08/13/2008 - Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Recent remarks by the trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown have inspired Jess Jackson, majority owner of Curlin, to seek a confrontation in the upcoming Woodward Stakes at Saratoga. Jackson has offered to donate $50,000 to a charity if the three-year-old accepts the challenge.
"Big Brown's camp recent remarks about Curlin inspired me to offer an incentive to get these two great horses to race at the legendary track at the Spa," said Jackson. "Both horses are eligible for this race and both have plenty of time to prepare for what would be thoroughbred racing at its very best and in the name of a great cause."
Jackson is pledging $50,000 from the Jackson Curlin for Kids Fund to the non- profit Belmont Child Care Association, Anna House if Big Brown runs in the Woodward. Big Brown is owned by IEAH Stables and trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr.
Following Big Brown's win in the Haskell Invitational on August 3, Dutrow stated that his thoroughbred was superior to the 2007 Horse of the Year, mainly based on Curlin finishing third in last year's Run for the Roses.
The $500,000 Woodward will be conducted on Saratoga's main track at 1 1/8 miles. Big Brown would carry 121-pounds and the four-year-old Curlin would carry 126-pounds under the weight-for-age conditions.
"This type of competition between horses is exactly what thoroughbred racing needs, an event that introduces the excitement and competition of racing to a broader audience," Jackson said. "Imagine Horse of the Year Curlin racing against Derby Winner Big Brown, on a legendary track. I would love it, the fans would love it, and the horses would love it."
Curlin's last race was on grass in the Man o'War at Belmont Park when he finished second to Red Rocks. Owned by Jackson's Stonestreet Farms and Midnight Cry Stable, Curlin won the $6 million Dubai World Cup this year along with the Stephen Foster Handicap. He is third on the all-time North American earnings list with $9,496,800. Cigar is first on the list with $9,999,815.
Along with the Kentucky Derby and Haskell victories, Big Brown this year won the Florida Derby and Preakness Stakes. He was eased in the Belmont Stakes by jockey Kent Desormeaux when trying to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. The colt now has a record of six wins in seven career starts for $3,314,500.
<< D'Backs, Rockies continue familiar rivalry
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks aim to keep up their season-long
dominance of the Colorado Rockies when the National League West rivals resume
a three-game series tonight at Coors Field.
Arizona claimed Tuesday's opener by a 4
<< White Sox aim to stay atop Central versus KC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After regaining the top spot in the American League Central
on Tuesday, the Chicago White Sox hope to stay there following tonight's clash
with the Kansas City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago moved a half-game in f
<< Lester tries to do more for Red Sox vs. Rangers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox have been one of baseball's best teams
at home this season, while Jon Lester has been nearly unbeatable when he has
taken the Fenway Park mound.
Lester tries to pitch the Red Sox to a second straigh
<< Cubs, Braves set to play two in Atlanta
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After having a day off due to inclement weather in the
Atlanta area on Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs will try again for their sixth
straight road win when they kick off a six-game trek this afternoon with a
day-night doubleheader
Maine set for return as Mets battle Nationals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets hope that John Maine can make a
successful return from the disabled list tonight, when he takes the ball in
the second test of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.
Maine exited early in h
Blue Jays shoot for another win over troubled Tigers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a healthy Vernon Wells, the Toronto Blue Jays aren't
ready to give up on the American League Wild Card just yet. The Blue Jays try
for their third straight win over the Detroit Tigers tonight in the
continu
Astros send Wolf to hill to take on Giants >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - California-born left-hander Randy Wolf can stay unbeaten
during his brief stint with Houston tonight, when the Astros host the San
Francisco Giants in the third game of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros en
Ramirez aims to extend hot play, as Dodgers play host to Phils >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manny Ramirez has been like a gift from heaven so far for
the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will try to stay on the winning track in the
third installment of a four-game series versus the Philadelphia Phillies at
Chavez Ravine.
Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?
I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.
Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.
There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.
Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.
For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.
A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.
The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.
Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.
So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.
Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.
“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.
Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.
“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.
It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.
Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.
The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.
“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.
“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”
Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.
The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.
“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”
Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?
“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.
American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout
An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.
Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off. Randy was not impressed though. Paula thought he started off fantastic. "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either.
Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed. Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact. He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition.
Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula. Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.
Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next. Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential. Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell. He sang "Careless Whisper".
22 year old Chris Richardson was up next. He was listed with +1100 odds coming in. He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great.
Nick was boring and pitchy. Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week. Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition.
Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds . These of course were the early odds. He was considered original for picking an "odd song". He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night.
Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good.
Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds. Great voice and a great sense of humor. He's a real standout. Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit. Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig".
Jared Cotter followed. He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition. The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good.
22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next. "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon. Though the judges felt he performed okay. Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.
Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition. He was the last to perform. He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start.
Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys. Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.
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