Stanley Bavlish
Home: Virginia Beach, VA
Age: 54
Occupation: Owner of 3 Subway restaurants
Favorite Track: Churchill Downs
Favorite Wager: Trifecta, pick three
The Skinny: First-time NHC finalist earned his way to Las Vegas with a second-place finish October 14 in the Delaware Park qualifier. Bavlish racked up $4,039 in his real-money bankroll and added the lucrative $8,100 runner-up prize to complete a five-figure day. He nearly reached six figures on Kentucky Derby day 2005, nailing the Giacomo-topped trifecta for $66,567.40 and adding two subsequent picks for $18,000 and $15,000 apiece. Bavlish has been in attendance for some of racing’s most memorable moments, including the tragic breakdown of Ruffian and the last three Triple Crown victories by Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and Secretariat. He was introduced to the game at 16 by his brother, Bob, and has been "hooked ever since."
Photo: Horsephotos