NHC Qualifying Tournament

Ian Lawrence of New York City hit three major wagers on races simulcast from Keeneland to top a field of 368 players in the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship qualifier on Oct. 13 at Delaware Park.

Lawrence bet $370 to win on Hidden Leader ($17.60) in Keeneland's sixth race, then connected with $200 win wagers on Valentine Fever ($13.20) in the eighth and Bit of Whimsy in the ninth.

After starting with a $200 live bankroll, Lawrence finished with $6,956. He also collected first prize money of $18,000.

Peter Freundlich of Hopewell, N.J., finished fast with a $286 win wager on Evil Storm ($25.20 ) in the 11th race from Laurel Park and a $200 wager on Swear to It ($11.80 ) in Laurel's 12th race. His final total of $5,074 was good for second place and a check for $6,000.

Both Lawrence and Freundlich will move on to the National Handicapping Championship in January at Las Vegas.

Jeff Harryman of Baltimore finished third with a bankroll of $4,476 but because he had already qualified in a monthly contest at Delaware Park for the Coast

Casino Horseplayer World Series at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, the fourth- and fifth-place players - Anthony Montedoro ($4,354) of Neptune, N.J., and Bryan Levinsky ($4,129) of Reading, Pa. - were awarded spots in the tournament at the Orleans.