Key qualifiers this weekend

Newer contest players, New York specialists, and those with a lower bankroll should take note – DRF Tournaments has added qualifiers for NYRA’s Gotham Day live-bankroll contest. The Gotham contest itself costs $500 to play and takes place Saturday, March 10.

Players looking to get in for less should check out Sunday’s qualifier on DRF Tournaments. It costs $60, and one in 10 entries will win into the Gotham contest. The contest will utilize the all-in format, meaning all picks must be in before the scheduled post time of the contest’s first race.

On Sunday, there also will be a qualifier for the Horse Player World Series on DRFT. The HPWS is a major mythical-money tournament held at the Orleans in Las Vegas. Last year, Pete Puhich won $373,000 at the HPWS by running first and second, a record payday for the event, which is set for March 8-10.

Sunday’s qualifier costs $94 to play, and one in 19 entries will win into the HPWS via the all-in contest. At least two seats are expected to be on offer.

DRFT’s other featured contest this weekend happens Saturday, and it’s a qualifier for Keeneland’s Grade 1 Gamble, annually one of the most important contests of the spring season. The Grade 1 Gamble costs $3,000 to play and takes place Sunday, April 15. Of the entry fee, $1,000 funds the prize pool, and $2,000 acts as a live bankroll. Contest players also should note that on Saturday, April 14, Keeneland will be offering a $400 Spring Challenge event, making the weekend all the more appealing for players traveling in from elsewhere.

DRFT’s Saturday qualifier has a buy-in of $410, and prize packages will go to one in 10 entries. Prize packages include a Keeneland buy-in plus $500 in travel for a total of $3,500. This contest will use the live format, where picks can be changed up to the scheduled post time for each contest race.

Looking ahead to March 3, there will be another Grade 1 qualifier for the World Championship of Handicapping. Players put up $580 for that one, and one in 10 will advance to DRF’s no-takeout online championship in 2019. Players also can buy in directly to the WCH for $5,000. Contestants can feed into the Grade 1’s every operating day via firstround contests. For those, players buy entries for $95, and one in seven advance to the Grade 1’s.

Next weekend there also will be a qualifier for The Stronach Group’s Ultimate Betting Challenge, an important live-bankroll event held at Gulfstream and Santa Anita. There are feeder options for that game every operating day as well.

For a list of all the feeders, qualifiers, credit builders, winner-take-alls, and matchup contests, take a look at tournaments.drf.com.