Scott does better in Del Mar qualifier

Paul Scott was the big winner on DRF Tournaments this weekend. His score of $60.40 was enough to net him a $7,000 seat to the Del Mar Handicapping Challenge plus $500 in travel. Scott was consistent throughout the event, cashing in the end third, fourth, seventh, ninth, 11th, and 12h contest events.

None was more important than the last race. Scott was chasing the leader, Jonathon Kinchen, and played No. 4, Anythingyoucando, at 5-1. Kinchen played the favorite, Smelly Cat, at 9-5. Smelly Cat went wide, Anythingyoucando got a run up the rail, and now Scott is headed to Del Mar.

You can’t feel too bad for Kinchen, however, as he had a big Saturday. The high point was winning his $3,000 seat to the April 23 Grade One Gamble at Keeneland. He put the field to the sword early on in the Keeneland qualifier, cashing in six in a row at one point, including with Sailor’s Valentine in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes. He backed that up two races later with Rockport Babe at $53.60 in Santa Anita’s seventh for a total of $159.30.

Also qualifying for Keeneland was Thomas Murphy. He also had two big prices, but they weren’t the same ones. Green Gratto’s huge upset in the Carter got him going to the tune of $61.80 and Irap’s maiden-breaking score in the Blue Grass Stakes pushed him over the top. Irap paid $64.60 to win and $22.40 to place but those totals were limited to $64 for contest purposes (20-1 to win and 10-1 to place).

Kinchen was also was one of two players to win a $1,000 buy-in to the finals of the Triple Play Event on April, 16. The Triple Play offers a way for contest players to win a berth in all three major spring contests in one shot: Keeneland, Santa Anita’s Preakness qualifier, and Monmouth’s Pick Your Prize contest on June 4.

The overall winner there was Bruce Francisco, who fell a dime short of a rare $200 tally. He started strong with Holding Gold ($52.80) in the Shakertown Stakes, then added Green Gratto and Rockport Babe. He had two other collections as well, including running up the score with $7.80 in place points with Battle of Midway in the Santa Anita Derby.

Contest action returns to DRF Tournaments on Wednesday with a full slate of contest activity, including feeders, credit builders, winner-take-all contests, and match ups, all of which offer players the chance to start with a little and turn it into a lot.

Next weekend’s featured contests include a final round-one event for the Triple Play, as well as the Triple Play finals on Sunday. Players who don’t win into the finals may simply purchase their way in for $1,000. One player in 12 will win the $10,500 grand prize of three tourney buy-ins plus $500 in travel. There are also qualifiers scheduled for Keeneland and Monmouth.

For more information, go to tournaments.drf.com.