11/12/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The major part of the 2008 thoroughbred racing season has been completed, so let's take a few seconds to look back and forward.
Three names came to dominate the headlines this year: Curlin, Big Brown and Zenyatta. All three secured themselves at least one Eclipse Award with the only question being, Who is the 2008 Horse of the Year?
Defending Horse of the Year Curlin made thoroughbred history in 2008 by becoming the first horse to surpass the $10 million mark in lifetime earnings. The four-year-old colt went past Cigar on the career earnings list with a second straight win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
With Robby Albarado in the saddle for all seven starts, Curlin won five times in 2008 to bank $5,399,000. While it has not been officially announced, Curlin closes his Hall of Fame career with $10,501,800. The only thing he was unable to accomplish was repeating as Breeders' Cup Classic champ.
Leading three-year-old Big Brown may have had the strangest of years. After blowing away the competition in the Florida Derby, Run for the Roses and Preakness Stakes, he failed miserably in the Belmont Stakes.
We will never know exactly why the best three-year-old of 2008 was pulled up at the top of the stretch in the Belmont Stakes by jockey Kent Desormeaux. The official chart shows that he never finished the 1 1/2 mile Test of Champions.
Owned by IEAH Stables, Big Brown came back with a win in the Haskell Invitational after looking beaten in mid-stretch by Coal Play. Big Brown's final start was on the turf in the Monmouth Stakes in preparation for the Breeders' Cup.
Unfortunately, Big Brown suffered a hoof injury during training for the Breeders' Cup and was retired. He finished with $3,614,500 having won seven of eight career starts.
I never bet on Big Brown, nor consider him an all-time great. However, I give his connections credit for getting him to the starting gate for the Belmont Stakes plus two more starts. He suffered some setbacks following the Preakness and I expected Big Brown to be retired sometime during the three week break between the final two Triple Crown events.
Other than Curlin, Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic champ Zenyatta is the only possible thoroughbred who could be voted 2008 Horse of the Year. The four- year-old filly is undefeated in nine career starts, seven this year, and has career earnings of better than $2.1 million.
Zenyatta had a very well orchestrated schedule. She started eight times in California, all on synthetic tracks. Her lone race elsewhere was the Apple Blossom Handicap this year at Oaklawn Park when she was the second choice behind 2007 Eclipse winner Ginger Punch who finished third.
Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass has been retired to Sheikh Mohammed's Kildangan Stud in County Kildare, Ireland. The three-year-old closes his short career with seven wins in 11 starts and $3,664,833,
Looking ahead to the Triple Crown races of 2009, Breeders' Cup Juvenile champ Midshipman has been taken to Dubai to prepare for the Kentucky Derby. Midshipman, owned by Shiekh Mohammed, has won three of four starts for $1,380,200. Shiekh Mohammed is desperate to win the Run for the Roses.
Juvenile Turf winner Donativum is owned by Princess Haya of Jordan, the wife of Shiekh Mohammed. Trained by John Gosden, the gelding has three wins in six starts and better than $1.5 million. His status for the Kentucky Derby is unknown.
In early odds for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Midshipman is roughly 15-1 and Donativum is 20-1. Keep in mind that lightly raced three-year-olds are becoming the rule not the exception leading to the Kentucky Derby.
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manager Lou Piniella's coaching staff will return for the 2009 season.
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Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Ravens won't get the same
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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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