Check Out the First Four Qualifiers to the DerbyWars $20,000 Live Game

The DerbyWars $20,000 Live Game is certainly the most anticipated event of the year, and rightfully so. On September 19th, ten players will go toe-to-toe LIVE from the DerbyWars Headquarters in Louisville, KY, with $20,000 on the line. The must-see event will be broadcast live by the DerbyWars production team and promises to be both incredibly fun and intense. Five qualifying dates were set with two qualifiers per date. August 9th would be the first opportunity for players to secure their seat, and did they ever. 

The hype and anticipation finally came to fruition when a well deserving Terry Hay (Walletlifter) and Brent Sumja (Bsumone) became the first to punch their tickets to Louisville. The race to the Bluegrass State was officially underway. Terry Hay's play in the first qualifier would be described as something along the lines of 'cool as a cucumber'. For the first five races, the prices were nowhere near game defining and Terry connected on three shorter priced horses. His solid start allowed him to seize control of the contest with Atomic Rule ($26.60) and Watchyourownbobber ($11.30). Like a horse with a dead still jockey, Terry cruised home a winner over Sumja by $21.60. 

Brent Sumja is without a doubt a threat in every tournament he enters. The former Southern California trainer, turned handicapping contest icon was in the thick

of things once again. In a contest where no one was able to run away from the field, Sumja sat a good stalking trip and pounced precisely when needed. Sumja trailed Kevin Kreiser (Muggsy23) by a few dollars off and on and assumed second with two races to go. He cashed in on Dreamy Art ($3.40) and Prospect Park ($9.20) to secure his twenty cent lead and capture his seat with just over a twelve dollar cushion. 

The next week, the DerbyWars Live Game Qualifier was back and so was a multitude of hopeful qualifiers looking to fill the third and fourth seats. Among these two were Michael Lynch Jr (Fuzz), Barry "Sniper" Spears (BLS2063) and a bit of good fortune. After a sluggish start, Lynch Jr. and Spears both capitalized in the final race on a thirty-three to one shot, My Dynamo, taking them from the outside looking in to the holders of two tickets to Louisville. Barry and Michael were just trying to stay afloat and both connected on the contest's key horses. The win came as somewhat of a shock for both of them, but they earned it and are certainly ready to celebrate. 

Barry Spears has dubbed his signature come from behind victory as the "Sniper Shot", but this one was far more than that.