Waggoner Sails Through Saturday $25,000 Game (Video)

The DerbyWars featured contest of the week, the Saturday $25,000 Game, looked like it was over well before the fat lady had begun to sing, but as Yogi Berra would put it, "It's not over 'til it's over." Jason Donovan (Rodgerdodger421) popped the gate and went for the wire from the first jump, but it was ultimately Mark Waggoner (Derbysailor) who best navigated the rough waters and took home the $10,000 first place prize.

This week's edition of the Saturday $25,000 Game featured fourteen races from Belmont, Santa Anita and Churchill Downs including a combined twelve graded stakes races. Donovan began the contest like a grade one champion, cashing in nine of the first twelve races and seemed to be running away with the contest. During his streak, Donovan landed on winners, Isotherm ($30.40) and Geothermal ($33.80) in consecutive races. At this point, there was a slew of players that Donovan would need binoculars to spot... and then there was Mark Waggoner.

"I stayed close and didn't panic," said Waggoner. "Typically, I am the guy who is going for the win with one swing of the bat, but not today."

Without panicking and without losing sight of a victory, Waggoner stayed close and remained patient. Similar to Donovan, he connected on Geothermal in Churchill Downs' Lukas Classic, which kept him close enough to take advantage of any opportunity to pass Donovan. Waggoner stayed close and strung together several cashes in a row. When the players arrived at the fourteenth and final race, Waggoner's patience had paid off significantly. He was only $9.90 down, after trailing nearly four times that amount. The golden opportunity had shown itself and Waggoner saw it clearly.

"The leader started to back up to the field and I knew I had him," said Waggoner. "Before the contest I had picked (Smooth Roller) and he turned out to be the perfect price." 

The finale of the contest and the twelfth of twelve graded stakes races was the Grade I Awesome Again Stakes which featured 2014 Breeder's Cup Classic Winner and post time favorite Bayern. Down just under ten dollars to the potential gate to wire winner, Mark Donovan had the perfect horse at the perfect price. Based on his past performances, Bayern was the heavy favorite, allowing the other horses to drift up. While the leader looked to block pursuers with an outside shot in Hard Aces, Waggoner went for the kill and selected Smooth Roller at 5-1. As expected, Bayern went straight to the front and took command, but Smooth Roller had been on a tear and wasn't slowing up that day. He left Hard Aces in the dust and went right for Bayern. At the eighth pole just about everyone could tell it was all over. Smooth Roller had taken down the champ and Waggoner could see dollar signs in his eyes, as he had finally caught Donovan and was about to be paid $10,000.

"In all my years of racing, I've never had a feeling this good. This site, this tournament... it's incredible."

 Reigning Champ - Mark Waggoner

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