Kenny Mollicone Named Kentucky Downs’ King Of The Turf

Kenny Mollicone, a 47-year-old real-estate developer from Somerset, Mass., is the 2021 National Turf Handicapping Champion, having won the six-day online Kentucky Downs Turf Handicapping Challenge at the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs.

Mollicone finished with an aggregate total of $5,783.90 Sunday after playing in all three of the individual two-day, live-money competitions. That gave him a comfortable $1,163.90 advantage over runner-up Christy Moore, who finished on top in the second contest.

As the King of the Turf, Mollicone earned $20,000 in prize money and the BetMakers King of the Turf Trophy. He earned a seat and prize pack to the 2022 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas in late January by virtue of his second place in the second contest.

If Mollicone was a horse, his race-chart trouble line would read “left at the gate, rallied, won under wraps.”

Mollicone tapped out in the first two-day contest staged Sept. 5-6, finishing with a $0 score as Gary Gristick won the competition with a $2,500 bankroll. Undeterred, he finished second at $3,778.40 behind Moore's winning bankroll of $4,620 in the second tournament Sept. 8-9 and seventh with $2,005.50 Saturday and Sunday in the final leg won by Ed Deicke at $7,392. Contest players were required to bet a minimum amount of money on a minimum of five races each day.

“I was going to bet Kentucky Downs anyway,” Mollicone said by phone Monday. “To be honest, I really didn't concentrate on the tournament. I usually bet $200, $300, $500 a race. I liked a horse or two, so I screwed around and the horses didn't win, so I was done (with the first tournament). Some people do so much a race and manage their money. Me, I'm just like if I take a shot and win, great; if not, hey, I'll do the next tournament. Kind of like that's what happened.

“Like, I did OK for the tournaments, but I did great betting on my own…. I entered the contest figuring if I like a horse, I'll take a shot. If he does well and I win, I got money and I keep playing. If not, then I just keep betting on my regular account.”

Mollicone says he played some horses whose double-digit odds seemed too high, but he couldn't generally remember their names. One name he clearly recalls, however, is Arklow, who got bottled up in traffic in midstretch before getting through late and coming up a neck shy of Imperador in Saturday's $1 million, Grade 2 Calumet Farm Turf Cup.

“He got blocked, should have won the race for fun,” he said. “He wins that race, I probably win that tournament. I had big doubles going in to him and big doubles going out with him. That's what kind of killed me. Then (Sunday), I just did what I had to do. I didn't like anything on the card.”

He said he calculated that he had enough bankroll to win the overall title and quit playing after Sunday's seventh race — his handicapping there proving correct.

Mollicone is a fan of the competition's format.

“It kept it interesting,” he said. “I knew I didn't do well on the first one, but I kind of liked a couple of horses in the second one; it kept me involved. I thought it was great, the way they set up it and the way they did the overall so you're going to play all three. Whoever came up with it, I think it's a great idea. It keeps you wanting to do it.

“A couple of guys who beat me (in the third leg), they didn't do the other tournaments and they didn't get the $20,000. Shame on them. You're going to bet Kentucky Downs anyway. It's great racing. You've got great horses. I think the more the people find out about it, especially with the bonus at the end, you're going to find more people playing next year. Guys are going to kick themselves in the butt for not playing the whole thing.”

Mollicone calls his late father, Bob, the best handicapper he's ever known. He says the first thing he learned how to read was the Daily Racing Form and went Suffolk Downs and the off-track betting at Rhode Island casinos with his dad, the two also traveling around the country to play contests.

“I love betting turf races,” he said. “It's a more exciting race, a more true race. And I just love the set up (at Kentucky Downs). They're going uphill, downhill. I just love it. You look forward to it. I've always done well at Kentucky Downs. You get horses who pay $25, $30 that you think should pay $8 or $10. Great racing and great value.”

Tournament Director Brian Skirka called the 2021 Kentucky Downs King of the Turf Handicapping Challenge “a massive success.”

“We had over 400 combined entries over the three contests and awarded over $171,000 in prizes,” he said. “I'd like to thank all the players who participated and Kentucky Downs for putting on six days of world-class turf racing. In just two years, these Kentucky Downs contests have proven themselves to be some of the most-challenging and most-lucrative in the country. I look forward to working with the Kentucky Downs team to grow them even more in the future.”

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Justin Mustari, 26, Becomes Youngest-Ever Winner Of National Horseplayers Championship

Justin Mustari of Des Plaines, Ill., topped a field of 563 entries to win the $725,000 first-place prize and an Eclipse Award as Horseplayer of the Year at this weekend's 22nd annual National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally's Las Vegas. The event was postponed from its usual early February dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic and became a midsummer event for the first time.

