Lucas VanZandt, of Berlin, CT, captured the Meadowlands Racetrack's National Handicapping Championship qualifier on February 20.
The $400 no-takeout contest attracted a field of 128 players representing seven different states. All entry fees were added to the prize pool of $25,600.
The Meadowlands’ NHC qualifier required each contestant to make at least ten $20 minimum W/P/S or WPS bets on their choice of races from Gulfstream, Aqueduct, Fair Grounds and Oaklawn.
VanZandt built his $200 bankroll into $4,416, which earned him the $10,240 top cash prize and a seat in the 2017 NHC Final in Las Vegas. He captured the top spot in the last and final contest race from Fair Grounds, when he placed his entire bankroll of $920 to win on #11 Mr Justright, who won at odds of nearly 4-1.
Also earning berths into the National Handicapping Championship Final were Paul Vinges of Basking Ridge, NJ and Bart Fooden of Point Lookout, NY.
The top ten finishers along with contest prize payouts appear below.
(Meadowlands)
