A San Diego man out for a stroll in San Ysidro last week bought a Daily Derby ticket worth more than a half-million dollars, the state lottery announced Tuesday.
Macario Encarnacion Jr. bought the $512,422 winner Thursday at San Ysidro Liquor, 3269 Beyer Blvd., lottery officials said.
He said he thought it was a mistake when he won.
“My wife came in the room and started dancing,” Encarnacion said. “The first thing she told me was, ‘I need a new car.’”
He said he will also pay off their home mortgage and maybe take a vacation.
In the horse-racing themed game, players choose from a field of a dozen horses which will finish first, second and third, along with a time for the race. The Daily Derby draw is held each day after 6:30 p.m.
Encarnacion got the horses in the correct order — California Classic, Lucky Star and Hot Shot — and the right time of 1:40:11.
— City News Service