The 26-year-old Mustari, who works for his father Frank's insulation contracting company, is the youngest NHC winner. He amassed a winning score of $370.80 over the three-day tournament from 52 mythical $2 Win and Place bets—17 on Friday, 18 on Saturday, 10 in Sunday morning's Semifinal round, and seven at the climactic DraftKings Final Table for the overall top 10.

The contest came down to Race 8 at Del Mar—a one-mile turf allowance/optional claimer for California-breds—with Mustari sitting fourth behind 2014 NHC winner Jose Arias. Mustari chose a 4-year-old filly names Rose's Crystal, who hadn't raced since January.

“I had to give myself a chance to win with this kind of money,” Mustari said. “I definitely didn't like this horse as a top pick but I had to find something in the range that could get me there. I thought this horse coming off the layoff potentially had a chance if he ran back to some earlier numbers, and he did.”

Mustari was the NHC two-day leader at the end of Saturday but lost the lead during the morning's Semifinals round that led to the Final Table. He did not cash in any of the first six mandatory Final Table races.

“I've got to buy a house because I still live with my parents,” he said. “My dad has been the reason I play this game and he taught me everything I know so I have to give a lot of credit to him.”

Arias finished second with $347.20. The Bell Gardens, Calif., resident was seeking to become the event's first two-time winner. However, when the second mandatory race went off, Arias was nowhere to be found. His pick did not appear on the selection screens and it soon became apparent that he had failed to get his selection in before the gates opened. Later, Arias told reporters he had had a personal issue to tend to but would not have landed on the winner of that race anyway. The $200,000 second-place prize pushed Arias's all-time NHC earnings to $956,000, behind only the all-time leader, Michael Beychok ($1,015,300).

The official Top 10, with final bankroll (and prize):

First – Justin Mustari, $370.80, Des Plaines, Ill. ($725,000 + Eclipse Award)

Second – Jose Arias, $347.20, Bell Gardens, Calif. ($200,000)

Third – Chris Goodall, $345.60, Winter Park, Calif. ($150,000)

Fourth – Paul Calia, $339.10, Kansas City, Mo. ($100,000)

Fifth – Sarah Wiener, $297.70, Clearwater, Fla. ($75,000)

Sixth – Brendan Fay, $294.90, Seminole, Fla. ($65,000)

Seventh – Travis Allison, $291.30, Frisco, Texas ($56,000)

Eighth – Jason Phillips, $289.10, Sutherland, Va. ($54,000)

Ninth – Paul Yaffee, $279.30, Evanston, Ill. ($52,000)

Tenth – Jeff VanDrie, $273.30, Carefree, Ariz. ($50,000)

By virtue of his victory, Mustari also earns an exemption into next year's NHC finals and a berth to the 2021 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge worth $10,000.

The full NHC and Consolation Tournament standings can be accessed at ntra.com.

The NHC was held for the second straight year in the historic Bally's Event Center, which for three days was transformed into the world's largest race book. The next NHC is set for Jan. 28-30, 2022, at Bally's Las Vegas.

The NHC finals awarded cash prizes to 56 players—the top 10 percent of finishers—from a total purse of $2,154,000. An additional $50,000 went to the top 20 in today's Consolation Tournament. Including $367,500 paid out to top finishers in the year-long NHC Tour, NHC Tour travel awards, RTN subscriptions, and the $10,000 Charity Challenge tournament prize, plus $30,000 worth of Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge prizes in the form of entry fees, bankrolls, airfare and hotel, the aggregate value of payouts this weekend in NHC cash and prizes totaled $3,423,552.

To make the Semifinals cut, the 456 NHC entrants were required to place 35 mythical $2 Win and Place wagers—17 on Friday (one less than scheduled due to a weather cancellation) and 18 on Saturday.

DraftKings Final Table participants were relocated to a single table in the middle of the Bally's Event Center that served as NHC headquarters.

