Horse Pick of the Day: Louisiana Champions’ Day Turf Stakes Fairgrounds Race 10

The Fairgrounds hosts their annual Louisiana Champions’ Day on Saturday and horse betting fans should take some time to check out the entire card.

A bevy of stakes races are on tap, all for Louisiana breds, all for at least $60,000 or more.  That makes for a terrific day of racing.  The best betting race on the card figures to be the 10th, the Louisiana Champions’ Day Turf Stakes.

Let’s take a look at that race.

Fairgrounds – Race 10 (5:23 pm EST)

Louisiana Champions’ Day Turf Stakes

$100,000

For Three Year Olds and Upward, Accredited Louisiana Breds

1 1/16th miles on turf

Nowandforevermore – - 9/2 morning line odds

The likely favorite in this, Desert Wheat, beat this guy by 2 ¾ lengths the last time the two hooked up, but things figure to be different in this race because Nowandforevermore goes second time for terrific jockey Shane Sellers and breaks from the 2 hole while Desert Wheat is stuck out in the 9 hole.  Sellers will want to keep Nowandforevermore just a bit further off of the pace, maybe 5 to 6 lengths instead of 4, and perhaps take him off of the rail for the rally.  If he does that, then he can turn the tables on his rival.

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Desert Wheat – - 2/1 morning line odds

The morning line chalk was absolutely brilliant in his last race, the Mr. Sulu Stakes, where he beat Nowandforevermore.  He’s a decent horse, Desert Wheat, and could easily win this stakes, but trainer Bill Mott got a lot out of him in his last.  He’s likely to bounce in this tougher affair.  If he does, then he might not get to the winner’s circle, but should still be able to pick up a piece. 

Wildrally – - 8/1 morning line odds

This Tim Ice trainee was terrible in his first race off of a layoff, the Mr. Sulu Stakes where Nowandforevermore and Desert Wheat ran last, but before that had strung together 3 victories in a row.  He could improve dramatically in his second race off of the layoff and rates an outsider’s chance to upset Desert Wheat and Nowandforevermore.  Wildrally is an extremely tractable horse, able to run on the lead or off of it, and should be taken seriously in this.

Wagering Strategy

All of the signs point to Nowandforevermore winning this race.  I will bet him to win and place.  Both Desert Wheat and Wildrally have a shot to win this as well which is why I will bet an exacta and trifecta box instead of keying Nowandforevermore.

NFL Expert Picks – Win or Go Home for Texans and Dolphins

Texans vs. Dolphins (-3)
(O/U) 45
Sunday, December 27 – 1:00 PM ET

Win or go home!

That’s the slogan for this Sunday’s Week 16 matchup between the Houston Texans (7-7 SU, 6-7-1 ATS, 4-10 O/U) and Miami Dolphins (7-7 SU, 8-6 ATS, 8-6 O/U).

As two of six 7-7 AFC teams, neither team can clinch a playoff berth with a victory in this contest, but both teams would be eliminated from the postseason with a loss in this matchup.

"Bottom line, we’re in an elimination game, really, this weekend because whoever doesn’t come out of this game victorious has no chance,” Texans head coach Gary Kubiak told the Texans’ official Web site.

Houston 411

The Texans have won two straight games including a narrow 16-13 win over St. Louis in Week 15.

Veteran quarterback Matt Schaub passed for 367 yards with one touchdown and Andre Johnson caught nine passes for 196 yards, but the Texans failed to cover the NFL moneyline as a 14-point road favorite and has gone a discouraging 1-4 ATS over its last five games.

Miami 411

The Dolphins lost a heart-breaker to the Tennessee Titans in Week 15, losing 27-24 in overtime but covering the pro NFL football betting odds as a 5-point road underdog in the loss.

Second-year quarterback Chad Henne threw for 349 yards with one touchdown but also tossed three interceptions while Ricky Williams rushed for 80 yards and one TD on 19 carries.

Miami has covered the NFL moneyline in three straight games and four of its last five games overall.

Key Trends

• Texans are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games as a road underdog.
• Texans are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as an underdog.
• Dolphins are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games in December.
• Dolphins are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. AFC.

Analysis: The Dolphins haven’t lost two consecutive games since getting off to a poor 0-3 start this season and have generally looked like one of the AFC’s stronger teams over the last month or so.

