10/14/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The buzz began following his double-digit victory in a maiden race on the turf at Saratoga in 2007. He did not race again until the Gulfstream Park meet in early 2008.
Big Brown lit up the sky with a commanding win in the Florida Derby from the far outside post. The colt convinced the skeptics by easily taking the Kentucky Derby from the unheard of assignment of post 20.
"I don't see that he beat a great Derby field," trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. said after Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby, "so I wouldn't know how to judge things." Like Secretariat (in 1973), that was best crop I've ever seen in my life, and he beat 'em, he took 'em to the cleaners every time he ran against them. I'm not one to compare him against past horses. It just wasn't a strong Derby field other than our horse."
Dutrow was probably correct in his evaluation of the crop of three-year-olds in 2008. They have not proven to be quite as good as the group from 2007. However, Big Brown was given every disadvantage in the Run for the Roses and still won convincingly.
Two weeks later Big Brown and rider Kent Desormeaux won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico to move within one win of sweeping the Triple Crown.
"Anybody that watched the race could see Kent never hit him with the stick that I could see," observed Dutrow. "Kent might have asked him to run for a 16th of a mile when he turned for home just to put the race away and glided to the wire. I'm going to be under the impression that he's going to be awful tough to beat in the Belmont."
Three weeks later the unimaginable occurred. Big Brown's last place finish in the Belmont Stakes, after being eased by Desormeaux, will never be properly explained.
Given time off, Big Brown made his next start in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park as the 1-5 favorite. It's a race that will be remembered by everyone who saw it. Big Brown let Coal Play set the pace. Coal Play appeared to be on his way to an upset.
Trainer Nick Zito had already shocked the world when his Da' Tara won the Belmont Stakes. This time he sent out Coal Play and seemed again to be set for an upset.
"I thought we had a helluva shot turning for home," Zito said. "I thought to myself 'We could do this again.' I'm very happy right now. We made him (Big Brown) run, that's for sure. But this is good for racing. Coal Play ran a big race."
Down the stretch Big Brown drifted to the outside and looked to be unable to catch Coal Play.
"I thought we were in trouble at the quarter-pole," noted Big Brown's majority owner Michael Iavarone. "Nick Zito's horse ran so big. He kicked away from us and I thought we were in trouble. This was another dimension for Big Brown, he showed his heart and courage."
Big Brown found something late down the stretch to catch Coal Play and avoid another shocking loss.
Dutrow kept Big Brown ready for the Breeders' Cup Classic by starting him in a turf stakes at Monmouth. The win in the Monmouth Stakes over Proudinsky was impressive, because the colt showed he could meet a challenge.
"The way he dug down this afternoon showed his true heart and his true courage," noted Iavarone. "There is nothing he can do that will surprise me any more."
However, that would prove to be Big Brown's final race. The leading three- year-old of 2008 has been retired following a hoof injury suffered during training.
The anticipated match-up with Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic will never take place. Big Brown is assured of being named 2008 Eclipse Award winner as champion male three-year-old.
"My family and I are saddened to learn of Big Brown's career ending injury during his morning workout," Jess Jackson, majority owner of Curlin, said in a statement. "I have always said what an incredible horse Big Brown is and that the bay colt brought energy and excitement to our industry, especially during his run at the Triple Crown.
"I am equally disappointed that Big Brown and Curlin will never compete against each other. It was a dream of mine and thousands of other fans of the sport. Now, we all join together in wishing Big Brown a speedy recovery."
Disappointment is the appropriate word. Dutrow said a lot through the summer about his horse versus Curlin. It was the most anticipated pairing in a long time.
We can only wish Big Brown the best in his new career as a stallion. May he produce competitive thoroughbreds that we can enjoy watching compete.
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Andrei Kostitsyn, Mike Komisarek, Robert Lang and
Wild battle Thrashers in Atlanta >>
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Ducks, Kings try to get in win column in LA >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Crosstown rivals Anaheim and Los Angeles will both try for
their first wins of the 2008-09 season, as the Kings welcome the Ducks for a
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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends
We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS. Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned. For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go. As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190). Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet. For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later. Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick. Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com
New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors
Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season.
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls
Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season.
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers
In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS.
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”. With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit. Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.
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