Richard's Kid out to defend Pacific Classic title

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/24/2010 - Del Mar, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Richard's Kid, trained by Bob Baffert, will defend his crown in Saturday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar versus nine challengers. The winner of the 1 1/4-mile stakes will automatically gain entry into this year's Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November.

Won last year by Richard's Kid on Labor Day, the Pacific Classic will mark its 20th running this weekend. The five-year-old thoroughbred can become the third horse to win the stakes in consecutive years.

Owned by Zabeel Racing, Richard's Kid will start from post six with Mike Smith riding. Smith rode Richard's Kid in last year's Classic. Smith also won the 2002 Classic with Came Home.

In his last two starts, both with Martin Garcia aboard, the horse finished third both times.

Richard's Kid is the winner of seven of 25 career races for just under $1 million. Last month he was third in the Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar and earlier in July finished behind Awesome Gem and Rail Trip in the Hollywood Gold Cup.

His only win since last year's Classic was in February's San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita. Also this year, Richard's Kid was seventh in the Dubai World Cup.

San Diego Handicap winner Dakota Phone will attempt to duplicate stablemate Blind Luck's victory in last week's Alabama. The five-year-old gelding will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post three. Rosario was aboard Blind Luck for the Alabama win. Jerry Hollendorfer trains both horses.

Dakota Phone's San Diego win snapped a 16-race losing streak by the Kentucky- bred. He had won on November 28, 2008 at Golden Gate Fields in the Forty Niner Stakes. In 29 career starts, the five-year-old has five wins and $583.810.

"We've had this horse a long time," noted the trainer, "and made money, but he's done it the hard way (not winning often)."

Awesome Gem, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup, has drawn post nine with jockey David Flores. The seven-year-old gelding is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Craig Dollase.

The chestnut gelding this year posted runner-up finishes in the Charles Town Classic and Lone Star Park Handicap. He was third in the New Orleans Handicap and eighth in this year's Frank Kilroe Handicap at Santa Anita Park.

In his career the gelding has won seven of 36 starts for more than $2.2 million.

This will be Awesome Gem's fourth straight start in the Pacific Classic. He was second to Student Council in 2007 and seventh in each of the last two editions.

Here is the complete field for the Pacific Classic in post position order: Battle of Hastings, Brice Blanc, 10-1; Isle Of Giant's, Patrick Valenzuela, 30-1; Dakota Phone, Joel Rosario, 6-1; Temple City, Rafael Bejarano, 5-1; Unusual Suspect, Alonso Quinonez, 20-1; Richard's Kid, Mike Smith, 7-2; Hold Me Back, Garrett Gomez, 8-1; Crowded House, Corey Nakatani, 20-1; Awesome Gem, David Flores, 9-2 and The Usual Q.T., Victor Espinoza, 3-1.

All ten runners will carry 124 pounds.

Best Pal, a new Hall of Fame inductee, won the inaugural running in 1991. Tinner's Way won back-to-back Classics in 1994 and 1995, and Skimming duplicated that feat in 2000 and 2001. In 2006, Lava Man won the Pacific Classic along with the Santa Anita Handicap and Hollywood Gold Cup.

Wwwbaymeadows Horseracing Betting News

<< Rangers hold on to edge Twins
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Young's infield single scored Andres Blanco with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, lifting Texas over Minnesota, 4-3, in a battle of division leaders. Josh Hamilton belted his 29th h

<< Stosur, Bartoli move on, Wickmayer exits in New Haven
New Haven, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Second-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur advanced to the quarterfinals with a three-set victory over Sara Errani at the $600,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event, a final hardcourt U.S. Open tune-up on Tuesday

<< Baghdatis advances in New Haven
New Haven, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Marcos Baghdatis was an easy second-round winner in a rainy Tuesday at the $750,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event, a final hardcourt U.S. Open tune-up. Baghdatis, a former Aussie Open runner-up and a

<< Bombers stay true to their name, use five HRs to crush Jays
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Teixeira, Marcus Thames and Jorge Posada homered off Marc Rzepczynski in a span of four at-bats during the third inning, propelling the New York Yankees to an 11-5 blowout of the Toronto Blue Jays.

<< Mets down Marlins on Castillo's ninth-inning hit
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luis Castillo's RBI single in the ninth gave the New York Mets a 6-5 win over the Florida Marlins in the opener of a three- game set. With Will Ohman (0-2) on the mound, Ike Davis singled to start the f

Oswalt plays outfield after Howard ejection >>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Roy Oswalt became the first Phillies pitcher to play a position in the field in 39 years after Ryan Howard was ejected in the 14th inning on Tuesday night.Oswalt caught a routine fly ball from Astros catcher Jason Castro, earning

Rockies upend Braves behind De La Rosa >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dexter Fowler's two-run single in the eighth gave the Rockies some breathing room in support of Jorge De La Rosa's solid start in a 5-2 victory over Atlanta. De La Rosa (5-4) scattered six hits and two ru

White Sox hold off Orioles to inch closer to division lead >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Gavin Floyd pitched seven strong innings and Gordon Beckham hit a three-run homer, as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 7-5, in the opener of a three-game series. Floyd (9-10) allowed

Barajas leads Dodgers over Brewers >>
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Newly-acquired Rod Barajas hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning to lift the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-3 win over Milwaukee in the opener of a three-game set. Matt Kemp hit a two-run home run, a

Wilson claims medalist honors at U.S. Amateur >>
University Place, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jeff Wilson struggled to a three-over 74 Tuesday, but still claimed medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur. A day after scorching the Home Course for a 10-under 62, Wilson was unable to break par in th

NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.