Wiener Takes "Battle of Saratoga" Handicapping Challenge
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Contest veteran Brett Wiener sat atop the leaderboard on Wednesday and extended his advantage on Thursday to take the Battle of Saratoga Handicapping Challenge at Saratoga Race Course.
Wiener, a self-proclaimed "long-shots player," was forced to deviate from his usual tactics and take a more conservative approach after struggling early on Day 1 of the two-day event.
"I couldn't pick any winners, so I started playing place and show," said Wiener. "I was hitting place tickets and show tickets and not losing my money. That was my [strategy]."
"I usually never play that way," Wiener added. "I'm a long-shot player by heart; everybody knows me as a 'bomber' player, but I just had to play the situation. I saw I wasn't picking winners, and when all the favorites were running, you have to change the way you think. It was a survivalist way on top. I just tried to outlast them."
Though Wiener may have nickel and dimed his way to victory, the cunning horseplayer received a massive windfall for his efforts. Finishing with a score of $99.20, Wiener took home top prize of $100,000 and a seat to both the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas and the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge at Keeneland.
Joe Pettit, who finished in second with a final tally of $80, earned $35,000 in prize money and also picked up a seat to the NHC and BCBC. Paul Vinges finished a close third with $78.30, and brought home $25,000 and an NHC berth.
Source: NYRA Communications
Source: NYRA Communications
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