened up by two lengths at the sixteenth pole, but then was challenged by 7-2 late-runner Brocco Bray. After viewing the replays, Osborne said he thought his horse came up just short, and he was hoping for a dead heat. His wish was granted, as Deputy Stripe paid $13 to win and $10.40 to place (players made 15 mythical $2 win and place bets each day, with a cap of 25-1 to win and 12-1 to place, plus five bonus points for each winner). It wasn't the score he had dreamed of, but it was a start.

The second time was even more gut-wrenching for the 34-year-old Rochester, N.Y., resident. It was five hours later, after the 10th race at Santa Anita, the last race of the contest. Osborne knew he had a shot at the tournament victory, but didn't know if he would get caught at the wire.

By then, he had added a second-place finish with Love That Music ($15.60 to place) in the sixth race at Aqueduct, a maiden special weight affair. Osborne's big score was also at Big A, with Jelly Roll Romp in the 10th race (one of six mandatory races on Saturday that everyone had to play). Jelly Roll Romp went off at 29-1 in the allowance race and won by three and a quarter lengths, paying $61 to win and $25.40 to place.

"I bet on the horse that beat him last time and I saw how game he was," said Osborne. "This was a good race to take a shot on. (Winning jockey) Shaun Bridgmohan doesn't owe me anything ever again."

Osborne was fairly confident that no one else had the horse. So, just like Deputy Stripe, he was the one to catch.

But with no posted standings, he had no way to know if his 227.40 points was enough. He quickly became the shadow of Chris Eggers, the race book manager at Bally's Las Vegas and the steward of all the scores.

When the 10th at Santa Anita became official, Osborne walked back to his front-row seat in the race book and yelled to Eggers, "Well?"

Eggers replied, "You won."

Osborne asked, "Is it official?" When she said "yes," he pumped his fist and yelled "Oh, yeah!" He then let out an audible sigh of relief.

Osborne calls himself a weekend player, making most of his bets at nearby Finger Lakes Race Track and Batavia Downs in upstate New York. This was only Osborne's second tournament.

Osborne walked off with $32,750 for the victory, plus $5,825 for having Saturday's top score for a grand total of $38,575 in earnings.

Osborne said he picked this tournament because of the high entry fee and low number of contestants (and thus a higher-percentage chance of victory), plus he said, "I'm a win and place bettor, so I liked that, plus the emphasis on East Coast tracks really played to my strengths."

The contest tracks were Aqueduct, Gulfstream, Pimlico, Keeneland and Santa Anita, so it wasn't surprising that Easterners dominated the standings.

Scott Ragovin of New York City was the Day 1 leader (also worth $5,825) and finished with 196.20 points, good for the second-place prize. Rupert Smith of Bethany Beach, Del., finished third, earning $5,000 plus another $2,325 for having Saturday's third-best score.

But Osborne was the only one to earn a DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship berth. He also will receive round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for the finals to be held next January in Las Vegas.