News & Barn notes

Sasso Wins Invitational, Smeding Takes NHC Qualifier

May 15, 2022

view of race from seating area

Monmouth Park’s held its first NHC Qualifier of 2022 as well as the Invitational of the Simulcast Series on Saturday, May 14.  The Invitational winner was Damian Sasso of Princeton, NJ.  Peter Smeding of Commack, NY captured the top spot in the $300 NHC Qualifier.

Sasso bested a field that included 45 pre-qualified entries. He turned his starting $200 bankroll into $1,410 by betting races from Monmouth Park, Belmont, and Gulfstream. Invitational players could only bet win, place and/or show and needed to bet a minimum of $20 per race.

Smeding bested a field that included 128 entries. He turned his starting $150 bankroll into $3,667.15 by betting races from Monmouth, Belmont, and Gulfstream. NHC Qualifier players could only bet win, place and/or show and needed to bet a minimum of $15 per race.

By finishing first in the Invitational, Sasso selected the highest cash prize of $3,000.  Second-place Invitational finisher Shirley Wolff selected $2,000.  Third-place finisher Michael Samples and fourth-place finisher Tom Barone are headed to Vegas for the 2023 NHC.  Smeding takes home a cash prize of $7,100 for his first-place NHC Qualifier finish.  In addition, he and second-place finisher Chuck O’Mara are also headed to the NHC.

In total, the Top 5 NHC Qualifier finishers are:

Finish Name Bankroll Prize
1st Peter Smeding $3,667.15 $7,100+NHC Seat
2nd Chuck O’Mara $3,088.45 $2,840+NHC Seat
3rd Jeannie King $1,954.75 $2,130
4th Peter Smeding $1,910.40 $1,420
5th Eugene DeMarzo $1,893.25 $710

Here is the Top 5 for the SSC Invitational:

Finish Name Bankroll Prize
1st Damian Sasso $1,410 $3,000
2nd Shirley Wolff $934.50 $2,000
3rd Michael Samples $764 NHC Seat
4th Tom Barone $736 NHC Seat
5th Matt Bickey $567 $1,000