Veteran contest player Frank Mustari of Chicago has a stellar reputation as a contest player, with a propensity to come through with big scores at opportune times. Frank struck again at Keeneland on Saturday, winning the Grade One Gamble by nailing a $235 trifecta in the final race for a bankroll total of $27,025. That total topped a record field of 248 players competing at Keeneland, XpressBet, TVG, NYRA Bets and 4NJBets, and allowed him to take home a record first prize of $50,000, a berth in the $10,000 BCBC at Del Mar, and a 2022 entry in the NHC in Las Vegas.
Ed Deicke of Lido Beach, NY was in first place going into the last race and was passed by Mustari’s incredible hit. Ed played a $1,000 Win bet on King Fury in the Stonestreet Lexington 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 champ Marshall Gramm of Memphis, TN finished in third place with $20,630, cashing for $16,000 in prize money and berths in the BCBC and NHC.
Joining the top three earning 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).
And joining the top 6 at the NHC are 7th through 10th place finishers Dennis Hubbard, Paul Weizer, Mark Stanton and Rick Broth. Each of these players also received $3,000 in prize money.
Prize money of $3,000 each went to 11th through 15th 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. Full results are available on the Keeneland website at https://members.breederscup.com/bcbc/keeneland.
