Racing Analyst Mike Hamilton was the winning punter in the Pick The Punters Online Handicapping Challenge
on Saturday night.
Hamilton finished with a bankroll of $68.80 and as a result, Mary Rideout of Shelburne, Ont. is en route to the Trot Canada National Handicapping Championship in Ottawa.
The punters were asked to handicap the winners of the eight Breeders Crown Championship races worth over $5.1 million that took place on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
Online players were asked to select the punter they thought would finish with the highest bankroll based on $2 across the board (win, place and show) wagers on the horses they selected. Then they had to estimate what their bankroll would be.
Rideout selected Hamilton and estimated that he would have a bankroll of $68, only 80 cents away from his actual bankroll!
Hamilton selected five Breeders Crown Championship winners (Yellow Diamond, Muscle Hill, Poof Shes Gone, Pilgrims Taj and Fancy Filly). Hamilton also added to his bankroll with runner-ups Elusive Desire and Sportswriter. In the last event, he picked up $14.40 with third-place finisher Vertical Horizon, who was a 32-1 shot in the Three-Year-Old Colt Pace, netting him a total of $68.80 on the night.
Toronto Star handicapper Hans Grottke finished a close second with $56.70. Racing commentator Dawn Lupul finished third with $53.60.
A complete rundown of the punters and how they fared is listed below.
Punter -- Bankroll
Mike Hamilton -- $68.80
Hans Grottke -- $56.70
Dawn Lupul -- $53.60
Paul Delean -- $52.70
Dan Jukich -- $46.80
Norm Borg -- $45.50
Mystery Handicapper -- $34.10
Darryl Kaplan -- $22.30