Tampa Bay Downs

Thanks to a runner-up finish in Tampa Bay Downs' Handicapping Contest, Brynn Gallo of Florida became the fifth member of her family who has qualified for at least one NHC.

For the sixth time in as many years, at least one member of South Florida's Gallo family will be a part of the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship. Brynn Gallo became the fifth member of her family to qualify for the NHC thanks to a runner-up finish in Tampa Bay Downs' handicapping contest, which concluded on April 10.

Brynn Gallo, 34, apparently is the next in a long line of handicapping tournament enthusiasts in her family. Her father J. Randy Gallo, her brother Randy Jr., her uncle Ross, and her aunt Candace have all qualified for past NHC finals. Now, including Brynn, Gallo family members have qualified for the NHC a combined eight times, with uncle Gallo leading the way as the family color-bearer with three NHC appearances to date.

"My dad gives me some advice, but he's more technical than I am. I like to look at the horse's last four races and see how they're rounding into form," said Gallo, who had to settle for second in the Tampa Bay tournament but still earned a trip to Las Vegas for NHC VI.

The winner of the Tampa Bay Downs Handicapping Contest was Charlotte Couris of Gloucester, Mass, who turned a mythical $1,000 bankroll into a contest-winning total of $4,555 with win, place, and show bets on Tampa Bay's live 11-race card. Couris, who also earned a trip to NHC VI in Las Vegas, considers herself a relative newcomer to handicapping, and attributes much of her success to her mentor, longtime handicapping tournament player Sid Wiener.

Couris shot out to a big early lead in the event thanks to a $100 win bet on 17-1 longshot Touchwood, who won the day's third race at Tampa. She later cemented the victory in the seventh race when she hit $200 win and $100 place bets on Keytothepenthouse, who paid $19 to win and $8.80 to place.

Gallo finished second with a bankroll of $3,937.50 thanks to a $1,045 tap-out win bet on Combat Zone, who won Tampa's eighth race returning $7.00.