Rachel Alexandra garners Lady's Secret victory

Horseracing Betting Lines

07/24/2010 - Oceanport, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rachel Alexandra, 2009 Horse of the Year, used a stalking ride Saturday to win the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park. The champion filly won the 1 1/8-mile race by three-lengths over Queen Martha.

Owned by Stonestreet Stable and Hal McCormick, Rachel tracked Queen Martha for most of the race under extremely hot conditions. The post-time temperature at Monmouth Park was 95 degrees.

Ridden by her regular jockey, Calvin Borel, the four-year-old filly drew even with the pacesetter on the turn for home and then quickly went past the rival.

Rachel, making her second career start at the Jersey shore track, took command at the head of the stretch and easily notched her second victory of the year. Queen Martha was second followed by Ask the Moon, Stage Trick, Hark, Yes She's a Lady and Fabulous Babe.

The champion stopped the timer at 1:49.78 on a fast track.

Rachel, trained by Steve Asmussen, has won 13 of 18 career starts for $3,446,730. This year she has won two of four races for $498,376.

"She's bigger than she was last year," said assistant trainer Scott Blasi. "She's put on weight. Last year, if you looked at her neck, it was narrow. Now it's filled out. She's just doing great."

Last year in Monmouth's Haskell Invitational, the filly defeated three-year- old males by six-lengths. She was perfect in eight starts in 2009.

In her most recent start this year she won the Fleur de Lis by 10 1/2-lengths on June 12. She came up short in her initial two starts of 2010. She was second to Zardana at the Fair Grounds in the New Orleans Ladies Classic and runner-up to Unrivaled Belle at Churchill Downs in the La Troienne.

Sent off as the 1-10 favorite, Rachel Alexandra returned $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10. Queen Martha paid $2.80 and $2.40, and Ask The Moon paid $3.80 to show.

At Saratoga Race Course, odds-on favorite Devil May Care came from just off the pace to capture the $250,000 Coaching Club American Oaks for three-year- old fillies. Ridden by John Velazquez, the 7-10 favorite covered the 1 1/8- miles in 1:49.42 on a fast surface.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Devil May Care used an outside move around the final turn to take the lead at the top of the stretch and go on to win her second straight race by four-lengths. Biofuel was second followed by Acting Happy, Bahama Bound, Seeking the Title and Absinthe Minded.

Connie and Michael and Lisa's Booby Trap were both scratched from the Oaks.

Devil May Care, owned by Glencrest Farm, added $150,000 to her bankroll which now stands at $699,000. The filly was coming off a win in the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park four weeks ago. She has won five of her eight career starts. She has a chance to sweep the Triple Tiara series by winning the Alabama Stakes in August.

Devil May Care paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.10. Biofuel returned $4.00 and $2.60, and Acting Happy paid $2.50 to show.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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