The Xpressbet ‘Fun in the Sun’ handicapping tournament has just 5 past Final Table champions on its honor roll, and now 2 of them have already qualified for the 2025 contest’s main event. Wayne Tam, the 2021 FITS champion, earned a return seat this past Saturday during Week 4 of the Saratoga and Del Mar tourney. He joins 2020 victor Robert Rosen, who earned his Final Table return berth by winning Week 2 of the contest.

The Fun in the Sun progressive jackpot now stands at $13,015 with 3 qualifying rounds still to play. A total of 20 slots have been filled among the 35 available seats for the Final Table – which include Dennis Desenberg becoming 2025’s first dual-qualifier after Week 4 added to his Week 2 berth.

Mark Vrabel paced all players last week with a $298 mutuel total on his 10 total contest plays at Saratoga and Del Mar. He earned the $1,050 weekly top prize. Dennis Desenberg was second ($271, earned $437.50 in prizes) and Daniel Young was third ($193, earned $262.50 in prizes). Among the top-5, which all earned Final Table berths, were Edward Peters and Wayne Tam (tied at $181 each).

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