Stich wins seat to Wynn event

Father’s Day was a winning day for Michael Stich, who was the big winner on DRF Tournaments on Sunday, netting a $2,000 seat to the Wynn Challenge plus $500 for travel.

The Wynn Challenge is a mythical-money contest that focuses on Del Mar and Saratoga. It takes place Aug. 4-5 at Wynn Las Vegas.

Stich’s total of $89.80 put him more than $20 ahead of his nearest competitor in the all-in contest, where all picks had to be in before the scheduled post time of the contest’s first race. He collected points in eight of the contest’s 12 races.

After missing the opener, Stich got back $20.80 from Loran Holiday in Churchill’s sixth. He got nothing in the next two races but then came back with the same $20.80 return for Pocket Square in Churchill’s eighth. From there, he ran up the score, cashing in seven of the last eight events. None was larger than $10.80, but they were still good enough for the runaway win.

The contest was originally slated for Saturday but was canceled along with the Belmont card when torrential rains came midday. The format was a new one for a Wynn qualifier, and it likely will be seen again soon. Players put up $290, and one in 10 advanced. This type of higher-buy-in, betterratio tournament has proved popular for the World Championship of Handicapping as well.

Speaking of the WCH, last week on DRFT, seven more players advanced to the Grade 1 qualifier on July 8. Players can buy in directly to that event for $580, and 1 in 10 will win a full $5,000 entry for the $1 million, no-takeout finals. DRFT will also continue to run first-round contests for the WCH on every operating day.

Action returns to DRF Tournaments on Wednesday with a host of contests leading up to the weekend’s big qualifiers next Sunday for the Wynn and the Del Mar Betting Challenge. Check the website for potential updates to the schedule as well as a full list of feeders, credit builders, matchups, and winner-takes-all events.