Racebook Insider: The World of Horse Betting

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Raven's Pass Wins Breeders' Cup Classic

Defending Breeders' Cup Classic champion Curlin gave it his best run, but came up short in today's big race. In dramatic fashion, the win would go to Raven's Pass, who handled the synthetic surface quite nicely at Santa Anita.

Raven's Pass was recently purchased by Sheikh Mohammed and ran in the Classic in the colors of Sheikh Mohammed's wife, Princess Haya of Jordan. It was rider Frankie Dettori who took this magnificent colt across the finish line first.

"I now have a very cheekie Italian jockey," said trainer John Gosden. "Look at him! He's throwing goggles everywhere!"

Raven's Pass paid $29.00. Henrythenavigator and Tiago took second and third.

Get all your Breeders' Cup results and updates at the Bodog Racebook.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Curlin Named Horse of the Year Again

Although it hasn't been made official yet, Curlin winning the Horse of the Year award is as close to a 'sure thing' as you're going to see. If Curlin is named Horse of the Year for the second year in a row, he will become the first since Affirmed in 1978 and 1979 to win the award in consecutive years.

Some may argue that Curlin's wins on the year have not been by huge margins and therefore he may not be the definitive choice for Horse of the Year, but 7 out of his 11 wins have been Grade 1 stakes and he's made quite a name for himself. And let's not forget about the weekend's big race: the Breeders' Cup Classic. Curlin is in it to defend his title -- and to win.

"Racing is blessed to have such a magnificent athlete among us," owner Jesse Jackson said. "He's brilliant, durable and always shows up, always gives his best, loves to run, rarely disappoints. The only time he's been beaten really is when race tactics or his own physical condition prevented him from winning."

The 2008 Breeders' Cup is being held at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 24th and 25th. Curlin is currently the favorite to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, which goes at 6:45 PM on Oct. 25th and is televised on ESPN.

2008 Breeders' Cup betting doesn't get any better than this!

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Curlin Draws Post 9 for Breeders' Cup

Breeders' Cup betting has moved one step closer as the fields for the 14 Breeders' Cup races were drawn today at Santa Anita Park. Curlin, the morning line favorite at 7/5 odds to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, will be running from post position 9.

The morning lines favorites for the following Breeders' Cup races have been set:

Ladies' Classic: Zenyatta at 3-5
Breeders' Cup classic: Curlin at 7-5
Breeders' Cup Turf: Soldier of Fortune at 7-2
Filly and Mare Turf: Wait a While at 3-1

Here are you post positions for the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, Filly and Mare Turf, Breeders' Cup Turf, and Breeders' Cup Classic:

Ladies’ Classic
1. Zenyatta
2. Hystericalady
3. Cocoa Beach
4. Music Note
5. Carriage Trail
6. Ginger Punch
7. Santa Teresita
8. Bear Now

Filly and Mare Turf
1. Sealy Hill
2. Vacare
3. Forever Together
4. Visit
5. Wait a While
6. Dynaforce
7. Mauralakana
8. Halfway to Heaven
9. Folk Opera
10. Pure Clan

Breeders’ Cup Turf
1. Better Talk Now
2. Red Rocks
3. Grand Couturier
4. Soldier of Fortune
5. Winchester
6. Dancing Forever
7. Red Rock Canyon
8. Spring House
9. Conduit
10. Out of Control
11. Eagle Mountain

Breeders’ Cup Classic
1. Go Between
2. Casino Drive
3. Tiago
4. Duke of Marmalade
5. Henrythenavigator
6. Smooth Air
7. Student Council
8. Raven’s Pass
9. Curlin
10. Fairbanks
11. Colonel John
12. Champs Elysees

The 2008 Breeders' Cup happens this weekend! Get all your Breeders' Cup odds now!

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Monday, October 20, 2008

Red Giant, Tropic Storm Out of Breeders' Cup

With the 2008 Breeders' Cup betting expected to pick up steam this week, two more horses have been taken out of the running.

Red Giant, one of the favorites to win the US $2 million Turf race, is running a fever and is experiencing a loss of appetite. These symptoms were cause enough for trainer Todd Pletcher to pull his horse from the Breeders' Cup.

"The timing of it, six days before the race, gave him no time to recover and no time to work," said Pletcher. In light of this news, owner John Fort has instructed Pletcher to make breeding plans for Red Giant, effectively putting an end to Red Giant's racing career.

Over at Hollywood Park, trainer Craig Dollase has also confirmed that his horse, Tropic Storm, has suffered a soft tissue injury and won't be running in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and and Turf Sprint races.

