Howard Bolte proved best in Fun in the Sun Week 5 competition. He posted total earnings of $346, the third-highest weekly mark behind third week winner Michael O’Grady’s $389 and opening-week winner Ellis Starr’s $392. Heading into Saturday’s action, the average winning weekly score was $346.50 and Bolte did his best to hit that mark. Bolte earns a FITS Final Table seat and $2,268 in prize money.

John Vanniel managed second at $307.50, just $1.50 in front of third-place finisher Russell Denton at $306. They both earn Final Table seats and $945 and $567 in prize money, respectively. Frank Foss ($302) and George Ekaitis ($280) round out the top five finishers and week 5 Final Table earners.

Fun in the Sun play resumes Saturday, the penultimate week’s competition for 10 remaining Final Table seats. So far, 22 individuals have tabbed 25 entries in the main event where the prize pool will top $20,000, including $10,000 in Xpressbet seed money. Three players have reached the maximum of 2 entries per account holder and they are: Ellis Star, David Jaffe and Steven Jones.

Fun in the Sun is open to account holders only and requires a $25 weekly registration fee. Players are asked to make a single, ‘live’ $10 Win wager on one horse in each of 10 competition races—the last five races at Saratoga and the first five at Del Mar. The top 5 players each week earn seats at the Final Table on Saturday, Sept. 4. The leading 3 players weekly earn additional cash prizes. And, because competition wagers are ‘live,’ players keep what they win!

For players wondering about earnings targets to garner respective positions, we’ve done a little math. As noted earlier, with five out of seven weeks in the books, top spot finishers have averaged $346.60; top 3 players $306 and fifth-place finishers $280.

So far, Xpressbet has returned $21,542.52 to players in prize money with average weekly prizes of $4,308.60. Fun in the Sun has zero takeout, skim or rake and all registration fees are returned to players in the form of prizes with 70% going to weekly payoffs and 30% destined for the Final Table pot, which has a $10,000 Xpressbet infusion.

Saturday’s Saratoga competition race action returned a trio of double-digit payoffs with High Oak ($22.40) taking the Saratoga Special, Got Stormy ($27) upsetting the FourstarDave and Dr. Duke ($17.80) paying a house call in the finale. Earlier results produced Restored Order $7.70 in the seventh and Speaker’s Corner ($9.10) in the eighth.

Del Mar competition racing produced a pair of double-digit payoffs with Jasikan ($11.20) in the second and Quiet Secretary ($13.20) in the fourth. Diva’s Final ($7.40) launched proceedings in the first race, followed by Sweet Soulmate ($9.60) in the third and Rock the Belles ($8.20) in the fifth.

This weekend, racing on both coasts is expected to be top notch with the Gr. 1 Alabama card at Saratoga and Gr. 1 Pacific Classic bonanza Saturday at Del Mar. Just two opportunities remain for you to join the Final Table for a shot at an anticipated $20,000 pot. Don’t miss out.

See you Saturday!