Memorial Day Momentum for $10K Winner

Momentum on Memorial Day took Michael Vitale of Eureka, Missouri from an early  qualifier all the way to the winner's circle in the $10,000 Memorial Day Monday Game!

 

"I almost never play a qualifier on the same day as a big contest but I thought I'd give it shot, obviously it worked out," said Vitale, who is known as "Maverick" on the leaderboard.

 

Vitale placed second in the qualifier, earning a spot in the $10K game, and then rode a wave of success, hitting 4 of the first 7 races. "(I) play(ed) the best value horse out of the various selections I had made from each race. No big bombs won any of the races, and I rarely bet on bombs, he said of his early gameplay strategy. 

 

Vitale shifted his play for the final three races to a different direction.

"After 9 races, I was sitting in second place, and I decided to go ahead and determine my strategy for the last 3 races.  I felt very certain that Emollient with Rosie Napravnick was the Class of the Speed, and would be difficult to catch once she took the lead.  Also, I have been very impressed with the up and coming apprentice, Drayden Van Dyke, who I felt had very strong mounts in the last 2 races.  Although Emoillent did get nipped at the wire, I still moved into 1st place, because surprisingly no one else in the top ten picked her, and no one in the top ten had the winner.  Drayden Van Dyke won the last two races and sealed my victory."

 

His final score was $112.40, to take home the $5,000 first prize with a spot in the $15,000 Belmont Day High Stakes game. Runner-up Joe Koury (joek) finished with $90 for the $2,000 prize that also includes entry in the High Stakes game. Perennial top-five finisher Craig Hom (chestnut) rounded out the top three with an $88 final score and $1,000 in prizemoney.

 

"I am highly competitive and have always loved and been intrigued by numbers, so I think it was only natural that I became drawn to handicapping at a fairly young age," said Vitale. "I have enjoyed it for over 40 years."

 

Vitale has been a DerbyWars player since its launch in September 2011, and has a few big game wins on his resume, including a rare double - "My first $10,000 Derby Wars victory was in August, 2012 - Arlington Million Contest, on that same day I won the Sovereign Stable - NHC Championship Qualifying Contest, beating out over 1500 on line handicappers. Unfortunately, I ended up terribly sick at the 2013 NHC championship and it somewhat compromised my chances.  So I am really looking forward to and wanting another shot at the NHC Championship."