Anderson goes all-in to win Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge

Brad Anderson of Sarasota, Fla., turned an all-in wager on Vino Rosso into a nearly $500,000 victory in the 11th Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, a live-money tournament held in conjunction with the Breeders' Cup, Nov. 1-2.

Anderson was best in a field of a record 457 entries, each of which cost $10,000. From each $10,000 entry, $2,500 went into the prize pool and $7,500 was used as a live bankroll.

Coming into the last race of the contest, Anderson had 25,900 points well back of the leaders. Knowing he needed at least 140,000 points to win, Anderson bet his entire bankroll to win on Vino Rosso, who went off at odds of 9-2. When Vino Rosso crossed the wire 4 1/4 lengths in front, Anderson had leapfrogged the field with 145,040 points and won the $343,000 first prize. In addition to his bankroll, Anderson went home with a total purse of $488,040.

Bill Chenvert of The Villages, Fla., was second with 137,750 points and with his runner-up prize of $229,000 earned $366,750.

In third place was Dick Jerardi, the former racing writer for the Philadelphia Daily News. Jerardi is a member of Beyer and Associates, the team which assembles Beyer Speed Figures for Daily Racing Form, and also writes handicapping columns for DRF. Jerardi was in the lead going into the Classic after he hit a cold $2,000 exacta with Bricks and Mortar and 50-1 shot United in the Breeders' Cup Turf. With his 137,420 points and $126,000 in prize money, Jerardi cashed for $263,420.