DerbyWars Crowns New $100K Winner on Preakness Day

There's a new $100,000 DerbyWars winner - Jim T. from central Texas!

Jim T. (Taytay) improved on his third-place finish in the April $100K game and outplayed 131 other entries to take home the $50,000 First Prize in Saturday's $100K Preakness Day Contest. He got into the big game with victories in $11 Round 1 Qualifiers. "What an opportunity DerbyWars offers to all of us. An $11 Qualifier can return $50K, seriously? Where else is that possible? Thank you DerbyWars!"

The $100,000 Preakness Day contest featured 132 players tackling 16 big races from Pimlico, Belmont and Santa Anita in a bullet-style game, where players can make changes to their selections up until one minute to post. However, due to some family events, JT had to play this one like a Lockdown!

"This Saturday was filled with pre graduation preparations, commencement ceremonies and post-graduation festivities for my oldest," he explained. "As the day unfolded, I was surprised to find out that the commencement ceremonies (4 hours) were in a building that seemed to block, slow down or completely eliminate any hand held connection to the outside world. I was only able to check my progress, or lack thereof, during pit stops. The hassle of seating, the crowd, my potential interrupting those other families that were riveted to the somewhat sleepy proceedings relegated me to 2 pit stops in 4 hours."

"I was able to slide outside an exit door during each pit stop and latch onto a quick signal for an update. My first check-in showed that I got Joel Rosario home at 10-1 which was the second contest race (Pimlico’s 8th). Happy as a lark, I went back to my seat with the knowledge of knowing I had $34 in the bank and all was good in the world."

Through the early rounds, Stephen Thompson (Undertaker) led the field after hitting with Raffies Bay ($44.20) and Slip By ($34.20) to kick off the game. Then George Ostrowski (Firstgeorge) grabbed the lead about halfway through. Ostrowski would hold the top spot 'til after the Preakness - when the fireworks began!

For JT, having two entries to play paid off. "My next pit stop was much, much later," he said. "Holy Toledo, disaster had struck! 7 or 8 more races the books with only a small place and 3-1 winner to add onto the $34 score. Ticket #2 was worse. With very little time I made ticket #2 an impossible long shot or die ticket to the finish. I spent a little more time on my best ticket. I’m not exactly sure what place I was in when I re-calibrated but I doubt that I was in the top 30 with $47.90 in the bank and 11 or 12 races in the books."

"Some quick research seemed to indicate to me that the inside was doing well and speed was doing well at Santa Anita (SA). I also knew for me to have any chance at finishing in the top 10 I needed to play runners that most of the other players would not play. So my revised, panic-ridden like selections were based on 5 criteria: no time to study again, fading but still some memory of previous study sessions, earlier SA race results, low percentage connections (only hope of jumping competitors) and Divine intervention. I also felt that I needed a big one at the Preakness. I changed to the #3 (Mr. Z) for the Preakness and finished SA with numbers 2, 2 & 1 or Morning Line 8-1, 10-1 & 20-1."

Though Mr. Z wouldn't hit the board in the Preakness, the 21-1 Santa Anita selection, All For Charity, finished second for $17, moving JT up within reach of the Top 10. The final two contest races were at Santa Anita - a six furlong sprint and a mile turf affair with no strong favorites. In the penultimate race, JT hit the Top 10 when Big Break broke through with a win at 15-1. He was then comfortably in 7th place, with over $30 to make up on the leader. Then, in the finale, City State upset the field at 27-1, a cap score! JT catapulted to the top, with a final score of $159.90!

Meanwhile, he was oblivious to the drama unfolding online, as he was still wrapped up in the graduation celebration: "I enjoyed myself thoroughly that evening and decided to power up my phone one more time hoping for enough juice to check my emails," he said.

"I did not attempt to check DerbyWars results as I knew I needed a miraculous finish to end up in the top 10. It was then that I read the congratulatory email from (DerbyWars co-founder) Mark Midland...Who knew that the (Santa Anita) runners's odds would all drift up so substantially? It was Divine intervention, I am sure. 20-1 to place, 15-1 to win & 27-1 to win respectively, to close it out. I have been on both sides of that type of finish. My hat goes off to the other top finishers."

In the runner-up spot was Richard Seidl (Rs12345) who also had the capper final pick, with a final score of $153.90. He takes home $20,000 cash. In third, for the $10,000 prize, was George Ostrowski (Firstgeorge), finished up with a score of $137.20. Fourth-place finisher Kenneth McMahan (Badkenny) scores $5,000 for his final tally of $135.20. The top 4 finishers also earn entry into the next $100K contest on July 3rd and 4th!

JT has plenty of advice for aspiring contest players.

"I have entered every $100k game," said JT. "My results have progressively improved. I used to think 1 entry was plenty and it was either my day or not my day. I have had 2 entries in each of the last 2 tourneys with a 3rd place finish and a win. I now believe it is worth the investment to improve my chances. Those who grind it out and those who receive Divine intervention can both succeed in this game. It’s never over until it’s over. I am living proof. Take this to the bank… if I can do it, anybody can do it. Good Luck!"