Final Table Race Results

Race: Winner ($2 Win, $2 Place), Second ($2 Place)

Monmouth, Race 10: 8-Alta Velocita ($6.20, $4), 10-Jersey Jewel ($9.40)

Saratoga, Race 9: 8-Sifting Sands ($18.80, $9.60), 5-Dreamer's Disease ($12.20)

Saratoga, Race 10: 6-Chulainn ($22.60, $11), 11-Lord Flintshire ($11)

Del Mar, Race 6: 2-Perfectionist ($8.80), 3-Mesut ($6.20)

Del Mar, Race 7: 6-Bella Vita ($4.40, $3.20), 1-Livingmybestlife ($6)

Golden Gate, Race 8: 6-Friday's at Shady ($9.40, $4.40), 3-Pour On the Cole ($6.20)

Del Mar, Race 8: 5-Rose's Crystal ($41.80, $16.40), 4-Warrens Candy Girl ($6.40)

The 2020 NHC Tour winner Sally Goodall, who was eligible for a $2 million bonus if she could top the NHC, had two entries—one finished in 493rd place with a $41.40 bankroll and the second in 598th with $7.

Goodall, a record-tying 19-time NHC qualifier, was inducted in the NHC Hall of Fame at Sunday night's Champions' Dinner, as was Ray Arsenault, the 2017 NHC winner and third all-time NHC money-earner.

Defending NHC champion Thomas Goldsmith advanced to the Semifinals round with both of his entries and finished 18th ($246.80) and 25th ($224.20). He was one of only two players with multiple entries in the Semifinal round.

In a separate Consolation Tournament for players that did not reach the Semifinal round, Vincent Achillare of Convent Station, N.J., won the $10,000 top prize with a bankroll of $96.30 from 10 optional races. The Consolation Tournament started with bankrolls reset to zero. Cash prizes totaling $50,000 were awarded, from the $10,000 first prize down to $1,000 for 20th.

The 2021 NHC was the culmination of 256 qualifying contests held online and at racetracks and OTBs in 2020. From those contests, there were 35,730 entries played in hopes of making it to Bally's Las Vegas.

The National Horseplayers Championship is presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment and Bally's Las Vegas and sponsored by 1/ST BET, Breeders' Cup, Capitol OTB, Century Bets, Daily Racing Form, Draft Kings, EquinEdge, FanDuel Group, Four Roses Bourbon, Hawthorne Racecourse, Hialeah Park, HorsePlayers.com, HorseTourneys.com, Keeneland, Monmouth Park, NYRA Bets, Roberts Communications, Santa Anita Park, STATS® Race Lens, The Stronach Group, TVG and Xpressbet.

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26-Year-Old Justin Mustari Wins NHC

Justin Mustari, a 26-year-old horseplayer from Des Plaines, Ill., won the 2021 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas. Mustari became the youngest winner in 22 editions of the NHC. He competed against a field of 563 entries over the three-day tournament from Aug. 27-29, winning the $725,000 first-place prize and an Eclipse Award as Horseplayer of the Year. He also earns an exemption into next year's NHC finals and a berth to the 2021 Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge worth $10,000.

Mustari's winning final score of $370.80 from 52 mythical $2 Win and Place bets was more than $20 higher than second-place finisher and former winner Jose Arias, who was trying to become the event's first two-time winner. The $200,000 second-place prize pushed Arias's all-time NHC earnings to $956,000, behind only the all-time leader, Michael Beychok, who has earned $1,015,300.

“I've got to buy a house because I still live with my parents,” said Mustari, who works for his father's insulation contracting company. “My dad has been the reason I play this game and he taught me everything I know so I have to give a lot of credit to him.” Frank Mustari, the winner's father, has competed in past editions of the NHC.

The official Top 10, with final bankroll (and prize):

First–Justin Mustari, $370.80, Des Plaines, Ill. ($725,000 + Eclipse Award)

Second--Jose Arias, $347.20, Bell Gardens, Calif. ($200,000)

Third–Chris Goodall, $345.60, Winter Park, Calif. ($150,000)

Fourth–Paul Calia, $339.10, Kansas City, Mo. ($100,000)

Fifth–Sarah Wiener, $297.70, Clearwater, Fla. ($75,000)

Sixth–Brendan Fay, $294.90, Seminole, Fla. ($65,000)

Seventh–Travis Allison, $291.30, Frisco, Texas ($56,000)

Eighth–Jason Phillips, $289.10, Sutherland, Va. ($54,000)

Ninth–Paul Yaffee, $279.30, Evanston, Ill. ($52,000)

Tenth–Jeff VanDrie, $273.30, Carefree, Ariz. ($50,000)

The full NHC and Consolation Tournament standings and prizes can be accessed at ntra.com.

The 2021 NHC was the culmination of 256 qualifying contests held online and at racetracks and OTBs in 2020. From those contests, there were 35,730 entries played. The event was postponed from its usual winter dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was held for the second consecutive year at the Bally's Event Center. The next NHC will be held Jan. 28-30, 2022, again at Bally's Las Vegas.

