Baffert takes both Southwest Stakes divisions

Horseracing Betting Lines

02/20/2012 - Hot Springs, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Trainer Bob Baffert sent two horses to Oaklawn Park for the Presidents' Day running of the Southwest Stakes hoping to come away with one victory. However, the race drew 21 entries splitting it into two divisions, each worth $250,000.

Baffert came away from Monday's Southwest Stakes with two victories as Castaway and Secret Circle each won a division of the mile event. Also claiming two wins was jockey Rafael Bejarano.

The first division had a field of 11 three-year-olds. Castaway broke well and joined Majestic Stride on the lead. Bejarano had his mount to the outside of the leader right on Majestic Stride's shoulder.

Castaway took over the lead coming out of the final turn and began to draw clear at the top of the stretch. The 6-1 fourth pick opened his lead down the stretch and posted a 3 3/4-length victory over the late running Jake Mo.

Finishing third was Reckless Jerry, who was second in the track's Smarty Jones Stakes last month. Completing the order of finish were Ring It Up, Majestic Stride, Longview Drive, Junebugred, No Spin, Unbridled's Note, Laurie's Rocket and Red Jack.

Castaway completed the mile in 1:38.09 on a fast track.

Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Castaway won for the just the second time and notched his first stakes win. The victory was worth $150,000 to bring the colt's total earnings to $209,930. The son of 2007 Kentucky Derby champ Street Sense broke his maiden four weeks ago after failing five times.

Castaway returned $15.40, $9.40 and $7.20. Jake Mo paid $19.00 and $7.40, and Reckless Jerry paid $4.20 to show.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint winner Secret Circle was sent off as the 3-5 favorite in the 10-horse second division. The colt and Bejarano were first out of the gate, but allowed Scatman and jockey Luis Quinonez to set the pace.

Scatman continued to set the pace with the favorite to his outside. Secret Circle drew along side on the final turn and had short lead entering the stretch. Scatman regained the lead at the top of the stretch and looked ready to pull off an upset.

Owned by Karl Watson, Paul Weitmann and Mike Pegram, Secret Circle was able to rally in the final yards and defeat Scatman by a half-length. Adirondack King was third followed by Pee H Dee, Cyber Secret, Z Rockstar, Chalybeate Springs, King Coral, Apprehender and Big Wednesday.

Secret Circle covered the mile in 1:37.08.

The colt also added $150,000 to his bankroll, which now stands at $518,990. Secret Circle began the year with a second to Out of Bounds in last month's Sham Stakes at Santa Anita as the 1-2 favorite.

After winning in his first career start, he won the John Goodman Stakes at Santa Anita and then captured the Juvenile Sprint at Churchill Downs as the 2-5 favorite.

Secret Circle paid $3.20, $3.20 and $2.40. Scatman returned $6.40 and $4.60, and Adirondack King paid $3.60 to show.

Next on the Oaklawn schedule for Kentucky Derby hopefuls is the $500,000 Rebel on March 17 and the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 14. Archarcharch won last year's Southwest and Arkansas Derby.

Wwbetcris Horseracing Betting News


<< Manny agrees to terms with Athletics
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran slugger Manny Ramirez has agreed to terms with the Oakland Athletics on a minor league contract. Various reports, including MLB.com, have indicated that the deal is worth $500,000. He is expec

<< 'Melo to return against Nets
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Forward Carmelo Anthony will return to the New York Knicks lineup Monday against New Jersey after missing seven games with a groin injury. Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni announced Anthony's return Monday. Anth

<< Spurs' Ginobili, Splitter to miss two weeks
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili and forward Tiago Splitter are both expected to miss the next two weeks with injuries suffered during Saturday's game against the Clippers. Ginobili left Satur

<< Rondo suspended two games
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo has been suspended for two games by the NBA, executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson announced Monday. Rondo, who turns 26 on Wednesday, received

<< Lima nets hat trick as Braga rolls over Gil Vicente
Lisbon, Portugal (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Braga recorded its eighth straight win on Saturday as Lima scored a hat trick in the team's 3-0 win at Gil Vicente. Lima netted his first goal midway through the first half and added a second shortly

Rose returns, Bulls down Hawks >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derrick Rose returned from a five-game absence and scored 23 points to go with six assists and five rebounds as the Chicago Bulls held off the Atlanta Hawks, 90-79. Carlos Boozer netted 16 points, while Joa

Alabama reinstates leading scorer Green >>
Tuscaloosa, AL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alabama has reinstated leading scorer and rebounder JaMychal Green, who was suspended the last three games for violating team rules. The forward was cleared to return to practice, according to a press

Dodig, Young advance in Memphis >>
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Croat Ivan Dodig upset eighth-seeded Aussie Bernard Tomic in Monday's opening-round action at the $1.155 million Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. Dodig blasted 19 aces and came from behind to stop th

Rockies, manager Tracy have handshake deal >>
Scottsdale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jim Tracy has a handshake agreement to remain with the Colorado Rockies. General manager Dan O'Dowd said Monday the Rockies expect their relationship with Tracy, who has managed the team for the pas

Penn State routs Ohio State, earns at least share of Big Ten title >>
University Park, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nikki Greene finished with 25 points and 15 rebounds as No. 11 Penn State earned at least a share of the Big Ten title with an 84-66 dismantling of eighth-ranked Ohio State. Mia Nickson and Magg

What Is the Point Spread?

What are Sports Betting Point Spreads?

In any football or basketball game (the main sports that use point spreads) there are two teams playing against each other.

Those teams, though, are rarely exactly evenly matched – meaning that typically one team has a better chance than the other to win the game. If bettors were allowed to bet on who was simply going to win the game, smart ones would obviously bet on the better team (likely winning more than 50% of the time in the process).

If winning were that easy the Las Vegas and online sportsbooks would stop taking any bets! This is where the point spread comes in: the basic function of the point spread is to balance the likelihood of each team “winning” by adjusting the final score by the point spread. After this adjustment is made you get the Against The Spread result (ATS result for short).

Let’s look at Super Bowl XXXIX, New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Most people believed the defending champ Patriots to be the better team – so if betting were simply based upon which team would win the game, an uneven majority of people would have wagered on New England. But, by using the point spread, the bookmakers adjusted the terms of the bet, evening the proposition so about half the people believed the Pats to be the smart bet, while the other half considered Philly to be the smart bet.

How to Read Point Spreads

New England Patriots -7 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

The better team, called the Favorite, is expected to win the game and must “give” or “lay” points to the weaker team. The favorite is listed with a minus sign and the number of points they are favored by (e.g., New England -7)

In the case of our example, New England must not only win the game, but they must win by more than 7 points for Pats bettors to have a winning ATS result. An Eagles bettor wins his bet either if:

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting and World Series odds.

Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs.