East Rutherford, NJ – Jaime Ortiz of Staten Island, NY captured 2022 World Harness Handicapping Championship on Saturday (Sept. 10) at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.

Jaime Ortiz, winner of the 2022 World Harness Handicapping Championship at the Meadowlands. Meadowlands Photo.

Ortiz finished the tournament with a $757.60 bankroll to top the field of 41 players from across North America who competed for $38,700 in prize money.  Ortiz walked away with $13,545 in prize money. He won his Finals seat via the January Meadowlands $400 Qualifier.

The WHHC contest format required contestants to bet 10 Meadowlands races of their choice.  Bets had to meet a $30 minimum, $100 maximum per race.  Contestants could only bet one horse per race and wagers could either be win, place, show or a combination of the three.

Ortiz cashed on four of his 10 bets and steadily moved up the leader board through the night.  He cashed on the fourth race for $190 with a $100 win wager on #2 (Uptown Lady N)) and again on win and place bet on Scirocco Rob in the 10th race.

His biggest score came in race 11 with a $100 win wager on #4 (Trashytonguetalker), which paid $560.  Slader finished with a final bankroll of $757.60, taking home the $13,545 grand prize.

Top 10 Finishers:

Finish   Prize $     Bankroll   First           Last              City               State
1        $13,545    $757.60   Jaime         Ortiz        Staten Island        NY
2         $7,740     $716.00   Anthony     Mancini       Clifton               NJ
3         $5,805     $549.10   Todd          Slembarski Swoyersville       PA
4         $3,870     $487.00   Tim            Platt          Little Falls          NJ
5         $1,935     $486.00   William      Alempijevic Forest Hills         NY
6         $1,161     $378.00   Frank        Palmasani   Endicott              NY
7         $1,161     $355.00   Jim           Schiro         Niagara Falls       NY
8         $1,161     $301.00   Anthony    DeBaltzo     Willoughby Hills   OH
9         $1,161     $274.00   Del            Kern          Milford                PA
10       $1,161     $365.00   John          Murphy       —–                   CT