Handicapper hunts record $6M in bonuses

DGutfreund can borrow a quote from Jay Trotter on Sunday at the end of the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas if he collects what would likely be a record payday in the long history of horse racing.

Trotter’s quote, for those of you who have never seen the great horse racing movie “Let It Ride”: “I am having a VERY good day!”

As winner of the 2019

NHC Tour, Gutfreund, 57, stands to collect a record $6 million in bonuses in addition to the first-place prize of $800,000 if he can outlast roughly 670 of the best handicappers in the land.

“The opportunity that I have is unprecedented in horse racing tournaments,” Gutfreund said this week. “It’s insane! It would be life changing, that’s for sure. It would be historic.”

Gutfreund, known in handicapping circles as “The Maven,” is well prepared for the marathon. He’s finished in the top 10 twice at previous NHCS and comes into this year’s tournament at Treasure Island off an amazing run that saw him capture five individual NHC Tour contests in the second half of the year.

He also brings his experience as a professional poker player to the party at Treasure Island. Since 2007, Gutfreund has won $865,255 in live tournament play, according to the Herndon Mob database.

How does that translate to handicapping’s main event?

“In poker, position is very important,” he said. “Why? Because you get to act after all the other players. In a horse racing tournament, so many people have already made their decisions on what they’re going to bet.

But the later you can make your decision the better the decision you’re likely to make.”

In addition to staying flexible and focusing on the sort of races “that are going to produce the kind of horses that I’m going to be wanting to play in the tournament,” Gutfreund said he prepares for the NHC and other handicapping tournaments in much the same way that a marathon runner would.

“You make sure you’re well nourished, well rested and, hopefully, that you’re in a good state from the neck up,” he said.

I’ll have more coverage of the NHC on Monday and in next week’s column. In the meantime, I’d recommend stopping by Treasure Island this weekend to take in a bit of the action. The contest takes place in the ballroom on the second floor.

#Rjhorseracing featured races

The #Rjhorseracing handicappers return to Tampa Bay Downs for Saturday’s $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds looking to take an early step toward the Kentucky Derby, as well as the Lambholm South Endeavor Stakes for fillies and mares.

In the latter, run at 1

1/16th mile on the turf, the crowd ’cappers are strongly lined up behind Rymska,

5-2 on the morning line, over Get Explicit (9-2) and Hawksmoor (3-1).

I agree that Rymska looks tough if she runs, but trainer Chad Brown also entered her in the Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. If she shows up, she’s my pick, with Bonnie Arch (15-1) and Hawksmoor filling out the minor slots. If she doesn’t, I’ll use Monte Christa (12-1) underneath.

The handicapping crew sees a much more wideopen event in the Sam F. Davis, run at 1 1/16th mile on the main track.

They narrowly favor Knicks Go, the 5-2 morning line favorite, over Five Star General (4-1) and So Alive (5-1).

Knicks Go is undoubtedly the most accomplished horse in the field, but I’m going to make him beat me. I think he’s going to face a lot of pace pressure in his first race in 2½ months, and that could prove troublesome.

I’ll put my money instead on Cave Run (6-1), who stretches out after running into a monster named Win Win Win in his first try versus stakes company. I’ll use Kentucky Wildcat (9-2) and Still Dreaming (15-1) in the minor slots.

Mike Brunker’s horse racing column appears Friday. He can be reached at mbrunker@reviewjournal. com or 702-383-4656. Follow @mike_brunker on Twitter.