Piazza leads horseplayers event; HRN’s Brunker wins charity test

Extending his prowess from Friday’s first-place standing, Dan Piazza was the overall leader following Saturday’s second day of the 26th National Horseplayers Championship at Horseshoe Las Vegas.

Piazza, a financial advisor from Chicago, heads 80 horseplayers who punched their ticket into Sunday morning’s semifinal round. 

Those 80 participants will be reduced to the top 10 players who will advance to the final table to determine the 2025 NHC champion. The winner will take home $825,000 and an Eclipse Award as the horseplayer of the year.

Day 2 of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association contest required contestants to wager on 20 races, including eight mandatories determined by organizers, from seven tracks from around the country.  

Piazza increased his day 1 mythical bankroll from $167.22 to $318.92. Dylan Donnelly of Alta Loma, Calif., jumped to second place with $255.66. Greg Bone of Dallas was in third place with $255.28. 

“I’m very excited right now,” said Piazza, who picked eight win-place tickets correctly and four more place scores. “I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expect (Friday), and for sure I came in (Saturday) morning just hoping to hit some races and not look foolish. I’m very surprised and very excited where I’m at now, and I know I’ve got a lot of work in front of me. I’ve already started looking at all the homework, but I know I’ve got to go back and just sharpen the pencil a little bit. (Sunday) is going to be more pressure I think, and more nerves will be at play.” 

Dean Malizia of Craig, Colo., won the individual day 2 title, registering $179.80. Malizia gained a $10,000 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge berth for his victory. Andy Asaro of San Diego finished second with $173.20 and was awarded $5,000. Jeff Arthur of Chesapeake, Va., finished third with $171.90 and earned $2,500. 

This year’s NHC has record cash and prizes totaling $4,878,415, including more than $3 million in cash prizes. The top 10% of the field is guaranteed cash with the 80th-place finisher getting $10,010.

In addition to Sunday’s semifinal round and final table, all NHC players will be eligible to participate in the Silver Sunday tournament of 26 races total, including the seven mandatory races coinciding with the final-table races. 

The format for the NHC calls on players to earn the highest possible bankroll based on mythical $2 win-place wagers.

Mike Brunker of Henderson, Nev., a free-lance writer and editor for Horse Racing Nation, won Saturday’s NHC charity challenge benefiting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Competing against 48 sports and racing personalities, Brunker earned a mythical $83.80 wagering on eight races chosen by contest organizers. Track announcer Jonathan Horowitz finished second with $67.10. 

Donations of $2,500 to the PDJF and TAA will be made in Brunker’s name. Additionally, Brunker chose the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to receive $5,000.

“My wife Kathy has been living with early-onset Alzheimer’s for years, and the Lou Ruvo Center has been there for us throughout,” Brunker said. “In addition to research, the staff provides a wealth of resources for both patients and caregivers, and I don’t know where we would be without their support.”