Almost halfway home in the Xpressbet ‘Fun in the Sun’ handicapping tournament for 2025, the season-ending Final Table prize pool has reached $12,265 after 3 weeks of play. Gary Crampton paced all players last week in the Sarotoga-Del Mar contest as 15 of the 35 qualifying slots for the Final Table have now been filled with no dual-qualifiers.

Crampton led the way last Saturday with a season-high $337 mutuel total on his 10 total contest plays at Saratoga and Del Mar. He earned the $1,060.50 weekly top prize. Jack Rector was second ($278, earned $441.87 in prizes) and Joe Rotell was third ($265, earned $265.13 in prizes). Among the top-5, which all earned Final Table berths, were Lawrence Hahlden ($220) and Jeff Elliott ($210.50).

Fun in the Sun challenges bettors to make $10 Win bets on 5 specified contest races each at Saratoga (last 5 races on the card) and Del Mar (first 5 races on the card). Players compete each week for cash prizes, plus a coveted seat at the $10,000-added Final Table on Labor Day.

Last season, Gordon Maruya was the runaway winner of the $15,782 final table in the FITS competition and bagged $8,680 in prize money. It was Maruya’s third final table appearance (also qualifying in 2021 and 2023).

The Final Table format was created in 2020 and its winners have included Robert Rosen (2020), Wayne Tam (2021), Kevin Saunders (2022), Joe Tambasco (2023) and Gordon Maruya (2024).

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2025 Tournament Dates
Saturday, July 19, 26
Saturday, August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Monday, September 1 (Final Table)

Buy-In

$125 Buy-In per week, split between $100 Bankroll + $25 Entry Fee

How to Play

Tournament consists of the last five (5) races each Saturday at Saratoga and the first five (5) races each Saturday at Del Mar
Players must make a $10 Win bet on one (1) horse in each race via the Contest Wagerpad

Weekly Prize Pool

70% of Entry Fees are paid out each week as the Weekly Prize Pool

Weekly Prizes

Top Five (5) finishers each week automatically qualify for the Final Table
1st Place Finisher – 60% of Weekly Prize Pool + Final Table Seat
2nd Place Finisher – 25% of Weekly Prize Pool + Final Table Seat
3rd Place Finisher – 15% of Weekly Prize Pool + Final Table Seat
4th Place Finisher – Final Table Seat
5th Place Finisher – Final Table Seat

Final Table Prizes

30% of Entry Fees carried over to the Final Table
$10,000-added prize pool courtesy of Xpressbet
1st Place Finisher: 55% of Final Table Prize Pool
2nd Place Finisher: 25% of Final Table Prize Pool
3rd Place Finisher: 10% of Final Table Prize Pool
4th Place Finisher: 5% of Final Table Prize Pool
5th Place Finisher: 5% of Final Table Prize Pool