Awesome Act and Eskendereya face off in Wood Memorial

Horseracing Betting Lines

03/31/2010 - Ozone Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Local winner Awesome Act and Fountain of Youth champ Eskendereya top a field of six three-year-olds in Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. The 1 1/8-mile race is the last prep for these horses heading to the Kentucky Derby.

Awesome Act will be ridden for the second consecutive time by Eclipse Award winning jockey Julien Leparoux. The pair will start from post two for owners Susan Roy and Vinery Stables. The chestnut colt is trained by Jeremy Noseda.

"He's fit and doing well," said assistant trainer Wayne Tanner. "He's feeling the joyous spring."

Awesome Act made himself the local Kentucky Derby favorite with his win in last month's Gotham Stakes. That was his first start since finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last November.

Awesome Act recorded his first stakes victory with the Gotham and has won two of seven career starts for $221,691.

The Gotham was the first on dirt for Awesome Act. He had started five times on turf and once on an artificial surface. He lost the Juvenile Turf to Pounced by 1 1/4-lengths following a late rally.

Eskendereya will break from post three with John Velazquez again in the saddle. The chestnut colt was the 5-1 favorite last weekend when betting closed in the final Kentucky Derby Future Wager while Awesome act finished at 13-1.

Owned by Zayat Stables, Eskendereya is the top three-year-old in trainer Todd Pletcher's stable. The colt notched his second straight win with the Fountain of Youth and the third in five career starts. The chestnut colt has earnings of $275,700.

"We felt off such a big effort in the Fountain of Youth, six weeks to his next prep made more sense," noted Pletcher. "Followed by four weeks to the Kentucky Derby."

After finishing second in his debut last year, he won the Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park in October and was ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita.

Here is the complete field for the Wood Memorial in post position order: Most Happy Fella, Rosie Napravnik; Awesome Act, Julien Leparoux; Eskendereya, John Velazquez; Schoolyard Dreams, Ramon Dominguez; Jackson Bend, Calvin Borel and Carnivore, Justin Shepherd.

All entrants will carry 123 pounds in the Wood which has a post-time of 5:12 p.m. (et).

The race will televised on NBC.

Wwwbetgameday Horseracing Betting News


<< Bills sign a pair
Orchard Park, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Bills have signed free agent wide receiver Chad Jackson. The team also announced Wednesday that cornerback Ashton Youboty signed his one-year tender. Originally a second-round pick by

<< Pitt gives Dixon extension
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pittsburgh has signed head men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon to a contract extension, the school announced at a press conference Wednesday. In September 2008, the school signed Dixon to an extension

<< Saints/Chargers highlights NFL preseason national TV schedule
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers will play on national TV to highlight the NFL's national TV schedule for the preseason. The Saints, coming off their first Super Bowl in franchise history, wil

<< NBA introduces MVP fan vote
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fans will now have a say in determining the NBA's Most Valuable Player, the league announced Wednesday. The league's release said fans can submit their votes, ranking their top five choices, on a dedicate

<< Creamer has left thumb surgery
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paula Creamer underwent successful left thumb surgery Tuesday, according to a release from IMG. The release said Creamer had been diagnosed with stretched ligaments, leading to hyperextension of the metaca

Henin reaches Miami semis >>
Key Biscayne, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former world No. 1 Justine Henin outlasted current world No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki to reach the semifinals at the $4.5 million Sony Ericsson Open. An unseeded Henin, who is projected to move inside the T

Can Favored Butler Take Advantage of Hometown Edge? >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's been only one season since a team played a Final Four matchup in its home state. Coincidentally, that squad, Michigan State, has to face this year's beneficiary, the Butler Bulldogs. Butler hosts th

RSL hopes to continue road form in Dynamo's home opener >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Real Salt Lake travels to take on the Houston Dynamo on Thursday night at Robertson Stadium as both Western Conference clubs gear up for Week 2 of the Major League Soccer season. RSL, the defending MLS Cup

Lookin At Lucky faces Sidney's Candy in Santa Anita Derby >>
Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rebel Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky and Sidney's Candy, winner of the San Vicente Stakes, highlight a field of 10 three-year-olds in Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby. The 1 1/8-mile race is the

Benglas sign DE Rucker >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cincinnati Bengals have signed defensive end Frostee Rucker to a two-year contract on Wednesday. Rucker had been tendered for a one-year deal for a restricted free agent, but the two sides agreed to the

Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.