LeClair Scores in Week 3 of TIF Summer Prop Contest on Tiebreaker

Three of 151 entrants successfully selected 11 out of 12 props in the third week of the TIF Summer Prop Contest, forcing a tiebreaker to decide the outcome of the donation-directing positions. Connor LeClair of Cohoes, New York claimed the week’s top spot with a guess of $29.80 for the $2 exacta from the Jim Dandy, just $3 over the actual result. David Fiske of Lexington, Kentucky checked-in second with an exacta guess of $34.00 while Len Dodson’s $47.40 landed him in third. 

LeClair chose to direct donations totaling $1,750 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Winchester Feed added $1,000 in contributions to the originally pledged $2,000 for the week’s results. Fiske elected for $750 to go to the Jockey & Equestrian Initiative of the University of Kentucky’s Sports Medicine Research Institute while Dodson also directed $500 to the PDJF.

The overall standings in eight-week contest were updated with Jeffrey Amster retaining the lead with a nine-win week, giving him 28 total points. Larry Kerr, Tommy Massis and Matt Miller are in close pursuit with 26 each. Bruce Kluft and Terry Ostrowski have 25 with six others tied at 24 behind. The best overall four-week score counts towards the overall contest lead, so plenty of opportunity remains for participating in the free-to-enter contest.

Below, find the distribution of props as they were defined by guest prop-setter Jonathon Kinchen. Week four of the contest will feature props set by professional horseplayer Paul Matties.

1 – The winner of the Vanderbilt at Saratoga (Race 9) will be…

A – #1 Mitole (68.42)
B – Any other horse (31.58%)

2 – Which horse will have the higher finishing position in the Vanderbilt?

A – #4 Firenze Fire (79.61%)
B – #7 Do Share (20.39%)

3 – The winner of the Bowling Green at Saratoga (Race 10) will be…

A – The Chad Brown trainees (#3 Ya Primo, #11 Olympico, #12 Focus Group) (34.87%)
B – Any other horse (65.13%)

4 – Which horse will have the higher finishing position in the Jim Dandy (Race 11)?

A – #5 Tacitus (65.79%)
B – #6 War Of Will (34.21%)

5 – Saturday’s LATE pick five at Saratoga will pay…

A – $999.99 or lower (49.34%)
B – $1000.00 or higher (50.66%)

6 – Which first time starter will have the higher finishing position in Race 4 (Maiden)?

A – #5 Shoplifted (60.26%)
B – #7 Soviet (39.74%)

7 – Which first time starter will have the higher finishing position in Race 7 (Maiden)?

A – #2 Blanket of Roses (30.92%)
B – #5 Economic Policy (69.08%)

Both correct for contest purposes due to scratch of Economic Policy

8 – Which group of jockeys will have more combined wins on Saturday at Saratoga?

A – Manuel Franco (8), Joel Rosario (8), Luis Saez (10) (48.03%)
B – Javier Castellano (10), Ricardo Santana Jr (7), John Velazquez (6) (51.97%)

9 – East v. West: Which group of trainers will have more wins on Saturday?

A – SARATOGA ONLY: Chad Brown (10 entries over 6 races) and Todd Pletcher (4 entries over 4 races) (49.34%)
B – DEL MAR ONLY: Bob Baffert (1), Michael McCarthy (5 entries over 3 races), Doug O’Neill (6 entries over 4 races), John Sadler (1) (46.05%)
C – Same number or no wins (4.61%)

10 – East v. West: Which group of jockeys will have more wins on Saturday?

A – SARATOGA ONLY: Irad Ortiz Jr (10), Jose Ortiz (11) (34.21%)
B – DEL MAR ONLY: Rafael Bejerano (4), Flavien Prat (7), Mike Smith (3), Drayden Van Dyke (7) (62.50%)
C – Same number or no wins (3.29%)

11 – Who will win the Bing Crosby at Del Mar?

A – TEAM CALIFORNIA: #1 Calexman, #2 Desert Law, #3 Cistron, #5 Air Strike (50.66%)
B – TEAM SHIPPERS: #4 Line Judge, #6 Chief Cicatriz, #7 Recruiting Ready, #8 Jalen Journey (49.34%)

12 – Which will be the higher total on Saturday?

A – The sum of the winning saddle towel numbers at SARATOGA’s 12 races, minus 25.5, compared to total winning saddle towel numbers at DEL MAR. (56.58%)
B – The sum of the winning saddle towel numbers at DEL MAR’s 9 races, plus 25.5, compared to total winning saddle towel numbers at SARATOGA. (43.42%)

Updated Standings (best three week scores)

1^st – Jeffrey Amster (28)
2^nd – Larry Kerr (26)
2^nd – Tommy Massis
2^nd – Matt Miller
5^th – Bruce Kluft (25)
5^th – Terry Ostrowski
7^th – Michael Domabyl (24)
7^th – Leonard Dodson
7^th – James Mulvihill
7^th – Patrick Ray
7^th – Matthew Taylor
7^th – Donald Wells
13^th – David Browning (23)
13^th – Robert Carniol
13^th – Kenny Gordon
13^th – Ken Kasowicz
13^th – Peter Rotondo
13^th – Phil Spade
19^th – Jim Sweet (22)
20^th – Maxine Anderson (21)
20^th – Rory Arnold
20^th – Tom Bartzsch
20^th – Craig Brogden
20^th – Brian Floetl
20^th – Rick Hammerle
20^th – Martin Hughes
20^th – Patrick Moroney
20^th – Tyler Whisman