11/12/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The major part of the 2008 thoroughbred racing season has been completed, so let's take a few seconds to look back and forward.
Three names came to dominate the headlines this year: Curlin, Big Brown and Zenyatta. All three secured themselves at least one Eclipse Award with the only question being, Who is the 2008 Horse of the Year?
Defending Horse of the Year Curlin made thoroughbred history in 2008 by becoming the first horse to surpass the $10 million mark in lifetime earnings. The four-year-old colt went past Cigar on the career earnings list with a second straight win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
With Robby Albarado in the saddle for all seven starts, Curlin won five times in 2008 to bank $5,399,000. While it has not been officially announced, Curlin closes his Hall of Fame career with $10,501,800. The only thing he was unable to accomplish was repeating as Breeders' Cup Classic champ.
Leading three-year-old Big Brown may have had the strangest of years. After blowing away the competition in the Florida Derby, Run for the Roses and Preakness Stakes, he failed miserably in the Belmont Stakes.
We will never know exactly why the best three-year-old of 2008 was pulled up at the top of the stretch in the Belmont Stakes by jockey Kent Desormeaux. The official chart shows that he never finished the 1 1/2 mile Test of Champions.
Owned by IEAH Stables, Big Brown came back with a win in the Haskell Invitational after looking beaten in mid-stretch by Coal Play. Big Brown's final start was on the turf in the Monmouth Stakes in preparation for the Breeders' Cup.
Unfortunately, Big Brown suffered a hoof injury during training for the Breeders' Cup and was retired. He finished with $3,614,500 having won seven of eight career starts.
I never bet on Big Brown, nor consider him an all-time great. However, I give his connections credit for getting him to the starting gate for the Belmont Stakes plus two more starts. He suffered some setbacks following the Preakness and I expected Big Brown to be retired sometime during the three week break between the final two Triple Crown events.
Other than Curlin, Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic champ Zenyatta is the only possible thoroughbred who could be voted 2008 Horse of the Year. The four- year-old filly is undefeated in nine career starts, seven this year, and has career earnings of better than $2.1 million.
Zenyatta had a very well orchestrated schedule. She started eight times in California, all on synthetic tracks. Her lone race elsewhere was the Apple Blossom Handicap this year at Oaklawn Park when she was the second choice behind 2007 Eclipse winner Ginger Punch who finished third.
Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass has been retired to Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. The three-year-old closes his short career with seven wins in 11 starts and $3,664,833,
Looking ahead to the Triple Crown races of 2009, Breeders' Cup Juvenile champ Midshipman has been taken to Dubai to prepare for the Kentucky Derby. Midshipman, owned by Shiekh Mohammed, has won three of four starts for $1,380,200. Shiekh Mohammed is desperate to win the Run for the Roses.
Juvenile Turf winner Donativum is owned by Princess Haya of Jordan, the wife of Shiekh Mohammed. Trained by John Gosden, the gelding has three wins in six starts and better than $1.5 million. His status for the Kentucky Derby is unknown.
In early odds for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Midshipman is roughly 15-1 and Donativum is 20-1. Keep in mind that lightly raced three-year-olds are becoming the rule not the exception leading to the Kentucky Derby.
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Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Ravens won't get the same
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Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament odds
As of February 9, MySportsbook.com has released its coveted 2007 Mens NCAA Basketball Tournament betting odds. “March Madness betting ” only a month away, the top ranked Florida Gators are favorite at 7-2 to win it all. The defending champs have not disappointed at all this season and currently have a 22-2 record and are undefeated (9-0) in SEC play. The Gators’ thrive off of their extremely balanced, experienced and versatile attack. All five starters started in last seasons National Championship game. What is most impressive with this group is their balance; the five starters all average between 10.7 and 13.6 PPG. The Gators have been on an absolute roll having won 15 straight by an average of 16.4 PPG.
Right behind the Gators are the 5th ranked UNC Tar Heels at 9-2. The Heels (21-3, 7-2) are absolutely loaded with top notch talent and are as deep as any team in the country. A concern for the Tar Heels might be inexperience. Of their top four scorers/ minute earners, three are freshmen and the other is a sophomore. The rest of the regular season, the Tar Heels play only one team that is currently ranked (Duke). Their remaining opponents do combine for an impressive 107-58 record though.
Other teams that the MySportsbook.com members seem to believe will win it all include the west coasts’ top team #2 UCLA (6-1), #3 OSU behind man-child Greg Oden (8-1), and #4 Wisconsin (10-1) behind their defense which has given up 70+ points only three times all season.
Below is a list of some of the favorites to win the 2007 Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship lines. For the full list of teams and March Madness odds be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com. If you want to use your credit card to bet on college hoops or any other event, MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.
Arizona 20-1
Butler 20-1
Duke 30-1
Florida 7-2
Georgetown 30-1
Indiana 35-1
Kansas 15-1
Marquette 25-1
Maryland 40-1
Memphis 50-1
Nevada 50-1
UNC 9-2
OSU 8-1
Oregon 30-1
Pittsburgh 15-1
Texas 30-1
Texas A&M 18-1
UCLA 6-1
Wisconsin 10-1
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