News & Barn notes
McKeever Hits Late to Win Online Pick Your Prize Challenge
July 30, 2020
Scotty McKeever, a resident of Newport Beach, CA turned his $1,000 starting bankroll into $5,188.80 to win Monmouth Park’s fifth annual – but first-ever online – $2,000 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge on Saturday, July 25.
McKeever bested a record field of 228 entries made up of players from over 30 states and Canada. The Pick Your Prize Challenge was rescheduled from May 30 due to Covid-19. All players participated through online ADWs TVG, 4NJBETS and Xpressbet.
For finishing first, McKeever received an automatic $11,475 and two picks from the Pick Your Prize board. With his two picks, McKeever selected the top cash prize of $9,750 and well as a seat to the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge. Including his bankroll, McKeever walked away with $26,413.80 plus a seat in the $10,000 BCBC.
After a $500 win bet hit in Monmouth Park’s eighth race, McKeever found himself with a bankroll of $1,532. His bankroll would decrease from there, leaving him $552 heading into Monmouth’s 13th and final race. An “all-in” cold exacta hit for McKeever, resulting in a contest-winning bankroll of $5,188.80.
Saturday’s second-place finisher was Gwyn Houston of Fallston, MD who finished with a bankroll of $4,895.
All Pick Your Prize players were required to bet at least $100 on a total of at least 10 races from Monmouth Park. Bets could only be win, place, show, exacta or any combination thereof.
All players kept their final bankrolls. The Top 5 finishers received a guaranteed cash prize. The Top 5 finishers all received two picks from the prize board in order of finish. Finishers 6 through 26 received one pick.
Following is the full list of results from Saturday’s $2,000 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge:
| Finish | Name | Bankroll | Prize |
| 1st | Scotty McKeever | $5,188.80 | $21,225+BCBC |
| 2nd | Gwyn Houston | $4,895 | $10,375+BCBC+NHC |
| 3rd | David Rink | $4,789.50 | $11,775+BCBC |
| 4th | Adam Aiken | $3,856.40 | $9,150+BCBC |
| 5th | Paul Weizer | $3,040 | $4,275+BCBC+NHC |
| 6th | Robert Pennell | $3,008.50 | $5,500 |
| 7th | Ryne Olsen | $2,895.30 | $4,500 |
| 8th | Joseph Rosen | $2,865 | NHC+$2,000 |
| 9th | Truls Engebretsen | $2,824 | $4,000 |
| 10th | Stephen Thompson | $2,480 | $4,000 |
| 11th | Mark Streiff | $2,385 | NHC |
| 12th | Tanya Taylor | $2,327 | NHC |
| 13th | Adam Aiken | $2,240 | NHC |
| 14th | Kyle King | $2,100 | NHC |
| 15th | Sean Nolan | $2,055 | NHC |
| 16th | Nicholas Fotieo | $1,861.90 | $4,000 |
| 17th | Craig Kaufman | $1,700.50 | NHC |
| 18th | David McCarty | $1,688.75 | NHC |
| 19th | David Curry | $1,627.50 | NHC |
| 20th | David Wolff | $1,602.80 | $4,000 |
| 21st | Andrew Vallat | $1,584 | $4,000 |
| 22nd | Frank Fosbre | $1,539.20 | NHC |
| 23rd | Peter Yan | $1,499.40 | NHC |
| 24th | Ken Kasowicz | $1,493.15 | NHC |
| 25th | Kevin Kreiser | $1,357 | NHC |
| 26th | Bill Rendino | $1,310 | NHC |
For more information on upcoming handicapping contests at Monmouth Park, players can email Brian Skirka at bskirka@monmouthpark.com.
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