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While these two teams enter this matchup with identical 7-7 SU records, the Miami Dolphins are clearly playing better football than the Texans.

The Dolphins have won four of its last six games, beating Carolina, New England and Jacksonville along the way. The Texans have beaten the lowly Seahawks and Rams in each of their last two games, but dropped their previous four games and couldn’t pull away from the Rams when it counted last week.

The Texans are averaging just 86.1 yards per game this season and rushed for just 52 total yards last week on 24 carries.

Miami has gone a solid 4-2 SU at home this season and have been nearly automatic at home in the month of December, recording a scorching 5-0 ATS mark in their last five games in the final month of the year.

I know the Texans have gone an impressive 6-1 ATS in their last seven games as a road underdog and 7-2 ATS in their last nine games as an underdog, but I say back the Miami Dolphins in this home matchup.

Miami has gone an incendiary 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against AFC rivals and should be able to pull out a victory in this contest if second-year signal caller Chad Henne doesn’t throw multiple interceptions. The Dolphins are ranked 24th in the NFL in turnover margin at minus-seven, so holding on to the ball will be crucial.

In the end though, I just can’t see the one-dimensional Texans beating the Dolphins at home.

NFL Expert Picks: Miami Dolphins -3 Points

Saturday Pony Picks – Hollywood Park Pick 3

Saturday’s Top Pick 3 Wager Ends With the Cash Call Futurity

Race-day: 12/19/2009

1st Leg: 6:35 pm EST

Hitting any exotic wager in horse race betting is never an easy thing to do. In a game where getting 3 to 1 odds usually constitutes as “bad” adds, adding any sort of element that changes your chances of making profits can lead to losing a lot of money.

It can also lead to massive scores depending on how it plays out. So, betting the Pick 3, although a huge gamble by its very nature, is also a good way to make a lot of money.

Let’s take a look at a more expensive than usual Pick 3 for this Saturday. If it hits, however, expect major profits to come to the horseplayers gutsy enough to play it. The Pick 3 below is based on beating the favorite in each leg.

Hollywood Park Pick 3

All numbers are post positions

Race 7 – $36,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs cushion track

Horses To Use: 1-Dontsellmetofelons, 3-Fyvio, 4-Cape Finisterre, 6-Exfusion, 7-Street Haven, 8-Clutch Player

Analysis: Exfusion is going to be a huge, huge favorite. Beat him in this Pick 3 sequence and the dollars could come rolling in! Of course, that’s easier said than done. However, Dontsellmetofelons is trained by Jeff Mullins. Fyvio is going into his second lifetime race and his trainer, Richard Rosales, is winning at a 40% clip at the meet. Cape Finisterre is trained by the underrated Peter Eurton. Street Haven comes out of Street Cry. We all know how great that sire is. Finally, Clutch Player comes out of Malibu Moon and runs for the incomparable Bob Baffert. Can any of these guys beat Exfusion? Who knows, but it’s worth it to take a shot!

Race 8 – State-Bred $25,000 Optional Claiming, 6 furlongs turf

Horses To Use: 6-Itssultryinthecape, 8-Adam Suances, 10-Trail Mix, 11-Amazombie

Analysis: This is a terrific betting race. So, don’t forget to check out the horse matchups in the online racebook. Okay, what’s with the terrifically, long odd names? There’s Dontsellmetofelons in Race 7 and now there’s Itsultryinthecape in Race 8! Anyhow, Itsultrynthecape is coming off of a maiden victory at this distance on this turf course and figures to improve. He also busted a fantastic work on Dec. 9th. Adam Suances is coming off of a layoff, has been working well, and finished second on the turf going 1 mile at Del Mar. Trail Mix is dropping into the claiming ranks after almost winning a turf race at this distance in an allowance. Mix only has 1 victory on the turf but has racked up a ton of second place finishes. Amazombie has 2 seconds and a 3rd out of 4 lifetime races on the turf.

