copyright 2026 Richard Nilsen
Reigning NHC champion Dylan Donnelly from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, turned his $4,000 live-money starting bankroll into $54,448 in Del Mar’s signature two-day event, the 23rd Annual Summer Challenge. Dylan’s large exacta wager in the last race resulted in the huge payout, and bested many of the sharpest handicappers from around the country.
The second-place finisher was day one leader Dave Chenvert of Rosemount, MN, with $32,190 and third place went to Bob Little from Milford, CT, with $31,031.
NHC Champ Takes Down Del Mar Contest
Donnelly claimed the win over 107 total entries and receives $72,000 cash plus a $10,000 2026 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) entry. He also receives a $4,000 Pacific Classic Betting Challenge (PCBC) entry played at Del Mar or online on Saturday, August 22. All in all, he netted $141,948 in cash and prizes including bankroll winnings.
Contestants competed on-track at Del Mar’s signature event, the two-day high-stakes Challenge offering $214,000 in total prizes. The top 10 finishers receive a combination of prizes including cash, six $10,000 BCBC entries, National Horseplayers Championship spots, and entries to the August 22 PCBC.
| PLACE | NAME | FINAL BANKROLL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Donnelly | $54,448.00 |
| 2 | Dave Chenvert | $32,190.00 |
| 3 | Bob Little | $31,031.90 |
| 4 | Alan Hoffman | $19,065.00 |
| 5 | Wendy Long | $17,531.10 |
| 6 | Stephen Caso | $15,640.00 |
| 7 | Chris Podratz | $15,064.50 |
| 8 | Tony Dominguez | $11,107.00 |
| 9 | Steve Nemetz | $10,179.40 |
| 10 | Andy Asaro | $10,060.00 |
Source: Dmtc.com (Del Mar Press)
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