DEL MAR, Calif.—Craig Siedler, from Henderson, NV, catapulted into the lead in the second race Saturday and never looked back in the two-day 18th annual Del Mar Summer Challenge. Siedler won handily over 127 classy entries with a final bankroll of an unfathomable $100,000 from the $3,000 starting bankroll. Prize winnings totaled $50,000 including $35,000 cash, a $10,000 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) entry at Del Mar and an August 21 $5,000 Pacific Classic Betting Challenge Del Mar entry. The final bankroll and prizes totaled $150,000.
Matt Arndt of Tempe, AZ and Jim Meeks from Elko, NV finished second and third to round out the top three. Cash and prizes for Matt were $27,000 while Jim received $15,000.
Siedler hit exacta and trifecta wagers in the contest’s second race to put him in the lead with a score of over $19,000 then followed that up with a nearly all-time exacta payoff in race 7. Siedler had 78-1 winner Miss Carousel over 27-1 After Midnight an amazing 50 times for more than $51,000 in race winnings. The $1 exacta payoff of $1,025 just missed an all-time Del Mar record. His incredible day ended with $82,617 and he kept firing Sunday pushing his total all the way to the insurmountable six figure finale.
The top five finishers receive BCBC entries in the November 5 and 6 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
Place, Name, Final Bankroll
1. Craig Seidler, $100,000.70
2. Matt Arndt, $47,080.00
3. Jim Meeks, $36,000.00
4. Bill Chenvert, $27,400.50
5. Ron Myeress, $20,315.20
6. Rob Talstra, $14,003.50
7. Michael Shutty, $13,000.00
8. Carl Rasak, $12,456.00
9. Gary West, $11,570.00
10. Steve Eisner, $8,416.50
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Press Release
Photo: Craig Seidler (L) and Chris Bahr © Benoit Photo