Race 9 – $750,000 Grade I Cash Call Futurity, 1 1/16th miles on the cushion track

Horses To Use: 1-Lookin’ At Lucky, 4-Marcello, 6-Noble’s Promise

Analysis: Lookin’ At Lucky was unlucky to lose the BC Juvenile in his last. He broke from the 13th hole and managed to rally all the way to second. He lost by a head to a Godolphin long shot and merits favoritism in this. Marcello could improve big time switching from turf, he finished 2nd in the Grade III Generous Stakes in his last, to this. He’s a good horse that could surprise. Noble’s Promise finished 3rd in the BC Juvenile behind Lookin’ At Lucky. His tractability, he can rate off of the pace or run on the lead, should serve him well in this small field.

Combinations: 5 x 4 x 3 = $60

$1 Pick 3 = $60

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College Hoops Saturday Picks – UCLA vs. Notre Dame

BetOnline NCAA Basketball Odds and Preview:

Neither of these teams has been dazzling lately. Notre Dame is 9-2 SU and is at the .500 mark in college basketball betting, but the Irish have played a lot of "gimme" games, and last Saturday they fell flat is losing to West Coast Conference lesser light Loyola Marymount at home, despite making ten three-pointers.

UCLA has been going through even a rougher phase. The Bruins went on a five-game losing streak, which included getting smacked around by Portland, Long Beach State and Mississippi State, before taking out their frustrations on New Mexico State in a Tuesday game. UCLA is suffering the after-effects of losing a lot of guys after their freshman and sophomore years, which is the flip side of going out of your way to recruit "one and done" talent.

Here are some of the college basketball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

• UCLA has lost five of its last six games SU
• UCLA has played seven of its last eleven games UNDER the total
• UCLA has won six of its last nine road games SU
• UCLA is 1-4-1 ATS in its last six road games
• UCLA has played five of its last six road games OVER the total
• ND has won four of its last five games SU
• ND has played ten of its alst 12 games UNDER the total
• ND has won ten of its last 11 home games SU

It is usually the custom under Ben Howland that the Bruins get better as the season progresses, but this particular period, and this particular game, don’t fit that timetable. The Bruins, like the Irish, are at .500 (4-4 ATS) in the spreads.

Notre Dame missed the NCAA tournament last season, and that was a disappointment, but they still have the best player on the floor in Luke Harangody, who is averaging almost 25 points and ten rebounds a game. Without Drew Gordon, who announced plans to transfer a few games ago, UCLA has one less power forward who can deal with Harangody under the boards.

UCLA is a young team, while Notre Dame has three seniors starting for it. And the Irish would not only love to bounce back, but would dearly love to deal out revenge for last season’s 89-63 beat down that UCLA issued at the Pauley Pavilion in February.

UCLA may get well eventually, but this is not the time nor the place for that to happen. We’re going with Notre Dame as a favorite.

JAY’S PREDICTION: NOTRE DAME BY 24

NCAA Basketball Picks – Xavier Musketeers at Butler Bulldogs

Xavier Musketeers (6-3 SU, 5-3 ATS) at Butler Bulldogs (7-3 SU, 4-6 ATS)

Saturday, December 19 – 2 PM ET

Here are some of the NCAA basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

• XAV has won eight of its last 12 games SU
• XAV has played eight of its last 12 games UNDER the total
• XAV has covered 11 of its last 16 games
• XAV has lost five of its last six road games SU
• XAV has covered one of its last six road games
• BUT has won four of its last six games SU
• BUT has covered four of its last 14 games
• BUT has played 14 of its last 20 games OVER the total
• BUT has covered two of its last nine home games
• BUT has won 22 of its last 26 home games SU

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Xavier has historically (well, at least in recent seasons) been known for its defense and tenacity. This year, I guess you could say that is no exception. The Musketeers have allowed opposing teams just 38.6% shooting, which is even better when you consider that they pull down 40 rebounds a game.

Well, it’s better until you look at the one true road game they’ve played, which was the disaster at Kansas State where they were trounced 46-33 on the glass while going down to a 71-56 defeat to Frank Martin’s team, which was not a good showing in college basketball betting action.

Butler does not exactly stifle teams, allowing 45% shooting. They are hitting only 41% from the field themselves, but they have stepped up things from three-point range since then, making eight each in games against Ohio State and Georgetown. Until the game against the Buckeyes, the Bulldogs were being criticized for not being able to get over the hump against nationally-ranked opposition.

However, they were able to do so by creating some distance in the second half against an Ohio State team that was playing without its star, Evan Turner. Even still, they have covered just four of their last 14 games in the college basketball odds.

