NHC Qualifying Tournament Recaps

Delaware Park

An $800 win bet on the 3-year-old filly Good Mood, who paid $11 for her 1 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs, propelled Steven Wrecker of New York City to first place in a qualifying tournament on June 16 at Delaware Park for the 2008 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship.

Wrecker's wager on Churchill's final race of the day returned $4,400 and enabled him to finish with a live bankroll of $5,390, leading a field of 427 entries. In addition to earning a trip to Las Vegas for the NHC, Wrecker collected the tournament's first prize of $21,000.

Ron Deutsch of Nazareth, Pa. turned his $200 live bankroll to $3,240 to earn second prize money of $7,000. Deutsch, a long-time tournament player, will also represent Delaware Park at the 2008 DRF/NTRA National Championship.

Shilo Merwitz of Randallstown, Md., placed third and Tom Ferrara of Ashburn, Va. finished fourth. They both gain entry in the Coast Casino's Horseplayers World Series in January.

The contest required players to pay $100 to enter plus put up $200 for a live bankroll.