Thomas Anderson of Burnsville, Minnesota, got out of the gate fast Friday in
the first day of the 12th annual Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred
Association National Handicapping Championship and will lead the 301-person
field into Saturday’s finale with a bankroll of $182. The two-day competition at
the Red Rock Resort and Spa in Las Vegas boasts a record $1.05 million pot, with
a $500,000 first-place prize and title of 2010 Handicapper of the Year going to
the winner.
Anderson, who qualified at the Dog Days of Summer XIV tournament at
Canterbury Downs, made a big score early in the afternoon with one of his seven
elective plays when hitting Dig In (Snuck In), who paid $42 and $13.80 for
winning Gulfstream Park’s 3RD race. The 54-year-old horseplayer holds a slim advantage over Ellis Park owner Ron Geary, who is second at
$171.60.
Anderson and Geary have opened a sizeable margin upon Yu Death, who compiled a score of
$108.40 in third, and Russell Priola comes next with $108. James Templin III
rounds out the top five at $107. Brisnet.com Director of Marketing Rich Nilsen
is 22nd with $85.40.
Brian Troop established the first-day record of $232.60 last year and went on
to win the National Handicapping Championship (NHC) with a two-day total of
$266. He received an automatic berth to this year’s event, but dug a hole for
himself in Friday’s opening session with only $6.60, which puts him in a tie for
264th.