Scott Hillowe Takes DerbyWars $100K Labor Day Game

Scott Hillowe (Sghillowe) of Massapequa, N.Y., celebrated the holiday on Monday with a big win in DerbyWars' $100,000 Labor Day Game!

Hillowe outplayed 133 other entries over the 18-race contest, that featured races from closing day at Saratoga and Del Mar, to cash out with the $50,000 First Prize. Hillowe's final score was $161.10, the third-highest in the history of the $100K game. He was $30 ahead of his next-closest competitor, Cheryl Kaufman (Chermagic). Kaufman, an 8-time qualifier for the NHC from Hacienda Heights, Calif., turned in a final score of $130.80 to take home the $20,000 Second Prize.

Right behind Kaufman was Woodstock, Ga.'s Joe Boughton (Bigheart), with a final score of $130 to nab the $10,000 Third prize. He also took down this weekend's $10K Sunday High Stakes game for an awesome double!

The top 3 finishers all earn a berth in the new, $50,000 High Stakes game that is scheduled for Super Saturday, October 3!

Hillowe is a 30-year racing fan and player who only recently jumped into the contest scene. He joined DerbyWars in February, after hearing about it from Paul Shurman (Pshurman), a familar face on the leaderboard. For him, the challenge is as much about knowing the other the players as it is handicapping the horses.

"Following the sport has given me a basis for understanding race dynamics and picking winners," he said. "But studying the way the top players execute over the duration of a given contest has also helped immeasurably in the success I have had in tournament play."

In the $100K game, Hillowe made a big play with Ralis in the Hopeful at Saratoga, and he would look to trainer Doug O'Neil again later when the action heated up at Del Mar. He hit the top 3 when the colt Where's The D won a maiden race and paid a cap price of $50.

"Given the landscape I felt that the game would be decided in race 16. My selection, Do The Dance (who I anticipated in the 8-1 range) was being ignored due to a [hyped] first time starter and rather light connections. Although the tournament was in the balance, I was not dissuaded, as my selection drifted up to 13-1."

It was the right way to go, as Do The Dance wired the field and added $41.80 to his total and put him on top of the leaderboard. Favored Nyquist won the Del Mar Futurity, and Hillowe padded his lead. None were able to catch him in the finale, and the $50,000 First Prize was his!

"(Selecting Do The Dance in race 16) was a conscious decision made based on observing others who have won these competitions," he said. "At some point, a winning decision is made. That is not to say a forced decision, but an informed one that has the potential to result in a victory. In this case, I was fortunate enough to have made the right one."

Hillowe joins eight other $100K winners, all of whom were among his competition in the Labor Day game. $100K December game winner, Barbara Bowley (Sophia), finished in 7th place to earn the highest score among previous $100K winners. $25K Head-to-Head Bracket winner, Anthony Trezza (Youare2020), finished 8th in the $100K, while winning the $10K game that ran simultaneously on Monday!

Said Hillowe, "I am very proud and excited to have finished atop a field that included such fine players."

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