With great anticipation building for American Pharoah’s attempt at the coveted Triple Crown title this Saturday, Breeders’ Cup has launched a new Media Challenge program surrounding its Million Dollar Finish fantasy game.
For each of the 10 Million Dollar Finish races featured on the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win & You’re In” on NBC and NBCSN, Breeders’ Cup will donate $1,000 to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in the name of the racing personality who scores the most fantasy points. The roster of horse-racing personalities competing in the Media Challenge includes Matt Bernier, Jill Byrne, Tom Leach, Eddie Olczyk and Ray Paulick.
For Dempsey, it is a chance to show off his handicapping skills. “My strategy is pretty simple,” he said. ‘And that is not to finish dead last.”
“I plan on using any means possible to win,” Dempsey continued. “I know Eddie O (Olczyk, NHL great and NBC analyst) is a sharp handicapper, but he is going to be distracted by the Stanley Cup. And I’m giving Pierre McGuire $10 a day to hide Eddie’s Racing Form.”
“The dapper Peter Rotondo (Vice President of Breeders’ Cup) has no shot. I cracked into his Bow-Tie of the Month Club and replaced it with fruit. He is going to look silly on Belmont Stakes Day with a five pound sack of kiwis around his neck,” Dempsey continued.
Dempsey will also take on Esquire Network’s Horseplayers television stars Kevin Cox, Lee Davis and Peter Rotondo, Sr.
“Those guys are great handicappers. They have never seen a race or a buffet they didn’t like,” Dempsey added.
One of horseracing’s only fantasy games, Million Dollar Finish is free to enter and play, and fans can register and submit their picks for each race online at: http://www.milliondollarfinish.com/.
“The Media Challenge provides a fun way for fans at home to play along with our media personalities and experts all summer long,” said Justin McDonald, Breeders’ Cup Vice President of Marketing & Digital Media. “Between the Media Challenge, 10 VIP trips to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in Kentucky and the $1 million grand prize in October, we are excited to provide our fans new ways to win and engage each week during the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races.”
Saturday’s Belmont Stakes is the first chance to play and win with Million Dollar Finish and to follow along with the Media Challenge. The media picks for the final leg of the Triple Crown can already be found online at: http://www.milliondollarfinish.com/.
Offering more prizes this year than ever before, the Million Dollar Finish game will award the fantasy player with the highest score for each of the 10 designated races an once-in-a-lifetime VIP trip for two to the sold-out 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course. Million Dollar Finish players will also have the chance to win $1 million during the Breeders’ Cup Classic race at the World Championships on October 31, 2015.
The panel of experts for the Media Challenge will include:
Matt Bernier (@bernier_matt) – Player Development Handicapper for Daily Racing Form
Michael Beychok (@beychockracing) – 2012 Handicapper of the year
Jason Blewitt (@jasonblewitt30) – NYRA Racing Analyst and host of NYRA’s National Racing Report and Belmont Insider
Steve Byk – (@Steve_Byk) – Host of “At the Races” on SIRIUS 220, SM 206, Online 962
Jill Byrne (@betonbyrne) – Racing Analyst at Churchill Downs
Jose Contreras (@Losponies) – America’s Best Racing Ambassador
Acacia Courtney (@missct2014) – Columnist for America’s Best Racing
Kevin Cox (@brooklyncowboy1) – Handicapper for Saratoga Bets
Michael Dempsey (@TurfnSport) – Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and turfnsport.com
Katie Gensler (@katiegensler) – Handicapper from Keeneland Race Course
Victoria Garofalo (@itsmevictoriag) – America’s Best Racing Ambassador
Tom Leach (@tomleachKY) – Voice of the Kentucky Wildcats and host of The Leach Report
Eddie Olczyk (@EddieOlczyk) – Member of NBC’s Horse Racing coverage
Ray Paulick (@raypaulick) – Publisher of Paulick Report
Mike Penna (@HRRNBaron) – Host of Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN)
Peter Rotondo, Jr, (@retro411) – Swiss Army Knife, Vice President of Breeders’ Cup
Team Rotondo – Stars of Esquire Network’s HORSEPLAYERS featuring Lee Davis (@leedavis303) and Peter Rotondo, Sr (@PETERFROTONDO)
Ellis Starr (@Ubercapper) – National Racing Analyst at Equibase
Dan Tjordman (@DanonymousMan) – America’s Best Racing Ambassador
Dave Tuley (@ViewFromVegas) – Writer for ESPN.com and ViewFromVegas.com
Michelle Yu (@michelleyutv) – Handicapper for Santa Anita
Dan Zucker (@predictmachine) – Co-founder of Predicteform.com
Michael Dempsey’s Belmont Stakes Day Report $20.00
Belmont Stakes Michael’s Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire Belmont Stakes Day card. Report will be available by June 5.
The third jewel of the Triple Crown features an outstanding day of horse betting that also includes the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan, the Grade 1, $750,000 Longines Just a Game, the Grade 2, $500,000 Woody Stephens, the Grade 1, $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap, the Grade 1, $1 million Ogden Phipps, the Grade 1, $750,000 Acorn, the Grade 2, $500,000 Brooklyn Invitational, the Grade 3, $300,000 Jaipur Invitational, and the $150,000 Easy Goer.
