News & Barn notes

McKeever Hits Late to Win Online Pick Your Prize Challenge

July 30, 2020

three horses and their riders

Scotty McKeever, a resident of Newport Beach, CA turned his $1,000 starting bankroll into $5,188.80 to win Monmouth Park’s fifth annual – but first-ever online – $2,000 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge on Saturday, July 25.

McKeever bested a record field of 228 entries made up of players from over 30 states and Canada.  The Pick Your Prize Challenge was rescheduled from May 30 due to Covid-19.  All players participated through online ADWs TVG, 4NJBETS and Xpressbet.

For finishing first, McKeever received an automatic $11,475 and two picks from the Pick Your Prize board.  With his two picks, McKeever selected the top cash prize of $9,750 and well as a seat to the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge. Including his bankroll, McKeever walked away with $26,413.80 plus a seat in the $10,000 BCBC.

After a $500 win bet hit in Monmouth Park’s eighth race, McKeever found himself with a bankroll of $1,532.  His bankroll would decrease from there, leaving him $552 heading into Monmouth’s 13th and final race.  An “all-in” cold exacta hit for McKeever, resulting in a contest-winning bankroll of $5,188.80.

Saturday’s second-place finisher was Gwyn Houston of Fallston, MD who finished with a bankroll of $4,895.

All Pick Your Prize players were required to bet at least $100 on a total of at least 10 races from Monmouth Park.  Bets could only be win, place, show, exacta or any combination thereof.

All players kept their final bankrolls. The Top 5 finishers received a guaranteed cash prize. The Top 5 finishers all received two picks from the prize board in order of finish. Finishers 6 through 26 received one pick.

Following is the full list of results from Saturday’s $2,000 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge:

Finish Name Bankroll Prize
1st Scotty McKeever $5,188.80 $21,225+BCBC
2nd Gwyn Houston $4,895 $10,375+BCBC+NHC
3rd David Rink $4,789.50 $11,775+BCBC
4th Adam Aiken $3,856.40 $9,150+BCBC
5th Paul Weizer $3,040 $4,275+BCBC+NHC
6th Robert Pennell $3,008.50 $5,500
7th Ryne Olsen $2,895.30 $4,500
8th Joseph Rosen $2,865 NHC+$2,000
9th Truls Engebretsen $2,824 $4,000
10th Stephen Thompson $2,480 $4,000
11th Mark Streiff $2,385 NHC
12th Tanya Taylor $2,327 NHC
13th Adam Aiken $2,240 NHC
14th Kyle King $2,100 NHC
15th Sean Nolan $2,055 NHC
16th Nicholas Fotieo $1,861.90 $4,000
17th Craig Kaufman $1,700.50 NHC
18th David McCarty $1,688.75 NHC
19th David Curry $1,627.50 NHC
20th David Wolff $1,602.80 $4,000
21st Andrew Vallat $1,584 $4,000
22nd Frank Fosbre $1,539.20 NHC
23rd Peter Yan $1,499.40 NHC
24th Ken Kasowicz $1,493.15 NHC
25th Kevin Kreiser $1,357 NHC
26th Bill Rendino $1,310 NHC

For more information on upcoming handicapping contests at Monmouth Park, players can email Brian Skirka at bskirka@monmouthpark.com.