Big names take to tracks for workouts

Horseracing Betting Lines

06/28/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Some of the biggest names in thoroughbred racing took to various racetracks for workouts over the last two days. Many of the horses are expected to see action during the summer.

Undefeated champion mare Zenyatta had a half-mile workout at Hollywood Park on Sunday morning. The six-year-old breezed four-furlongs in 49 3/5 seconds. Unbeaten in all 17 career starts, Zenyatta is expected to start in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday, August 7. The 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic champ has won the last two editions of the Hirsch.

Also at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney's Candy worked six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 as he prepares for the $200,000 Swaps Stakes on Saturday, July 17 at the track.

At Belmont Park on Sunday leading older male thoroughbred Quality Road worked a half-mile in 50.76 and galloped out in 1:03 1/5.

"He went well," said trainer Todd Pletcher who turned 43 on Saturday.

The four-year-old colt will make his next start in the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on August 7.

Pletcher sent out Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver for a Sunday breeze. The three-year-old colt went five-furlongs in 1:01 4/5. Owned by WinStar Farm, Super Saver will make his next start at Monmouth Park in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday, August 1.

"We're pointed for the Haskell," said Pletcher. "He's training great and we're on schedule to be at Monmouth."

Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird both had workouts Monday morning at Churchill Downs. This was Rachel's final work over her home track before the four-year-old champion heads to Saratoga on Wednesday. Mine That Bird continues to prep for his first race of 2010.

The filly, with rider Shaun Bridgmohan, worked five-furlongs in 1:03 and galloped out six-furlongs in 1:17. The 2009 Horse of the Year won the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs earlier this month for her first win of the year.

With Calvin Borel in the saddle. Mine That Bird breezed five-furlongs in 59 4/5 seconds. The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner was timed in 1:14 3/5 for six- furlongs.

Mine That Bird, who has not started since last November's Breeders' Cup Classic, could make his 2010 debut during the closing weekend of Churchill Downs' Spring Meet. The two possible races for the four-year-old are an allowance race of 1 1/16-miles on Saturday, July 3 or the $175,000 Firecracker Handicap at a mile on turf the next day.

This Sunday at Woodbine is the Queen's Plate, the biggest thoroughbred event in Canada. One of the top contenders for Sunday's 151st running of the race, Artic Fern, suffered an injury on Monday that will prevent him from racing in the Queen's Plate.

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Super Bowl 2009 Betting

Super Bowl 2009 Betting propositions

Underdog bettors love the Super Bowl and, history suggests, the underdogs love them back. And the big dogs bite harder.

Even so, there is a warning in store for Super Bowl gamblers who must love dogs: The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl betting lines might not be enough of a Cinderella to make it worth your while.

Although the Cardinals were widely panned as one of the worst division winners and least playoff-worthy teams in recent memory, their trip to Super Bowl XLIII Jan. 31 in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl betting lines comes with a little more respect from the oddsmakers than you might imagine. They are a 7-point underdog at most sports books.

If you count yourself among those who covet the big dog in the big game, this isn’t exactly great news. You should have been hoping for more points. This is because the facts show that the bigger the dog, the better the bet in the Super Bowl.

Case in point: Over the past 13 seasons, double-figure underdogs in the Super Bowl are 4-0-1 ATS and have won the past three outright. In fact, the last double-digit chalk to do the deed for bettors was the 1995 San Francisco 49ers, who managed to beat the astounding 19-point spot afforded backers of the San Diego Chargers in the 49-26 romp in Super Bowl XXIX.

By contrast, 7-point favorites are 2-1-1 ATS in the same span, the last such contest resulting a cover grinded out by the Colts in their 29-17 win over the Bears two seasons ago in Super Bowl XLI.

In 2004, the Patriots failed to cover the number in their 32-29 triumph over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl props while the Rams and Titans gave everyone a refund in 2000 after the Rams posted a 23-16 win as a seven-point favorite.

So while Arizona’s run has included impressive upsets as a 10-point road underdog to the Carolina Panthers and Sunday’s 32-25 win in the NFC championship game to the 4-point favored Philadelphia Eagles, their long-shot story lacks a bit of the David vs. Goliath storyline of past Super Bowl underdogs.

While the seven-point spread represents a significant gap in the perception of strength between the two teams, it is far from monumental. For example, last season the Giants were the wild-card afterthought turned road-warrior buzzsaw, with stunning wins over the Buccaneers, Cowboys and Packers to earn their place in the Super Bowl.

There, they played spoiler to New England’s bid to become the first 19-0 team in NFL history and cemented their place in sports betting lore with a 17-14 win as a 12.5-point underdog.

In other words, the Cardinals appear to have their work cut out for them as a mid-range underdog. But in homage to the spread beaters who have come before them, here is a brief look back at recent colossal upsets in the Super Bowl:

SB XLII -- 2008 -- New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 (Giants +12.5) – Eli Manning’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute clinched the historic upset for the Giants, who used a masterful defensive plan to slow down Tom Brady and the previously undefeated New England Patriots.

XXXVI -- 2002 -- Patriots 20, Rams 17 (Patriots +14) – This was the coming out party for the aforementioned Brady, who went from obscure sixth-round draft pick to Super Bowl hero in one fell swoop. He led the game-winning drive in the final minute – eschewing analyst John Madden’s advice to take a knee and play for overtime – leading to Adam Vinatieri’s memorable 48-yard field goal that split the uprights as time expired.

XXXII 1998 Broncos 31, Packers 24 (Denver +12) – The first of John Elway’s two consecutive Super Bowl titles to put an end to his Hall of Fame career was an upset for the ages. The Broncos used the determination of Elway and a 157-yard, three-touchdown performance from Terrell Davis to turn back Brett Favre and the heavily favored Packers.

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