Gio Ponti out to defend Arlington Million crown
Horseracing Betting Lines
08/17/2010 - Arlington Heights, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending winner Gio Ponti will take on nine challengers to his title in Saturday's 28th running of the Arlington Million at Arlington Park. The 1 1/4-mile grass race gives the winner automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Turf in November.
Trained by Christophe Clement, Gio Ponti won the 2009 Million by 1 1/4-lengths over Just as Well who is also back for this year's race. Gio Ponti would go on be win Eclipse Awards as 2009 champion turf and older male thoroughbred.
The champion turf runner has been made the 7-5 morning-line favorite and will again be ridden by Ramon Dominguez. The pair will start from post six.
In three races this year the five-year-old has one win, the Man o'War at Belmont Park in his last start. He was fourth in the Dubai World Cup in March and second in the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.
"I'm delighted with Gio Ponti," Clement said after the Man o'War victory. "Everyone made a big deal of him getting beaten (by stablemate Winchester in the Manhattan on June 5), but I never had a doubt that the horse was the leader of his division."
Owned by Castleton Lyons, Gio Ponti has won half of his 20 career starts for better than $4.1 million. Following last year's Million he was second in both the Belmont Turf Classic Invitational and Breeders' Cup Classic.
Hall of Fame member John Henry is the only horse to have won the Arlington Million twice, in 1981 and 1984.
Just as Well, trained and owned by Jonathan Sheppard, will be going for his first win of 2010. He is coming off a second-place finish in last month's Arlington Handicap, a race he won last year prior to the Million.
Julien Leparoux has the mount on Just as Well who is the 5-1 second choice in the program. The son of A.P. Indy will break from the four post.
His first start in 2010 was in the Ben Ali at Keeneland where he was fourth. Just as Well was second in the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico and fifth in the Manhattan Handicap.
After the 2009 Million, Just as Well was sent up to Woodbine for a pair of starts. He was second to Marsh Side in the Northern Dancer, but was a disappointing fifth in the Canadian International to Champs Elysees. He concluded the year in the Japan Cup in Tokyo, finishing seventh.
The seven-year-old has won four of 25 career starts with eight second-place finishes for $842,082.
Here is the complete field for the Million in post position order: Marsh Side, Corey Nakatani, 12-1; Debussy, William Buick, 12-1; General Quarters, James Graham, 8-1; Just as Well, Julien Leparoux, 5-1; Quite a Handful, Tanner Riggs, 30-1; Gio Ponti, Ramon Dominguez, 7-5; Rahystrada, Inez Karlsson, 10-1; Tajaaweed, Michael Baze, 15-1; Tazeez, Richard Hills, 6-1 and Summit Surge, Kieren Fallon, 10-1.
Post-time for Arlington Million XXVIII is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. (et).
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Vikings are still waiting for Brett Favre to make a decision on his playing status for this season, and on Tuesday three players reportedly went to his Mississippi home in an effort to possibl
<< City loans Bellamy to Championship side Cardiff
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester City confirmed Tuesday that
striker Craig Bellamy has been loaned to Championship side Cardiff City on a
season-long loan deal.
Bellamy, 31, was linked with a number of Premier League cl
<< Owens highlights CFL weekly awards
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto wide receiver/kick returner Chad Owens,
Saskatchewan linebacker Jerrell Freeman, Edmonton kick returner Kelly Campbell
and Hamilton defensive tackle Matt Kirk were selected as the CFL's top
perform
<< Arles signs Basinas, Charisteas
Avignon, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Promoted French Ligue 1 club Arles signed
free agents Angelos Basinas and Angelos Charisteas on Monday, two players who
helped Greece win Euro 2004.
Basinas and Charisteas are Arles' 15th and 16th summe
<< Twins activate Punto
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins have activated
infielder Nick Punto off the 15-day disabled list.
Punto had been sidelined since July 29 with a strained left hamstring.
In 80 games entering Tuesday's game
Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Portugal international Tiago has returned to Atletico Madrid on a season-long from Juventus after spending the second half of last season in Spain with the La Liga club. Tiago, 29, scored twice for Portuga
Ambrose joining Richard Petty Motorsports in 2011 >>
Concord, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcos Ambrose has signed a multi-year contract
with Richard Petty Motorsports to drive the No.9 Ford in the Sprint Cup Series
beginning in 2011, the team announced on Tuesday.
Ambrose will replace Kasey Kahn
Davies signs extension with Fulham >>
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fulham midfielder Simon Davies signed a new
contract that will keep him with the Premier League club through the 2012-13
season.
Davies, 30, joined Fulham in January of 2007 and has played in 129 matches
Oklahoma LB Box out with back injury >>
Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oklahoma junior linebacker Austin Box is
expected to miss anywhere from 3-to-6 weeks with a back injury.
The Oklahoman reported Tuesday that Sooners head coach Bob Stoops revealed Box
has a "disc issue"
Whittaker, Toliver and McGill earn weekly AFL honors >>
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Spokane wide receiver HUEY WHITTAKER,
Orlando wide receiver TT TOLIVER and Tampa Bay defensive
lineman TIM MCGILL have been named the JLS Ironman, Russell
Athletic Offensive Players and Riddell Defensive Player of
Brandon Roy Favorite to Win 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year
Portland TrailBlazer’s guard, Brandon Roy, is MySportsbook.com’s overwhelming favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year odds.
Despite missing 20 games due to an injury earlier this season, Roy has definitely put up the best numbers of his 1st year peers. In 32 games, Roy is averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.2 boards and 3.5 assists in over 33 minutes of play per game. While most rookies breakdown as the season progresses (see Morrison), Roy is only getting stronger as his playing time and scoring average has increased each month.
With 30 or so games left in the regular season, Roy isn’t a lock for the award by any means. Other rookies are putting together some pretty impressive campaigns and a few could give Roy a run for the award with increased playing time. Heading the list is first pick, Andrea Bargnani of the Toronto Raptors. Even though he has started only two games all season, Bargnani is averaging 10.3 PPPG while shooting 35% from deep.
Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves could be set to give Roy the best competition NBA Rookie of the Year betting lines. With the benching of Mike James, Foye looks like he could be the starter in the T-Wolves backcourt for the rest of the season. So far, Foye has averaged 9 PPG and 2.4 assists in just under 21 minutes per game. With his new role of starter, Foye’s numbers will definitely increase. In his first game as the new starting guard this past Sunday, Foye had 10 points; five rebounds and 8 assists. More importantly, he logged 34 minutes of playing time; his third highest run of the season.
Adam Morrison, of the Charlotte Bobcats, was the favorite early on in the season after averaging 15+ PPG through the first month of the season. Ever since his torrid start, Morrison’s point production has declined each month. This really isn’t surprising, considering at 6’8” he only weighs 205 lbs. Obviously he will need to hit the weights big time during the off-season in order to keep from breaking down in the future.
Be sure to log on to MySportsbook.com to bet on the NBA. With the regular season about to hit the homestretch, it is important to point out that MySportsbook.com has the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.