Camann Wins MJC Champions Handicapping Tournament

Thomas Camann of Providence, R.I. finished with a balance of $2,496 to edge Frederick Cipriano and capture the spring session of the Maryland Jockey Club's Champions Handicapping Tournament held Saturday at Laurel Park. In addition to prize money, the top four finishers qualified for automatic berths to the National Handicapping Championship (NHC), Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) or The BIG ONE.

After wagering on races from Laurel, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, Aqueduct and Tampa Bay Downs, with no mandatory races and a minimum $20 wager, Camann finished $60.80 ahead of Cipriano's $2,435.20. Given his choice of four tournament berths, Camann selected the BCBC to be held Nov. 3-4 at Del Mar. Cipriano, of Hallandale Beach, Fla., took home $2,860 in prize money and chose a berth in The BIG ONE Sept. 23-24 at Laurel Park.

Third place went to Hewett Andrews of Pasadena, Md., and Steven Scalco of Laurel, Md. was fourth. Both Andrews and Scalco earned spots in the NHC.