Pollock leads UCC week seven

Marg Pollock of Langley is the seventh week's winner of the Ultimate Capper Contest.

In the contest, which has $10,000 in prize money up for grabs, Pollock led all handicappers with $39.30. She claimed the $500 top money for handicapping harness horses at Northlands Park in Edmonton.

Stanley Smith of Surrey got $250 for finishing second. Mary Mierau of Vancouver was third (after a three-way draw) for $150, Gloria Fortin of Delta fourth (loses draw for third) for $75 and fifth-place (loses draw for fourth) D. Adam Sagert of Vancouver got $25.

After seven weeks Dave Mahy of New Westminster leads the UCC with $243.90 in earnings, just ahead of second-place Tim Weisner at $231.40. The next spots go to Brenda Prokopenko, last week's leader, at $230.90, Phil Rowe at $226.60 and Gene Bodor $220.60.

The ultimate (best) handicapper -- the person with the most in winnings -- at the end of the 10-week contest will be off to Toronto, with a guest, for the Queen's Plate and North America Cup, June 21-22.

The UCC, in which participants are asked to handicap standardbred and thoroughbred races, goes Saturdays and those interested can enter each day or every day during the contest.

There's $1,000 in weekly cash prizes divided in the following manner: first, $500; second, $250; third, $150; fourth, $75 and fifth, $25.

The tracks remaining in the contest are: Churchill Downs (thoroughbreds) this Saturday May 3 (Kentucky Derby day); Hastings Park (thoroughbreds) May 10 and Hollywood Park (thoroughbreds) May 17.

RICK WHITE LEADS WAY: The honours were once again well split in last weekend's driver and trainer win department.

Rick White had a triple last Saturday to end with four victories and lead all drivers. Andy Arsenault and Tim Brown each had three while Scott Knight, Dave Hudon, Jim Marino, Larry Micallef and Kevin Anderson each had two.

Serge Rodrique, back at the Downs after a lengthy absence, got his first victory of the meet when he piloted Cookie's Thunder first across the wire last Friday.

Ken Dorman topped all trainers with three victories while Rick White, Jim Todd, Ed Tracey and John Currie had two each.

TOUGH DAY FOR RICH CAM: Rich Cam, owned by Sunbury Stables of Aldergrove, had a tough debut at Northlands last Friday. Undefeated in seven starts going in, Rich Cam,trained and driven by Dave Jungquist, made a break right after the start and finished last, distanced. The three-year-old son of Camluck has dominated Stakes company at the Downs.

A LOT OF FUN: Debbie Chomyn enjoyed her California reality.

"Oh for sure," she said when asked if she would do it all again.

Debbie and her friend Paula Lutley were guests -- courtesy of Fraser Downs -- at the recent Santa Anita Derby in Los Angeles.

The reality started when Terry Bell, Debbie's significant other, won the California Dreamin handicapping contest at the Downs. Bell was one excited guy as he envisioned he and Debbie in the Golden State. Unfortunately for Bell work commitments prevented him from being able to attend the Derby and in stepped Lutley, a good friend of Chomyn.

Debbie said, "We had a lot of fun" on the trip that had them fly to L.A. on Friday and return home Sunday. The Derby was run on Saturday.

However, the fun started "The first day (Friday) when we started winning (bets at Santa Anita)," Chomyn explained.

She added that the flights were fine, the hotel was good and the weather and the track restaurant were "wonderful." They spent most of their time at Santa Anita on the first two days but were able to do some sightseeing on Sunday.

She also said their winnings covered the incidental expenses they had. Both cashed several bets with the topper a $150 exactor win on the Derby race by Paula.

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