ARENDT ULTIMATE CAPPER
John Arendt’s strategy – “Don’t play
the favorites.”
However, with that thinking he
obviously would not have bet on himself winning Fraser
Downs’ Ultimate Capper Contest. Win the veteran handicapper
did, successfully using his strategy on the horses, and now
he will be heading to California.
Arendt, a resident of Aldergrove,
captured a vacation for two (his guest will be his wife) to
see the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar race track on
Aug. 22 in sunny Southern California.
He clinched his triumph with a
sixth-place finish ($50.40) in the late week on races from
Hollywood Park and completed the contest with a nifty total
of $303.50. Debbie Tarabas could not catch Arendt and
stayed in second place, $29.60 behind.
Arendt is excited to be going to Del
Mar even though he has “been there a couple of times.”
“It’s (winning this version of the UCC)
the best I’ve ever done in any of the contests although I
have come close,” he added. “I don’t play favorites and I’m
always shooting for prices.”
Arendt admits that you would have to
say he is a regular at the Downs, although he “bets more on
the thoroughbreds. I do my own handicapping, I’ve been doing
it for 35 or 40 years.”
Arendt took over the lead in the UCC
after week five (he won $92.30 that week in which he was
second best) and despite being blanked in week six was never
headed again.
Ron Miscich jumped to third in the
final week at $238.90, Tim Wiesner finished fourth at
$209.10 and Phil Rowe used a second-place finish ($56.50) in
the last week to vault to fifth at $205.60.
Rounding out the top 10 finishers in
the popular event were Wray Jones at $203.60, Roy Yip, who
picked up money in each and every week, $203.10, Bob
Kosolofski $201.40, Sid Marshall $198.20 and Andy Kevener,
despite being blanked the first five weeks, $182.40.
Gloria Rosvold was the top handicapper
in the 10th and final week with $62.70 won at Hollywood
Park. Rowe and Dave Schwab were second and third. Other
weekly winners were Jones, Kosolofski, Wiesner, Tarabas,
Marshall, Kevener, Brenda Hoffman, Fred Lester and Les
Raymond.
The UCC started May 1 and covered 10
consecutive Saturdays. Contestants picked a horse in three
of the designated six races from the track of the week. A
mythical $2 win/place/show wager was made on each of the
three horses selected and at the end of each contest day,
the top three contestants won cash.
The contestant with the highest total
of mythical dollars won over the 10-week period won the Del
Mar vacation for two, courtesy of Fraser Downs. The vacation
includes a flight from Vancouver International Airport,
three nights accommodation, premium seating while at the
race track and $500 spending /transportation money.
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