Robert Gianquitti, a 58-year-old contractor from Lake Worth, Fla., topped 227 other players and took home the $40,000 first prize in the 2009 Fall Handicapping Challenge this weekend at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Gianquitti finished the two-day contest with a mythical bankroll of $1,193, just $55 more than runner-up Michael Labriola of Richmond, Calif., who won second prize of $13,000.

Third-place finisher, Diane McClyment of Forest Hill, Md., finished with a mythical bankroll of $890 and earned $9,500 in prize money. In addition to their individual cash prizes, the top trio also qualified for the 2010 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) in Las Vegas. The victor of the NHC, which takes place January 29-30, 2010, will take home the winner’s share of a $1 million purse and will be named NTRA Handicapper of the Year at the 2010 Eclipse Awards.

The Aqueduct Fall Challenge format allowed players nine $20 win, place, or show mythical wagers and one $40 wager during both days of the weekend contest. Players could choose to wager on any race from Aqueduct, Calder, and Churchill Downs.

Gianquitti, who was in first-place after Day 1 of the contest with a mythical bankroll of $883, used a big bet on a long shot at Calder to get to the top of the standings and never looked back.

“It really was a wire-to-wire win,” said Gianquitti after his first-ever handicapping contest win. “I took the lead on Saturday with a long shot named Wild Mia at Calder. I had $40 to win on her and she was almost 30-1. This is the first contest I’ve ever won – I’ve played in a lot – and it will be my first trip to Las Vegas.”

In addition to the cash prizes awarded to the overall top 20 contest finishers, a $1,000 prize was awarded to the player who accumulated the highest mythical bankroll on each day.

Gianquitti ($883) took home the prize on Day 1 while Peter Wankmiller ($653) won on Day 2.

Click here for Final Standings