Bob Sullivan led all players to capture the $1,000 weekly prize in the opening round of the 21st Xpressbet Beat the Host handicapping contest. His $172 total bankroll easily outpaced Week 1 host Pete Aiello, track announcer at Gulfstream Park, who netted $32.50 in returns. The Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park handicapping contest returns this Saturday for the second of a nine-week run. Santa Anita Park racing analyst Millie Ball will be the handicapping target in Beat the Host this Saturday.
Sullivan’s $172.00 total was followed next by Mark Kennedy at $167.00, who earned a $750 prize, and Joseph Rich, whose $155.50 total netted a $250 prize. They are among 166 players from 505 registrants who knocked off Aiello and already have earned a spot in the March 7 Beat the Host Championship Round.
The $65,000 Beat the Host competition encompasses 10 races each contest Saturday, split between the final 5 Gulfstream Park races and first 5 from Santa Anita. Contestants place $5 win bets on the Xpressbet platform for each of the 10 Beat the Host races, earning their parimutuel winnings as well as prize pools.
All contestants who beat the cumulative bankroll total of the host each Saturday qualify for the Beat the Host Championship on March 7. Weekly prize pools of $2,000 are also in play for the top-3 finishers, while a $6,500 Sweep the Host bonus split is in store for those sharp enough to top the host totals all 9 weeks of the contest.
The BTH Championship pits all weekly winning players against one another in pursuit of seats in the lucrative Pegasus World Cup Betting Challenge, Xpressbet Santa Anita Derby Challenge and Xpressbet Florida Derby Challenge tournaments.
Last season, 496 of 711 Beat the Host players were able to top the host total at least once during the season. Glenn Gulden paced all players in the cumulative season totals last year, while George Blanchard took down the top prize in the Beat the Host Championship round finale.
Tournament & Host Schedule:
Saturday, January 3, 2026 - Pete Aiello
Saturday, January 10, 2026 - Millie Ball
Saturday, January 17, 2026 - Michelle Yu
Saturday, January 24, 2026 - Scott Shapiro
Saturday, January 31, 2026 - Brian Nadeau
Saturday, February 7, 2026 - Tom Quigley
Saturday, February 14, 2026 - Samantha Perry
Saturday, February 21, 2026 - Zoe Cadman
Saturday, February 28, 2026 - Ron Nicoletti
Saturday, March 7, 2026 – Beat the Host Championship Round
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