Both these teams have been wildly inconsistent in terms of their shooting. Xavier hit less than 30% against K-State, while Butler went cold against the Georgetown Hoyas, making just 31% of its attempts. As far as the straight-up winner, prefer the Butler trio of Gordon Hayward (who had 24 points and eight rebounds against Ohio State), Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack, at a venue where this team has won 22 times in the last 26 tries.

They got past an obstacle in last Saturday’s win, and Xavier had to go overtime and was lucky to survive its biggest test yet against crosstown rival Cincinnati.

If they can keep Howard out of foul trouble (Ohio State made major advances while he was on the bench) they can win the game. That might be a tall order, however, as the guy averages over four fouls per contest. Perhaps we’re looking at a game where well-rested Xavier stays in it all the way, and so we’ll take the points in out NCAA basketball predictions.

JAY’S PREDICTION: BUTLER BY 1

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NBA Christmas Day Classic – Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Two of the NBA’s biggest stars. Two of the NBA’s best teams. Kobe vs. LeBron. Cavaliers vs. Lakers. Christmas Day. Who ya got?

The Lakers come into this game as not only the defending NBA Champions, but also the elite team in the entire NBA so far during the 2009-2010 season.

They are of course led by the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant, who despite turning 32 this year, is as good as ever. So far, Bryant is second only to Carmelo Anthony, averaging 29 points per game, and as always, is amongst the league leaders in steals and free throw percentage. Bryant has been helped additionally with maybe the NBA’s premiere frontcourt, in Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest. All three are averaging double-figures, in points with Gasol leading the way with 17 per game.

Here are some basketball betting trends which may impact this game:

• Los Angeles: 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games
• Los Angeles: 15-1 SU in their last 16 games
• Los Angeles: 6-0 SU at home in their last 6 games
• Cleveland: 11-6 ATS on the road
• Cleveland: Total has gone OVER in 9 of 17 road games

The three in the frontcourt are also the backbone of what has become the league’s best defensive team. So far this season, they’re holding opponents to an NBA best 42 percent shooting from the field, as well as just 94.5 points per game. Bynum and Gasol are each averaging close to two blocks per game.

As for their opponents, the Cleveland Cavaliers as we head into 2010, after having the best record in the Eastern Conference 2009. A large part of that is due to starting center Shaquille O’Neal, who simply hasn’t been as dominating as the Cavaliers had hoped he’d be. He is averaging just 10 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes per game, a far cry from the output he once produced, when he was one of the NBA’s most dominant big man earlier this decade.

Obviously that adds additional burden to last year’s league MVP LeBron James, and “The King,” is doing everything in his power to keep the Cavaliers afloat. He is averaging almost 29 points seven rebounds and eight assists per game, and is again maybe the league’s best all-around player. As always, for the Cleveland to stay close in this game, James will have to play his best.

With these two teams squaring off on Christmas day, the clear advantage would have to go to Los Angeles. But it’s not why you think.

Despite the star power on the perimeter, it is actually the guys down low who’ll make the difference. The three starters for Los Angeles are substantially more productive than O’Neal and J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao for Cleveland. Expect the Lakers to have control the boards on Friday night, as they average a league high 45 per game.

The Lakers have the advantage at almost every position, and Kobe Bryant simply never loses big games. And this is a big game. Because of it, take the Lakers. They are deeper and more talented overall. LeBron can only do so much, and the Cavaliers will learn the hard way, that sometimes even he, is not enough.

Aaron’s Pick: Lakers by 9

Week 16 NFL Betting – Jacksonville vs. New England

Week 16 NFL football betting action continues on Sunday afternoon in Foxboro, where the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-7, 5-9 ATS) will look to move one step closer to the postseason when they clash with the New England Patriots (9-5, 6-7-1 ATS).

A victory for the Pats or losses by both Miami and New York will lock up the AFC East for them, while the Jags most likely need a victory to have any hope of making the playoffs heading into Week 17. The last meeting between these teams came in the ’08 playoffs when New England was playing for its perfect season. Jacksonville hung inside the 13.5 NFL point spread, but was eliminated from the postseason in a 31-20 defeat.

In Sunday’s NFL betting battle, BetOnline Sportsbook has lined the hosts as 8-point favorites, while the ‘total’ comes in at 44.

