News & Barn notes
Samples Wins Final SSC Qualifier; Headed to Invitational and PYP
April 26, 2021
Monmouth Park’s fourth and final $300 Simulcast Series Challenge Qualifier was held Saturday, April 24 and the winner was Michael Samples of Ocean, NJ.
Samples bested a field that included 115 entries. He turned his starting $150 bankroll into $622.20 by betting races from Belmont, Gulfstream and Tampa Bay. Contest players could only bet win, place and/or show and needed to bet a minimum of $15 per race.
By finishing first, Samples takes home a cash prize of $6,625. In addition, he takes home a spot in the May 22 Simulcast Series Challenge Invitational as well as a seat in the $2,000 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge on June 12. The rest of Saturday’s Top 10 finishers will be joining Samples in the Invitational. The Top 2 finishers in the Invitational will earn a 2022 NHC seat.
The Invitational, along with a separate $300 NHC Qualifier, will take place on Saturday, May 22.
In total, the Top 10 finishers are:
| Finish | Name | Bankroll | Prize |
| 1st | Michael Samples | $622.20 | $6,625+PYP Seat+Invitational Seat |
| 2nd | David Wolff | $512.50 | $2,650+Invitational Seat |
| 3rd | David Wolff | $466.30 | $1,590+Invitational Seat |
| 4th | Noel Lafferty | $391.25 | $927.50+Invitational Seat |
| 5th | Michael Sweeney | $321.50 | $463.75+Invitational Seat |
| 6th | Pete Macheska | $297.75 | $198.75+Invitational Seat |
| 7th | Janice Fairlie | $294 | $198.75+Invitational Seat |
| 8th | Brian Fairlie | $289 | $198.75+Invitational Seat |
| 9th | George Bosch | $272.90 | $198.75+Invitational Seat |
| 10th | Anthony Imburgio | $212.50 | $198.75+Invitational Seat |