LEXINGTON, Ky.—Frank Mustari of Chicago has a stellar reputation as a handicapping contest player who makes scores at opportune times. Mustari struck again at Keeneland on Saturday, April 10, when he won the Grade One Gamble by nailing a $235 trifecta in the final race for a bankroll total of $27,025. His total topped a record field of 248 players who competed at Keeneland and through XpressBet, TVG, NYRA Bets and 4NJBets and allowed Mustari to take home a record first prize of $50,000, a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) at Del Mar and an entry in the 2022 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas.
Thanks to his incredible hit, Mustari passed leader Ed Deicke of Lido Beach, New York, for the win. Deicke played a $1,000 win bet on King Fury in the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) for $19,200 and finished with $24,969. His second-place finish was good for $26,000 in prize money and berths in the BCBC and NHC.
Defending BCBC champion Marshall Gramm of Memphis finished third with $20,630, cashing for $16,000 in prize money and berths in the BCBC and NHC.
Joining the top three who earned BCBC entries and NHC entries were Bobby Marks ($20,490 bankroll; $12,000 prize money), Ryan Knottek ($16,300 bankroll; $7,000 prize money) and Peter Behr ($14,910 bankroll and $3,000 prize money).
Also receiving berths to the NHC were seventh- through 10th-place finishers: Dennis Hubbard, Paul Weizer, Mark Stanton and Rick Broth. Each also received $3,000 in prize money.
Prize money of $3,000 each went to 11th- through 15th-place finishers: Mark Haidar, Evan Trommer, Christy Moore, Frank Mustari (again), and Ray Arnesault.
“Thanks so much to the incredible players for your support of Keeneland racing,” Keeneland Director of Wagering Development Jim Goodman said.
Full results are available at https://members.breederscup.com/bcbc/keeneland.
Keeneland Press Release
