Six players correctly answered 10 of 12 props in the sixth week of the TIF Summer Prop Contest, forcing the tiebreaker into overdrive. Jerry Richman of Arlington Heights, Illinois emerged victorious with a guess of $104 for the Pacific Classic exacta, the highest of the six tiebreaker guesses, and closest to the actual return at $388. Props were set by NBC handicapper Matt Bernier.
Rick Hammerle, the week five winner, emulated contestant James Leal from a week earlier, finishing second a week after landing the top placing. Hammerle’s exacta guess of $78 was next best, while Paul Weizer of Leominster, Massachusetts settled for third.
Richman and Weizer directed contributions to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, totaling $1,500. $500 will go to the Virginia Tech Jockey & Equestrian Helmet Study as directed by Rick Hammerle.
Honorable mention goes to the other three players with 10 wins – Craig Brodgen of Lexington, Kentucky, Tyler Colucci of Phoenix, Arizona and Chris Garafalo of Live Oak, Texas. Interestingly enough, all six players tied for the win shared an incorrect guess on the same prop – all had John Velazquez landing under 2.5 wins at Del Mar. A 9-1 winner in the last race from off the pace pushed Velazquez over to three wins. Only 15% of players guessed Velazquez would land the over.
As for the overall contest lead, Hammerle improved into a tie for the lead with Terry Ostrowski of Homosassa, Florida. Their best four-week scores total 38. Jeffrey Amster holds a solo third with 37 points while Michelle Yu Hanson and James Leal are tied for fifth on 36 points. Two weeks of the contest remain with next week’s Travers Stakes props set by handicapper, figure-maker and pundit Nick Tammaro.
1 – The winner of the Lake Placid at Saratoga will be…
A – A Chad Brown trainee (#4 Blowout, #5 Regal Glory) (53.54%)
B – Any other horse (46.46%)
Both answers awarded due to dead heat
2 – According to the official Equibase chart, the final time of the Alabama at Saratoga will be…
A – 2:03.40 or faster (69.7%)
B – 2:03.41 or slower (30.3%)
3 – Who will win the Alabama?
A – #1 Dunbar Road or #7 Point of Entry (69.7%)
B – Any other horse (30.3%)
4 – Javier Castellano has eight mounts (not including MTOs) scheduled at Saratoga on Saturday. The line on his number of wins is set at 2.5. Will he finish…
A – Over 2.5 (41.41%)
B – Under 2.5 (58.59%)
5 – Which race will have the higher win payout on Saturday?
A – Saratoga Race 1 (64%)
B – Del Mar Race 1 (36%)
6 – John Velazquez has six mounts scheduled at Del Mar on Saturday. His win total line is 2.5. Will he finish…will be
A – Over 2.5 (15%)
B – Under 2.5 (85%)
7 – The winner of the TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar will be…
A – #2 Quip or #5 Seeking The Soul (51%)
B – Any other horse (49%)
8 – The line on the number of Del Mar wins on Saturday for Bob Baffert is 1.5. He has four horses entered. Will he finish the day…
A – Over 1.5 (41%)
B – Under 1.5 (59%)
9 – HEAD TO HEAD: Which horse will have the better finishing position in the Green Flash Handicap (Race 3) at Del Mar?
A – #2 Stormy Liberal (58%)
B – #5 Eddie Haskell (42%)
10 – HEAD TO HEAD: Which horse will have the better finishing position in the Del Mar Handicap (Race 7)?
A – #4 Marckie’s Water (37%)
B – #5 United (63%)
Both answers awarded due to scratching of United
11 – According to the official Equibase chart, the final time of the Pacific Classic will be…
A – 2:00.70 or faster (17%)
B – 2:00.71 or slower (83%)
12 – Which will be higher?
A – The win payout for the Pacific Classic (53.54%)
B – The total number of runs in Saturday’s Boston Red Sox/Baltimore Orioles game (46.46%)
TIF Summer Prop Contest
Updated Standings Through Week 6 (29 points and higher)
Rick Hammerle (38)
Terry Ostrowski
Jeffrey Amster (37)
Michelle Yu Hanson (36)
James Leal
Larry Kerr (35)
Tommy Massis
Patrick Ray
Matt Miller (34)
Charles Bedard (33)
Michael Domabyl
David Fiske
Keith Stafford
Matthew Taylor
Tyler Whisman
Robert Carniol (32)
Leonard Dodson
Dustin Fabian
Chris Garafola
John Gaspar
Bruce Kluft
Connor LeClair
Peter Rotondo
Donald Wells
Craig Brogden (31)
Mike Coutu
Scott Little
Thomas Lippai
James Mulvihill
Dave Nichols
Paul Weizer
Rory Arnold (30)
Chas Glazer
Kenny Gordon
Patrick Moroney
Dan Pastalaniec
Doug Slayton
Phil Spade
Jim Sweet
Michael Vito
Maxine Anderson (29)
Sean Beirne
Jeffrey Coakley
Van Cushny
Ken Kasowicz
Matt Kasowicz
Zach Levine
Jacob Shepard
Matthew A Shifman
Todd Van Drie
Henry Wessel