Zhou Captures MJC Champions Handicapping Tournament; Earns $1,950 in Prize Money and Berth in Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge

Zhou Captures MJC Champions Handicapping Tournament; Earns $1,950 in Prize Money and Berth in Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge

Earns $1,950 in Prize Money and Berth in Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge
 
LAUREL, MD – Tony Zhou of Jersey City, N.J. finished with a balance of $3,045 to edge Baltimore’s John Scheinman and capture the Maryland Jockey Club Champions Handicapping Tournament held Saturday inside Laurel Park’s Carriage Room.
 
The tournament, held as part of the annual Maryland Pride Day celebration, was open to players for $300, which covered a $100 entry fee and $200 tournament bankroll. In addition to prize money, the top four finishers qualified for automatic berths to the National Handicapping Championship (NHC), Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) or The Big One.
 
More than $33,000 in guaranteed prizes was up for grabs in the tournament, which was limited to 300 entries. A total of 165 entries were accepted from 110 players.
 
Zhou erased Scheinman’s lead in Saturday’s finale at Saratoga Race Course to earn $1,950 for his victory and first choice of a future tournament berth. Zhou selected a spot in the BCBC, which takes place Nov. 4-5 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
 
Scheinman finished with a balance of $2,728 and took second place, earning $1,300 and second choice of the remaining tournament berth. He chose a spot in The Big One, being held Sept. 24-25 at Laurel.
 
Third place went to Mark Hagenbuch of Baltimore, who finished with a balance of $1,740 and earned $650. Rob Buser of Delran, N.J. was fourth with a balance of $1,548 and earned $390.
 
Both Hagenbuch and Buser earned spots in the NHC to be held Jan. 27-29, 2017 in Las Vegas.
 
Rounding out the top 10 finishers were Mark McIntyre with a tournament balance of $1,322.40, Ian Whipke ($1,101.00), Charles Wineke ($982.50), Dustin Haluska ($899.00), James Arrison ($870.00) and Al Kaleo ($655.00). Each player earned $390 in prize money.