Longshots propel pair to WCH

Ken Taylor and Adam Thoutt are the latest horseplayers to add their names to the growing list of those who have won entries to the World Championship of Handicapping. They finished atop a field of 21 on Saturday in a Grade 1 WCH qualifier at DRF Tournaments. The WCH is an online handicapping contest that will have a field of 200, a purse of $1 million, and zero takeout.

Taylor did well in the Breeders’ Cup prep races on Saturday, catching Firenze Fire ($33.80 win-place combined) in the Champagne and Irish invader Suedois ($30) in the Shadwell Turf Mile. He previously caught two small collections and finished with a winning total of $84.20.

Thoutt ended up with $80.40, most of which came in the second contest event, the Woodford Stakes at Keeneland. In the Grade 2 turf sprint he selected Bucchero, who returned a whopping $59.20, the longest price in the 12-race contest sequence. He then added Ima Take Charge ($11.80) in Santa Anita’s opener. Thoutt had three small collections along the way, including place horses in two of the last three races, and it’s a good thing he did, because he finished just ahead of an unlucky Jonathan Socolow. Socolow, another who backed Bucchero, ended up just missing with $79.80.

Also on Saturday, Steven Meier and Mike McIntyre won their way into next weekend’s Keeneland Challenge, also in a 21-contestant field. Meier was best by a significant margin. He finished with $121.20, a total he built on four collections, including Bucchero and Suedois.

McIntyre, a tourney veteran, ended up with $106.20. That total came courtesy of five collections, including three in a row early with Bucchero, Ima Take Charge, and Helooksthepart ($17.20) in Belmont’s seventh race.

On Sunday, Lawrence Kahlden won his seat for Keeneland. Kahlden hit an early double with Mo’s MVP ($33.80) in Keeneland’s fifth and Leaveme at the gate ($22) in Belmont’s sixth to get him started. He added three other collections, the longest of which was Factorofwon ($21.80) in Santa Anita’s fourth. His total of $95.60 was much the best in the field of 10.

This is a big week at DRF Tournaments. Friday night, Sky Racing World presents North American horseplayers with a free chance to win a racing trip to Australia by participating in The Everest Tournament. Check back at DRF.com later in the week for more details about the tournament and the races that will be included.

Next Saturday’s featured contest is another Grade 1 qualifier for the World Championship of Handicapping. Players have the option of buying in for $580 or winning in through a Round 1 contest, where they put up $95 and one in 10 entries advances to the Grade 1.

For more information, go to tournaments.drf.com.