SOE ENG DOMINATES GROUNDHOG DAY
HANDICAPPING CONTESET

Soe Eng of Seattle enjoyed a brilliant day of handicapping Saturday as Emerald Downs presented its Groundhog Day Handicapping Contest on full cards from Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields.

Taking full advantage of the four entry maximum, Eng finished first, fourth, fifth and sixth and walked away with $390 of the $600 in prize money. Eng's first-place bankroll of $1,033.50 was clinched via a large show wager on Time to Doubledown in Santa Anita's 10th race. The 9-to-1 longshot finished third, paid $7.80 for show, and Eng won first prize of $300.

Sixty players signed up for the Groundhog Day Contest, which featured live money and win/place/show bets of at least $10 and one horse per race. The top 10 finishers all won entries into the Handicapping Contest Final on Sunday, April 28.

Chris Larmey of Kennewick, fresh from a strong showing in the Natiional Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas, finished second with a $390 bankroll. First-place finisher in the Emerald Qualifying Tournament last June, Larmey placed his wagers early so he could get to Seattle in time to watch the Huskies defeat Arizona State in a Pac-12 basketball game. Larmey's other three entries finished 14th, 15th and 44th, and his daughter, Klara, also was on the early leaderboard and wound up 43rd.

Other NHC contestants on hand Saturday were Joe Jarvie, John Johnson and Dan Camoro.

TOP 10 FINISHERS:
1st ($300)-Soe Eng (bankroll $1,033.50)
2nd ($120)-Chris Larmey ($390)
3rd ($90)-Robert Newell ($388)
4th ($60)-Eng ($371.60)
5th ($30)-Eng ($314.60)
6th-Eng ($286)
7th-Newell ($255)
8th-Phil Marley ($244)
9th-Sean Felix ($233)
10th-Corey Nowackey ($220)