Lexington Resident Wins Sunday Handicapping Contest

A stellar group of 159 players from across North America contested the Fall BCBC/NHC Challenge at Keeneland on Sunday, and local player Nick Mannella came away the big winner. Mannella turned a $2,000 bankroll into $28,314 on the strength of a large double play with the heavily favored entry of Hotshot Anna and Aiken to Be in Race 8 and with Royal Mesa, the 20-1 winner of Race 9.

He barely held off defending BCBC champion Chuck Grubbs, also of Lexington, who went all in on Race 9 with a $1,000 win bet on Royal Mesa that netted $21,000.  

Longtime leader Dave Nichols of Wayne, Pennsylvania, settled for third place with $19,122.50.

The top five finishers won fully paid entries into the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge at Santa Anita plus a fully paid entry into the National Horseplayers Championship at Bally’s Las Vegas in February. Prize money was $30,000 for first, $15,000 for second and $1,500 for sixth through 15^th place.