32-1 shot key to Oaklawn tournament

Rogers Davis of Little Rock, Ark., beat out an Oaklawn-tournament record 173 horseplayers last weekend to win the track's qualifier for the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship. Davis put a lock on the Sunday contest when he had 32-1 shot Freddy the Cap in the eighth race at Saratoga.

Davis won with an overall bankroll of $238.70, while Richard Grose of Wentzville, Mo., finished second with $234.40. Nancy Alm of Hot Springs Village, Ark., was third with a bankroll of $228.80. All three earned a trip to the finale, which will be held at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas on Jan. 29-30.

Davis also won $5,000 for his first-place finish in the Oaklawn qualifier. He is a staff member at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Oaklawn drew horseplayers from more than 17 states and Canada for the weekend tournament. The track's previous best turnout for the event was 168 horseplayers in 2006, the first year Oaklawn had a qualifier, said tournament director Jason Milligan.