Get your Breeders' Cup odds!

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Curlin to Defend Breeders' Cup Title


Big Brown's season-ending injury may be bad news for the horse racing industry, but with Curlin now entered to defend his title in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic, horse racing fans and bettors still have a lot to look forward to.

Jesse Jackson, the majority owner of Curlin, announced Tuesday afternoon that Curlin has been pre-entered in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park. The 2007 Horse of the Year will be defending his title, as he won the Classic last year. With Big Brown out of the running, this means Curlin will be the horse to watch and bet on.

"I think I owed it to the horse," Jackson said on a national teleconference. "Curlin tells us he's fit, and when a top athlete is ready, he wants to compete. And I do want to help enhance the fan base and give hardcore fans a chance to see him one more time."

So, rather than looking at the Breeders' Cup Classic as a Curlin vs. Big Brown main event, Santa Anita Park officials are calling the race "Curlin vs. The World."

They don't call it the "Breeders' Cup World Championships" for nothing. The Breeders' Cup showcases the best of the best in thoroughbred racing, with competitors coming from all over the world to take part in this championship competition.

Betting on the Breeders' Cup? Bet on Curlin to win!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Big Brown Out of Breeders' Cup

In what is being called a complete fluke, the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner suffered a season-ending injury on Sunday. According to Big Brown's co-owner, Michael Iavarone, the thoroughbred tore a three-inch piece of flesh off of his right front foot during a workout. Part of the hoof was also missing.

"This was a complete fluke," Iavarone said. "He hadn't had issues with his feet for awhile and to have him come up just like this was a shock to all of us."

The injury to the Breeders' Cup contender will take at least two months to heal, which means he'll have to take a pass on this year's big event at Santa Anita Park. This will no doubt have a huge effect on the betting public's interest, but any horse racing fan knows the importance of winning a race like the Breeders' Cup Classic, with or without Big Brown.

Get all your Breeders' Cup odds here!

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Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Churchill Downs Awarded 2010 Breeders' Cup

If you enjoy Breeders' Cup betting then you'll enjoy today's news. With the 2008 Breeders' Cup just weeks away, it was just announced that the 2010 Breeders' Cup will be held at Churchill Downs, home to some of the world's most prestigious (and lucrative) horse races. The 14-race event will be held over the two days (Nov. 5 and 6) and will have a total purse of $25.5 million. Additionally, it will be broadcasted globally on ESPN and ABC.

This isn't the first time Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders' Cup, however. It also has held the races in 1988, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, and as recent as 2006.

"The return of the Breeders' Cup to Churchill Downs in 2010 is wonderful news for our track and Kentucky's signature horse industry, as well as the business owners and the state and local governments that will benefit from the economic boost this major international event will provide to our city and region," Churchill Downs Inc. president and CEO Robert Evans said in a news release. "Our state, industry and our Churchill Downs team take great pride in the unparalleled record of success of the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs. The bold idea that became the Breeders' Cup was unveiled in our city by visionary breeder and Breeders' Cup founder John Gaines, and we are excited to officially start the countdown to the first visit by this great event in its new two-day format to Churchill Downs in 2010."

Breeders' Cup Chairman William S. Farish Jr. echoed Evans' sentiments:

"We are delighted to be returning the Breeders' Cup to Churchill Downs and to our great supporters in Kentucky and throughout the region. Churchill Downs has proven to be an outstanding Breeders' Cup venue and is extremely popular with our horsemen and fans from around the world."

This year's Breeders' Cup will be held at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 24 and 25.

Your Breeders' Cup odds are up!

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Thursday, October 02, 2008

Curlin Testing out Santa Anita Pro-ride Track

Curlin won the 2008 Jockey Club Gold Cup Saturday at Belmont Park and became the first horse in North America to top $10 million in career earnings. Curlin headed to California Sunday to test out Santa Anita synthetic racetrack for a possible start in the Breeders' Cup.

Curlin had his first training after the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Wednesday. It was a typical first day back at the track following a race for Curlin. On a warm morning when it was 75 degrees at sunrise, Curlin walked or jogged the wrong way along the outside rail after stepping onto the track at 6:35 a.m., then turned around for a gallop. Fairly routine stuff. But every step he takes, every move he makes, will be watched closely over the next few weeks, because how Curlin adapts to Santa Anita's synthetic Pro-Ride surface will be the determining factor as to whether majority owner Jess Jackson gives the green light for Curlin to defend his title in the Classic, which he won last year at Monmouth Park.

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