Big Woodbine payday for Wagman

Shale Wagman earned first prize of $24,637 and a trip to the 2007 DRF/NTRA handicapping championship in Las Vegas by capturing the Woodbine Thoroughbred Handicapping Challenge on August 26-27.

The contest attracted 239 participants who anted up entry fees of $250, and required each contestant to place $2 win wagers on 10 different races on each of the two days.

Three races each day were mandatory and the tracks included were Woodbine, Fort Erie, Saratoga and Arlington.

Wagman, a lawyer and horse owner who lives in Inglewood, Ontario, went to the long bomb and accumulated $122.40 with six winners from his 20 selections.

Wagman also was the Day 1 leader with $69.20.

Sheldwon Usprech of Thornhill, Ontario, picked up second money of $12,045 with his total of $105.90.

Tony Natale of Bradford, Ontario, finished third with $99.30 to earn $6,022.

Usprech and Natale also qualified for the DRF/NTRA championship.