Zenyatta takes Clement L. Hirsch in photo-finish

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/09/2009 - Del Mar, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zenyatta, reigning champion older female, needed every inch of the 1 1/16 miles to win Sunday's $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar. The five-year-old remains undefeated in 12 career starts, including a second straight Hirsch Stakes.

Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Zenyatta and jockey Mike Smith came from last in the seven horse field to capture the race by a head over Anabaa's Creation.

The champion left from the outside post as Lethal Heat set the pace followed by Champagne Eyes and Anabaa's Creation. Zenyatta was about 13-lengths off the pace up the backstretch.

Trained by John Shirreffs, the favorite began her move around the turn for home, picking off rivals four wide as she gained ground. Coming off the turn Lethal Heat had a short lead with Dawn After Dawn second, Anabaa's Creation in third and Zenyatta joining the group.

At the top of the stretch Zenyatta still had ground to make up as Lethal Heat and Anabaa's Creation continued on the front end. Anabaa's Creation passed Lethal Heat with about 50 yards to go, but was unable to hold off Mike Smith and his 1-5 favorite.

Zenyatta caught Anabaa's Creation at the wire and was credited with a head victory over the mare and jockey Tyler Baze. Finishing third was Lethal Heat followed by Life Is Sweet, Dawn After Dawn, Tidal Dance and Champagne Eyes.

"It was close, it was really close," said Shirreffs who also trains Life Is Sweet.

The time for the Clement L. Hirsch was 1:43.24 on Del Mar's all-weather surface.

Briecat, Patricia's Gem and Hot n' Dusty were all scratched from the race Sunday morning.

"My hat's off to the competition. They ran an incredible race today," Smith commented after the win.

Zenyatta picks up $180,000 with her third win of 2009 to increase her career earnings to nearly $2.6 million. The mare is second to Rachel Alexandra in the current NTRA national poll.

Zenyatta opened this year with wins in the Milady and Vanity Handicaps after concluding 2008 by capturing the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic.

Zenyatta returned $2.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Anabaa's Creation paid $7.60 and $5.80, and Lethal Heat paid $5.20 to show.

A major topic of conservation in racing is the possible meeting of Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Jess Jackson, co-owner of Rachel Alexandra, has been emphatic that his filly will not run in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, because of the track's synthetic surface.

Elsewhere in thoroughbred racing, Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito announced Sunday morning that two-time Whitney Handicap winner Commentator has been retired after finishing third in Saturday's renewal at Saratoga.

"He's officially retired. We'll let him go out on a high note," Zito said. "It would have been wonderful for him to win. Physically, there's nothing wrong with him other than his age. Considering what he has to do to run back in those Grade 1 races, we thought this was the best thing to do."

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2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.