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02/18/2008 - Hot Springs, AR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Denis of Cork, making just his third career start, won the President's Day running of the $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The Southwest is a key prep race leading to the $1 million Arkansas Derby.
The Southwest Stakes has been an important race leading to the Kentucky Derby since Smarty Jones used it on his way to winning the 2004 Run for the Roses. Smarty Jones proceeded to win both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby before his triumph at Churchill Downs.
Denis of Cork, owned by Mr. and Mrs. William Warren, had raced just once as a two-year-old and won an allowance race at the Fair Grounds last month. Both times he was ridden by Calvin Borel, who rode Street Sense to victory in last year's Kentucky Derby.
Monday the colt had Robby Albarado in the saddle, the regular rider for Horse of the Year Curlin. Albarado and the three-year-old broke from post eight in the 11 horse field.
The pace in the Southwest was set by Sacred Journey with Silver Edition several lengths back in second. Denis of Cork settled into fifth up the backstretch before using a three-wide rally to take the event.
Sierra Sunset, who was second down the stretch, finished 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner with Liberty Bull and Sacred Journey gaining a dead-heat for third.
The final time for the one-mile stakes was 1:37.89 on a fast track.
Rounding out the finish was He's Eze, Riley Tucker, Isabull, Gangbuster, 5-2 favorite Turf War, Royal Hudson and Silver Edition.
Trained by David Carroll, Denis of Cork is undefeated in three starts and has earned $198,552, including $150,000 from Monday's victory.
Denis of Cork returned $11.60, $5.40 and $3.60. Sierra Sunset paid $9.60 and $6.40. Liberty Bull paid $3.80 and Sacred Journey returned $4.20 to show.
The Rebel Stakes is set for March 15 and the Arkansas Derby is scheduled for April 12.
<< Junior league center Renaud dies
Windsor, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Junior hockey center Mickey Renaud, a fifth-
round draft pick of the Calgary Flames last year, suddenly passed away on
Monday at his home in Ontario. He was 19.
"Windsor Spitfire captain Mickey Renau
<< Hibbert powers Hoyas over Friars
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Roy Hibbert scored 18 points, grabbed eight
rebounds and blocked six shots as 12th-ranked Georgetown used a huge run
midway through the second half to top Providence, 68-58, at the Dunkin' Donuts
Center.
<< Nalbandian rolls in Buenos Aires opener
Buenos Aires, Argentina (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Argentine hero David
Nalbandian was an easy first-round winner Monday at the $466,000 Copa Telmex
tennis event.
The former Wimbledon runner-up and Masters Cup titlist Nalbandian cruised p
<< Youzhny exits Rotterdam on Day 1
Rotterdam, Netherlands (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Mikhail Youzhny
lost to Serbian Janko Tipsarevic in Monday's opening-round action at the $1.2
million ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.
Tipsarevic straight-setted the fourth-s
Schilling agrees to try rehab for shoulder injury >>
Fort Myers, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston pitcher Curt Schilling said Monday
because of the one-year contract he signed with the Red Sox this offseason, he
will abide by the league's collective bargaining agreement and follow through
on reha
Nets return to practice without Kidd with trade still in limbo >>
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -The New Jersey Nets might need to get used to not seeing Jason Kidd at practice.The team returned to the court Monday without their All-Star point guard, whose status remained in limbo while rumors persist that his trade
Lidstrom leaves with knee injury >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Detroit Red Wings standout defenseman Nicklas
Lidstrom left Monday's game against Colorado in the first period with an
apparent knee injury.
Lidstrom was checked into the left wall by Ian Laperriere ear
Williams, Louisville hold off Syracuse >>
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Terrence Williams scored all 12 of his
points in the second half as 18th-ranked Louisville held off a late rally from
Syracuse to win its sixth straight game, 61-50, at Freedom Hall.
Andre McGee also s
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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