Commentator goes after third Whitney Handicap

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/05/2009 - Saratoga Springs, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Commentator, a veteran of 23 career races, goes after his third Whitney Handicap victory Saturday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course. The eight-year-old gelding won the 1 1/8 mile race both last year and in 2005.

Six older thoroughbreds will take on the task of denying Commentator a third Whitney crown. The gelding and Asiatic Boy are co-highweights at 121 pounds, and Stephen Foster winner Macho Again will carry 119 pounds.

The $750,000 Whitney is a "Win and You're In" race, giving the winner guaranteed entry into the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park this fall.

Owned by Tracy Farmer, Commentator will start from the outside post in the seven horse field, with John Velazquez returning to ride. The eight-year-old is coming off a win at Belmont Park in June in the Kashatreya Stakes.

"He's already proved himself," said Farmer on Monday. "He has nothing to prove I should say. And it's exciting that he has the opportunity. There are going to be great horses running against him and he is a few years old. So I'm looking forward to it.

"I've never had a horse like this before, and I've owned several horses of the championship type. But Commentator is just something else. He loves Saratoga. It's like he's home when he's here. And he loves the Saratoga race track. He has won some phenomenal races and he can go down in history. Saturday it will be a history-making race if he succeeds."

Trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, Commentator has won five of his last seven starts, including last year's Massachusetts Handicap, which he won by 14- lengths. Overall, the gelding has won 14 starts and is on the verge of surpassing $2 million in lifetime earnings.

Commentator would become only the third horse to win the Whitney three times, joining the legendary Kelso and Discovery.

Asiatic Boy will be ridden by Alan Garcia from post two for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The six-year-old is owned by Shaikh Mohammid bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.

Bred in Argentina, Asiatic Boy was second in each of his last two starts, the Suburban and Stephen Foster Handicaps. In his career, the six-year-old has won seven of 17 starts for more than $3.2 million.

Stephen Foster winner Macho Again has drawn post four, with regular jockey Robby Albarado riding. The gray colt is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Dallas Stewart.

The four-year-old went past the $1 million mark in earnings earlier this year by winning the New Orleans Handicap. He threw in a clunker with a sixth-place finish in the Alysheba at Churchill Downs prior to the Foster Handicap.

Macho Again has earned nearly $1.5 million with six wins in 18 career starts.

The full field for the Whitney in post position order: Smooth Air, Jose Lezcano; Asiatic Boy, Alan Garcia; Bullsbay, Jeremy Rose; Macho Again, Robby Albarado; Tizway, Rajiv Maragh; Dry Martini, Edgar Prado and Commentator, John Velazquez.

The Whitney Handicap has a scheduled post-time of 5:47 P.M. (et).

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Super Bowl XLIII Betting - Super Bowl 2009

Super Bowl 2009, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Let’s take a look at the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds and the betting line and figure out where they’ve been and where they are going to go.

MySportsbook.com put up the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds late on Sunday night with the Pittsburgh Steelers favored by 6.5 points and a total betting line at 47.5 points.

Since then, however, the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds have seen a good deal of movement and you’ll want to be on top of where they are likely to move to make sure you get the best line value for the big game.

Since opening, the Super Bowl 2009 betting lines went to Steelers -7 in the span of roughly 3 hours but were quickly bought back down just minutes later to 6.5 again.

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If you like Arizona and see a 7.5, I’d take it as soon as possible because it’s unlikely to last. For Pittsburgh backers, the -7 might be the best you’ll be able to find but a 6.5 is definitely possible close to game time.

Regarding the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds for the total, most tracked gamblers are already on the over and with those who took the under 47.5 already securing a middle on the over 46.5, the only way I see it moving is back up to 47 so if you like the over, I’d recommend betting now.

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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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