News & Barn notes

Lou Capezzuto Takes First NHC Qualifier of 2025-26 Contest Season

April 07, 2025

mandaloun

Monmouth Park held its $300 First Chance NHC qualifier on Saturday, April 5, and Lou Capezzuto of Monroe, NJ, finished in the top spot with a total of $1,498.

Capezzuto bested a field that included 108 entries. He turned his starting $150 bankroll into the winning total by betting races from Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Tampa Bay.  Contest players could only bet win, place and/or show and needed to bet a minimum of $15 per race.

By finishing first, Capezzuto takes home the first-place cash prize of $3,480 plus a seat into the 2026 National Horseplayers Championship. Saturday’s second-place finisher Eric Wing will be heading to Vegas as well.

In total, the Top 8 finishers from Saturday are:

Finish Name Bankroll Prize
1st Lou Capezzuto $1,498 $3,480+NHC Seat
2nd Eric Wing $995.95 $1,740+NHC Seat
3rd Matt Thomas $993.30 $1,305
4th Steve Lawrence $841 $870
5th Anthony Fortunato $505.50 $435
6th George Bosch $372 $290
7th Frank D’Angelo $270.75 $290
8th Robert Vitale $166 $290