Raul Pantoja. (Benoit Photo)
Del Mar Fall Challenge
Del Mar Press
DEL MAR, Calif—Raul Pantoja from Lake Elsinore, CA, scored on a huge trifecta in the last race to fly by the leaders in the Fall Challenge. Pantoja turned the starting $2,000 bankroll into $27,972 highlighted by a last race $900 trifecta that paid nearly $27,000. Along with his cash and prize winnings of $35,500, Raul takes home a total of $63,472.
Strong final race cashes also carried 2nd place finisher Craig Siedler of Henderson, NV, and 3rd place Ken McMahan, from Lexington, KY. Siedler finished with a final bankroll of $22,768 plus additional prizes of $18,500 for $41,268 total. McMahan’s final bankroll was $16, 144 and he receives a Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge spot for 3rd place, which takes place at Del Mar in 2025.
The top three received 2025 $10,000 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge entries. Also awarded were 2025 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) spots to Pantoja and Siedler.
Players competed either on-track at Del Mar or online on TVG.com with prizes awarded to the top ten.
| PLACE | NAME | FINAL BANKROLL |
| 1 | Raul Pantoja | $27,972.00 |
| 2 | Craig Siedler | $22,768.90 |
| 3 | Ken McMahan 2 | $16,144.00 |
| 4 | Bob Ike | $15,868.00 |
| 5 | Cory Shorr | $11,701.60 |
| 6 | Doug Otani | $10,050.60 |
| 7 | Florin Sima | $ 9,990.00 |
| 8 | Joe Regan | $ 7,882.50 |
| 9 | Bill Shurman | $ 6,300.00 |
| 10 | Frank Mustari | $ 4,350.00 |
