Preakness Odds: Hard Spun Humble, All Heart

All eyes may be on Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense to take the 2007 Preakness Stakes, but handicappers should not dismiss Hard Spun's chances

Racing 1 1/4 miles for the first time on May 5, Hard Spun finished second in the 2007 Kentucky Derby. But ask owner Rick Porter if he's okay with having his horse listed as one of the favorites in Saturday's Preakness Stakes and he'll tell you he's not particularly keen on the idea.

"The only thing that worries me is everyone's too high on the horse, thinking that everything's setting up perfectly for him in the Preakness," Porter told reporters Tuesday. "We have a lot of work to do to win this race. We've got some good horses to beat. That's what worries me because I like to be the underdog."

And ask anyone who has met this long-legged three-year-old beauty and they'll tell you that he's simply too nice to win.

"He's just an extremely nice horse. There's not an aggressive bone in his body," said Hard Spun's trainer Larry Jones. "The other riders that see us, they say, 'That's Hard Spun?' They can't believe it. I told them, in his next career, he thinks he's going to be a trail-riding horse. He's almost people!"

2007 Preakness Stakes Odds at Bodog Racebook

As of Tuesday only four horses are listed as Preakness contenders (Curlin, Hard Spun, Imawildandcrazyguy and Street Sense), at least 11 horses are expected to make their way to the gate for this year's big race at Pimlico. Street Sense remains the Preakness odds favorite after his astonishing come-from-behind victory in the Kentucky Derby, but Hard Spun can hardly be ruled out as serious threat.

When you're ready to place your Preakness bets, giddy on up to the Bodog Racebook.

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Will Todd Pletcher Have a Derby Winner in 2007?

Veteran trainer Todd Pletcher has lot of horse racing wins under his belt, and is currently the 2007 earnings leader with nearly $8 million dollars in earnings.

One important victory, though, has eluded him: the Kentucky Derby. Despite coming close with two second-place finishes -- with Bluegrass Cat to Barbaro last year, and with Invisible Ink behind Monarchos in 2001 -- he has never finished the Road to the Roses with a horse in first place.

Steve Asmussen is the trainer of odds-on (and much hyped) favorite Curlin, and Carl Nafzger is the trainer for many handicappers' pick, Street Sense. So without the two top-ranked horses, what has Pletcher got going for him? A record tying five Kentucky Derby entries, all of them contenders.

Here's the horses he'll be saddling, in their post order, with their current odds:

(6) Cowtown Cat - 25/1
(13) Sam P. - 25/1
(14) Scat Daddy - 9/1
(16) Circular Quay - 9/1
(18) Any Given Saturday - 14/1

Circular Quay may be Pletcher's best hope. He's already posted an win at Churchill Downs in the Grade 3 Risen Star Stakes, and is heading into the Derby coming off a 2 1/4-length win in Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. Pletcher is pleased with his last workout at Keeneland, where he breezed five-eights in 1:00:20, and at post position 16 Circular Quay may be able to break out around the turn. Not in his favor, at least historically, is the horse's eight-week layoff.

Scat Daddy is another good prospect for Pletcher. With an impressive record of 5-1-1, and has already proven himself against fellow Derby contenders Stromello and Nobiz Like Showbiz in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. The horse breezed five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 with jockey Edgar Prado.

The fastest recent five furlong run for a Pletcher horse, though, was delivered by Any Given Saturday, who zipped 5/8 of a mile in 00:58 4/5. He finished third, however, behind Nobiz Like Shobiz and Sightseeing in the Grade 3 Wood Memorial Stakes on 7 April.

I'm sure Pletcher doesn't care much which horse takes the Derby on Saturday, though -- as long as it's one of his.

Technorati tag(s): todd pletcher, kentucky derby

Kentucky Derby Contender Roundup (Non-Curlin Edition)

The latest Kentucky Derby odds give Arkansas Derby winner Curlin the favorite spot at 3/1. There's so much hype surrounding this undefeated (in only three races) 3-year-old (who did not race as a 2-year-old) that I thought I'd have a look at the other leading contenders in this year's Road to the Roses.

Street Sense
Current odds: 6/1 - Racing record: 3-2-2 - Earnings: $1,508,200

While the "racing record" portion above may not indicate greatness, Street Sense has never finished below third in his six lifetime starts. He had a final workout on Tuesday at Churhill Downs, breezing five furlongs in 1:01 with jockey Calvin Borel aboard. Won the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old male, receiving 229 of 271 votes. Don't count this horse out of the running by any stretch (back or otherwise) of the imagination.

Circular Quay
Current odds: 7/1 - Racing record: 4-2-0 - Earnings: $1,147,434

Just the fact this horse is under the tender training care of racing legend Todd Pletcher should make you take notice (and perhaps more so because he has the most Derby starts without a win -- surely the odds are working in his favor?). Circular has already won at Churchill Downs (Bashford Manor Stakes, G. 3), and led from start to finish in the Hopeful Stakes (G. 1). Worked Sunday with jockey Angel Cordero, and Pletcher said he "looked awesome".

