Canadians continue contest roll at Keeneland

By this point, you probably wouldn’t need two guesses to know that the winner of this weekend’s Grade 1 Gamble was from Ontario, Canada.

John Kimove of Wasaga Beach made a big move in Keeneland’s nightcap on Sunday, cashing $1,058 win and $400 win-place wagers on 5-1 shot Ironclad, as well as a $420 exacta and $5 trifecta for total winnings of $17,963. His total of $19,963 nipped second-place finisher Ross Szlasa of Mooresville, N.C., who also hit big on the last race to post a total of $17,710. Kimove also won an additional $37,000 in cash, with Szlasa taking home an additional $18,000.

Kimove joins follow Ontario players Bob “The General” Montgomery (2018 Horse Player World Series), Chris Littlemore (2018 National Horseplayers Championship), and Ray Arsenault (2017 National Horseplayers Championship) in winning a major handicapping contest over the past 15 months.

A record total of 195 entries participated in the 10th annual Grade 1 Gamble at Keeneland, up 24 entries from a year ago despite conflicting with the Arkansas Derby weekend, which undoubtedly cost them several entries. This is just further proof of how successful and fast-growing Keeneland’s premier live-bankroll tournament is. Contestants paid $3,000 to enter and started with a live bankroll of $2,000.

Kimove and Szlasa join third- through sixth-place finishers Chris Podratz, Gary Wright, James Metzger, and Timothy Yohler in winning fully paid berths to the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge and fully paid entries to the 2019 National Horseplayers Championship.

NHC entries were also awarded to seventh through 10th place, with Gary Machiz, Hugh Bishop, Dave Cichy, and Blaise Brucato winning those.

On Saturday, Keeneland hosted a $400 challenge that pulled 284 entries. Christy Moore, the fiancée of Grade 1 qualifier Timothy Yohler, of Fishers, Ind., won the contest by nailing a huge $3 trifecta in Saturday’s fifth race. She finished well clear of the field with over $4,700 from an initial bankroll of $250. Moore won a fully paid berth to the BCBC, and the second- through sixth-place finishers, Kevin Willett, Ed Deicke, Paul Shurman, Julie Loboyko, and Ken Kasowicz won NHC spots plus prize money.

Here are the top 15 finishers from the Grade 1 Gamble, with bankroll and prize money:

1. John Kimove	$19,963	$37,000
2. Ross Szlasa	17,710	18,000
3. Chris Podratz	16,526	10,000
4. Gary Wright	12,995	5,000
5. James Metzger	12,220	3,000
6. Timothy Yohler	12,140	1,500
7. Gary Machiz	10,065	1,500
8. Hugh Bishop	9,775	1,500
9. Dave Cichy	9,263	1,500
10. Blaise Brucato	8,640	1,500
11. Lawrence Kahlden	8,555	1,500
12. Mitch Schuman	7,440	1,500
13. Jonathon Kinchen	6,775	1,500
14. Ken McMahan	6,674	1,500
15. Vic Stauffer	6,200	1,500