08/09/2008 - Arlington Heights, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - European invader Spirit One went wire-to-wire to win Saturday's 26th running of the Arlington Million at Arlington Park. The victory in the 1 1/4 mile grass race, part of the "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup program, gives Spirit One automatic entry into the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf.
Ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, Spirit One took the lead in the race shortly after the start to take the seven-horse field around the first turn and into the backstretch. Running in second was Mount Nelson followed by 6-5 favorite Archipenko with Stream Cat in fourth.
The first four runners kept their positions into the far turn on the firm turf course. On the turn for the home Einstein, the top American horse, began to rally after breaking poorly from the gate.
At the top of the stretch Spirit One remained the leader as Archipenko was rallying on the inside and Mount Nelson was trying gain on the outside. Archipenko and jockey Kevin Shea got past Mount Nelson, but couldn't overtake the leader. Einstein failed to advance down the stretch.
Spirit One hit the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of Archipenko with Mount Nelson finishing third. Completing the order of finish was Silverfoot, Einstein, Stream Cat and Cloudy's Knight.
Sudan was withdrawn early Friday with a tendon injury.
The time for the Arlington Million was 2:02.17
Spirit One is a four-year-old colt owned by Kamel Chehboub and trained by Philippe Demercastel. Saturday's win was worth $594,000 to bring Spirit One's career earnings to a little more than $1.1 million.
"We didn't make this trip for nothing," said the trainer, speaking through translator Francois Dupuis on Thursday. "The horse looks very happy, so we're very happy."
A winner of five of 18 lifetime starts, Spirit One most recently finished second in Longchamp's La Coupe Stakes on June 14. He captured the Prix Exbury at Saint-Cloud in France on March 15.
Sent off as a 13-1 longshot, Spirit One returned $29.40, $10.20 and $6.00. Archipenko paid $3.40 and $2.60, and Mount Nelson paid $4.00 to show.
Gaining a spot into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf was Mauralakana. She rallied down the stretch to take the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes on the grass. Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Mauralakana covered the 1 3/16 miles in 1:55.18. Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the nine-horse field, Mauralakana paid $6.80 to win.
<< Reds place Votto on bereavement list
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Reds placed first baseman
Joey Votto on the bereavement list on Saturday and selected the contract of
infielder Adam Rosales from Triple-A Louisville.
The 24-year-old Votto is eligibl
<< Ambrose picks up first Nationwide win at Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcos Ambrose became a first-time race
winner in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Saturday with a victory in the Zippo
200 at Watkins Glen International. The No.59 Ford driver crossed the finish
line 4.335 secon
<< Azinger has been a different captain
Bloomfield Hills Township, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Azinger was always going
to be a different Ryder Cup captain than most.
In his Ryder Cup career, which only spanned four Ryder Cups, Azinger got into
legendary confrontations with the
<< Mets purchase contract of Stokes to make spot start
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets purchased the contract of
pitcher Brian Stokes from Triple-A New Orleans to make a spot start for
Saturday's game against the Florida Marlins.
Stokes, 28, has made 23 appearances
Marseille, Rennes battle to dramatic draw in Ligue 1 opener >>
Rennes, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Olympique Marseille and Rennes got the
French Ligue 1 schedule off to an exciting start with a 4-4 thriller at Stade
Rennes on the opening day of the new campaign on Saturday.
After Marseille battle
Dolphins sign Pennington >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Dolphins officially signed
quarterback Chad Pennington to a multi-year contract on Saturday,
The move to bring Pennington into the fold came only two days after his former
team, the New Yo
White Sox P Contreras leaves game >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras
left Saturday's game in the top of the second inning due to an apparent ankle
injury.
Contreras was running toward first base to cover on a ground ball hit
Angels pull away from Yankees with huge eighth inning >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Garret Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero each
homered and drove in two runs as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim used a
late blitz to steamroll the New York Yankees, 11-4, in the second of a three-
game we
Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
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BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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