Nobiz Like Shobiz
Current odds: 8/1 - Racing record: 4-1-1 - Earnings: $804,900

Hasn't made as much as the other horses listed here; while he glided to an easy victory in his first start at the Holy Bull Stakes (G. 3), disappointed with his third place finish at the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G. 2) -- both at Gulfstream Park. Zipped five furlongs at Belmont Park in under a minute (0:59.98). Can he keep up the pace when he's shipped to Churchill Downs on Wednesday?

Even a quick look at these horses show that we've got a horse race for this year's Derby, even if the word on everyone's lips is "Curlin".

Technorati tag(s): kentucky derby contenders, kentucky derby odds

Mike Scioscia readies Angels

Coming off a 4-3 loss last time out, Minnesota can redeem themselves and get back on the winning track Tuesday at Los Angeles.

The Twins start Baker, 2-4, 5.48 ERA. His last trip was a win, a 16-10 team win against the Brewers, when he threw 5 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits.

Sporting a 23-27 overall record and an 8-18 mark within the division, the Twins aim to knock the Angels (8-9 in the division) for a loss.

Oddsmakers like the Angels in this one, opening the line at 145 in favor of Los Angeles. They are 22-29 this season, while the Twins are 23-27. The total, which is 29-21-1 to the OVER in Angels games and 29-19-2 in Twins games, opened at 9.5.

Mike Scioscia's team was busy last game winning against Minnesota 4-3 as favorites. The 7 runs sent that game under the total of 9.

Los Angeles hitters can get ready or be made to look foolish today, as the Twins staff boasts one of the best strikeout ratios in the league, fanning 7 per game.

Royals head to Oakland

Oddsmakers don't give the Royals much of a chance Monday, installing them and their starting pitcher as pups when they visit Oakland at McAfee Coliseum.

Sporting a 23-27 overall record and a 13-9 mark within the division, the Athletics aim to knock the Royals (10-21 in the division) for a loss.

The Athletics are a huge favorite, but offer the temptation for dog bettors to collect big if they can win despite the 320. The Royals, with an 11-37 mark on the season, look to bite as a big road dog in a game that saw the total open at 8.5.

Giants look to Regroup

After losing two-of-three to the Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants hope they can get back into the win column Monday against the Houston Astros.

So much for being road warriors, San Francisco tries to shake its current rep for being road patsies along with its four-game road losing skid at Minute Maid Park.

Houston has been struggling of late, winning just three of their past 10 games. They have averaged just 4.5 runs per game during this stretch and getting 8.9 hits per game. For the season, they are 22-16 facing a San Francisco team carrying a 18-20 record.

The Astros (22-16) opened as 160 favorites and they host a Giants team that has won 18 of their 38 games this season. The total opened at 9.

Felipe Alou's troops hosted Los Angeles last game and came away with a 6-3 loss, a game that went over 8. Oddsmakers had them as favorites in that one.

Phil Garner's troops were at home against the Rockies last game and came away with a 3-0 win, a game that went under 9. Oddsmakers had them as favorites.

Expect San Francisco to be tough at the plate and not sink themselves by striking out a lot. The Giants batters are in the top three in the league, fanning just 5.1 times per game.

Technorati Tags: San Francisco Giants, Felipe Alou, Phil Garner

Doug Flutie Retires

He came from Boston College and will leave a New England Patriot. After 21 seasons in pro football, 12 of them in the NFL, Doug Flutie has announced his retirement.

Technorati Tags: Doug Flutie, New England Patriots, Boston College

Phoenix looks to Bounce

With the series tied 1-1, the Phoenix Suns look to rebound from a 122-97 loss to the Clippers when they tip off tonight for Game 3 in Los Angeles.

The Clippers play into revenge Friday, after handing Phoenix a 122-97 defeat in their last meeting back on May 10, 2006.

The Clippers are favored slightly by the bookmakers, who opened the game at 3. They are 47-35 on the season, while the Suns bring a 54-28 mark to the table. The total has been set at 215.

Last time out, at US Airways Center against Los Angeles, the Suns as favorites lost to the Clippers 122-97. The game was an over play.

This game is likely to come down to the Suns' execution on offence. They rank 1st in the league in scoring and look to sustain their 108.4 points per game average against the Clippers' #11-rated defensive unit.

Nets Battle Heat

With the series tied 1-1, the Nets and the Heat get set for Game 3 of their second-round playoff matchup tonight in New Jersey.

Miami gets its chance to win as a road dog after the line opened with them as 1.5-point underdogs. They are 52-30, while the Nets are 49-33. The total opened at 188.

Miami won at home against the Nets last game as 8-point favorites, tallying a score of 111-89. The total sailed over.

Gatlin Breaks World Record

Olympic champion Justin Gatlin broke the 100-meter world record Friday with a time of 9.76 seconds at the Qatar Grand Prix.

The American sprinter lowered the mark of 9.77 seconds set by Jamaica's Asafa Powell on June 14, 2005, in Athens, Greece.