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NHC Charity Challenge Has Field Of 60 For 2021 Edition

While the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas will crown the best handicapper in the sport, industry accolades will be on the line as a cross-section of notable journalists, analysts, and personalities compete in today's NTRA NHC Charity Challenge presented by Four Roses Bourbon.

A field of approximately 60 are slated to compete for the $5,000 charitable prize pool with $2,500 set to be donated in the winner's name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and the other $2,500 going to the winner's charity of choice.

Defending Charity Challenge winner Jude Feld will attempt a title defense and every past winner is expected to participate. The past Charity Challenge champions are Dawn Lupul (2019), Ed DeRosa (2018), Ellis Starr (2017), Matt Bernier (2016), and Bob Neumeier (2015).

This year's complete field, in alphabetical order, with affiliation:

Pete Aiello, track announcer, Gulfstream Park

Frank Angst, features editor, BloodHorse

Jeremy Balan, content editor, TwinSpires.com

Matt Bernier, racing analyst, NBC Sports / In The Money Media

Christina Blacker, host and analyst, TVG

Brian Blessing, radio host, Sportsbook Radio / Vegas Hockey Hotline

Michael Blowen, Old Friends Farm

Mike Brunker, assistant city editor, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Steve Byk, radio host, At the Races with Steve Byk

Zoe Cadman, host and analyst, XBTV.com / Santa Anita Park

Michael Canale, DraftKings

Matt Carothers, host and analyst, TVG

Frank Carulli, professional gambler and former racing analyst

Joe Clancy, ST Publishing

Sean Clancy, ST Publishing

Ed DeRosa, director of marketing, TwinSpires.com / racing analyst, Churchill Downs

Matt Dinerman, track announcer, Golden Gate Fields

Ramon Dominguez, Hall of Fame jockey, broadcaster

Bob Ehalt, freelance writer

Chris “The Bear” Fallica, research producer, College GameDay

Ahmed Fareed, national studio and event host, NBC Sports

Jude Feld, broadcaster and writer, PopeJude.com / Horse Racing Radio Network

Gabby Gaudet, racing analyst and reporter, TVG

Robert Geller, track announcer, Woodbine Entertainment

Jamie Haydon, president, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

Scott Hazelton, host and reporter, TVG

G.D. Hieronymus, retired racetrack video production legend

John Hernandez, track handicapper, Prairie Meadows

Jonathon Kinchen, racing analyst, NYRA / FOX Sports / In the Money Media

Joe Kristufek, racing analyst, Churchill Downs / Fair Grounds

Tom Law, ST Publishing

David Levitch, basketball coach and handicapper, TheHorseCapper.com

Dawn Lupul, holistic health coach and handicapper

Pete Macheska, executive director, FOX Sports

Paul Matties, professional horseplayer, 2016 NHC champion

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, owner, Gallery Furniture

Jimmy McNerney, track announcer, Ellis Park

Seth Merrow, host, Capital OTB

Jim Miller, director of publicity and on-air analyst, Hawthorne Race Course

Frank Mirahmadi, track announcer, Santa Anita Park / Monmouth Park

Bob Neumeier, retired sports broadcaster

Joe Nevills, bloodstock editor, The Paulick Report

Ron Nicoletti, handicapper, Gulfstream Park

Eddie Olczyk, NHL Lead Analyst, Turner Sports / racing analyst, NBC Sports

Ray Paulick, founder and editor, The Paulick Report

Rich Perloff, host and analyst, TVG

Samantha Perry, handicapper, Monmouth Park

Jay Privman, national correspondent, Daily Racing Form

Sheri Riddoch, handicapper, Woodbine Entertainment

Peter Rotondo, father and bon vivant

Matt Rybaltowski, sports betting reporter, Sports Handle / US Bets / Forbes

Spa Infield Goose, waterfowl and Twitter influencer

Todd Schrupp, host and analyst, TVG

Brian Spencer, handicapper

Ellis Starr, handicapper, Equibase

Vic Stauffer, track announcer, Oaklawn Park

Dan Tordjman, correspondent, America's Best Racing

Dave Weaver, racing analyst, TVG

Similar to the NHC format, players will select one horse to Win and Place in eight races using a “Pick and Pray” format. All selections are due Saturday morning and any scratches will result in the player being assigned the post-time favorite. The player with the highest hypothetical bankroll after the final contest race will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie, there will be no playoff; the donations will be split among the winners.

In addition to the charitable prize, Breeders' Cup is offering a $500 credit to the winner's HorsePlayers.com account. The second-place finisher will get a $250 credit with third earning a $100 credit.

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