Ortiz Wins 2022 World Harness Handicapping Championship
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Jaime Ortiz of Staten Island, NY captured 2022 World Harness Handicapping Championship on Saturday, September 10 at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.
Ortiz finished the tournament with a $757.60 bankroll to top the field of 41 players from across North America who competed for $38,700 in prize money. Ortiz walked away with $13,545 in prize money. He won his Finals seat via the January Meadowlands $400 Qualifier.
The WHHC contest format required contestants to bet 10 Meadowlands races of their choice. Bets had to meet a $30 minimum, $100 maximum per race. Contestants could only bet one horse per race and wagers could either be win, place, show or a combination of the three.
Ortiz cashed on four of his ten bets and steadily moved up the leader board through the night. He cashed on the fourth race for $190 with a $100 Win wager on #2 (Uptown Lady N)) and again on the fifth race at the Meadowlands for $72 with $20 to Win & Place on #2 (JL Cruze). Ortiz then hit for $327.60 with a $26 Win & Place bet on Scirocco Rob in the tenth race. His biggest score came in race eleven with a $100 win wager on #4 (Trashytonguetalker) which paid $560. Ortiz finished with a final bankroll of $757.60, taking home the $13,545 grand prize.
Top Ten Finishers:
Finish | Prize $ | Bankroll | First | Last | City | State |
1 | $13,545 | $757.60 | Jaime | Ortiz | Staten Island | NY |
2 | 7,740 | $716.00 | Anthony | Mancini | Clifton | NJ |
3 | $5,805 | $549.10 | Todd | Slembarski | Swoyersville | PA |
4 | $3,870 | $487.00 | Tim | Platt | Little Falls | NJ |
5 | $1,935 | $486.00 | William | Alempijevic | Forest Hills | NY |
6 | $1,161 | $378.00 | Frank | Palmasani | Endicott | NY |
7 | $1,161 | $355.00 | Jim | Schiro | Niagara Falls | NY |
8 | $1,161 | $301.00 | Anthony | DeBaltzo | Willoughby Hills | OH |
9 | $1,161 | $274.00 | Del | Kern | Milford | PA |
10 | $1,161 | $365.00 | John | Murphy | —– | CT |