Jacksonville has probably completely blown its opportunity at making the playoffs. Heartbreaking losses to Miami and Indianapolis in back-to-back weeks really sealed their fate barring them getting some help and beating the Pats and Browns in their final two games of the regular season.

In last Thursday night’s 35-31 loss to the Colts in the home finale, the Jaguars gave everything they had to their perfect visitors, but couldn’t ultimately pick up the ‘W’ either SU or ATS. QB David Garrard, who perhaps was making his final start as a Jaguar at home, went 23/40 for 223 yards with three TDs and an INT. RB Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 110 yards and a TD, and also caught five passes for 30 yards and a score.

The Patriots may have had the best week of any team in the AFC last week. Not only did they score a 17-10 victory in Buffalo to get their football bettors back in the win column, but they opened up a two-game lead with two games to play when both the Jets and Dolphins were beaten.

The seven-point win over the Bills certainly wasn’t a work of art by any means, as the blustery weather conditions really held both offenses down. QB Tom Brady only went 11/23 for 115 yards with a TD and a pick, which marked his second consecutive poor outing. However, WR Randy Moss had a nice day after catching just one pass in a victory against Carolina. The Marshall product caught five passes for 70 yards and a TD.

New England has played four straight ‘under’ contests, and it’s hard to see how the Jaguars wouldn’t want that trend to continue again on Sunday. Jacksonville has no choice but to try to run the ball and shorten the game against the Patriots, especially if the weather at Gillette Stadium is poor. Last week’s shootout against the Colts was the first time that a Jacksonville game had surpassed the number since November 15th. Look for the Jags to fight tooth and nail for the full 60 minutes, but there just won’t be enough points between the two teams to reach this number.

Rose’s Recommendation: 2* Jacksonville Jaguars/New England Patriots Under
Rating Scale 1* – 5*

Top 10 Horses of the Decade: It’s Tiznow

It was difficult for me to pick what I thought was the best racehorse this past decade because by its very nature horse racing is a sport that rewards non-competitiveness. Often times, a terrific horse like both Street Sense and Hard Spun in 2007 are retired to stud all too early.

Their greatness is never tested on the racetrack. That’s not true for the #1 horse on my list. He was tested on the largest stage in horse racing and prevailed not only once but twice.

Top 10 Horses of the Decade

1. Tiznow – - The son of Cee’s Tizzy was a late bloomer to the racetrack in his three year old season, but he improved and matured greatly to win the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He followed up his 2000 BC victory with a win in the 2001 BC Classic. Tiznow is the only horse to ever win two classics and in both races, he had to throw down against the best that Europe had to offer. As a three year old in 2000, Tiznow had to beat the #4 horse on this list, Giant’s Causeway. Then, a year later, he took down Godolphin’s Sahkee in a famous race that New England Patriots’ football coach Bill Belichick used to fire up his team during the NFL Playoffs that same year. A winner of over 6.4 million dollars, Tiznow simply did something that no other horse had ever done before him and no other horse has ever done so far after him. Because of that, he’s the horse of the decade.
2. Sea The Stars – - Sea The Stars is considered by many horse racing fans to be the best racehorse that Europe has ever seen. If he had come over to the United States to take on Zenyatta in the BC Classic, then he probably would have jumped ahead of Tiznow in my mind, but winning two BC Classics trumps what Sea The Stars did on the racetrack. The son of Cape Cross won the Beresford Stakes in 2008. In 2009, he won the Eclipse, International and Irish Championship Stakes, the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby and the Prix D l’Arc De Triomphe where he beat 9 other Group 1 winners including two time BC Turf winner Conduit.
3. Zenyatta – - Zenyatta finished her racing career by winning the 2009 BC Classic against the boys. She also finished her racing career undefeated with 14 victories and over 5.47 million in the bank. The only real knock is that unlike Tiznow, Zenyatta did almost all of her work over all weather surfaces and never won a truly significant race save for the Apple Blossom in 2008 outside the State of California. Still, she dominated her division and did finish her career undefeated.
4. Giant’s Causeway – - Giant’s Causeway won 5 straight Group 1 races in 2000. He would have won the 2000 BC Classic as well if Tiznow hadn’t kept him at bay as he ran up to the decade’s best horse. Giant’s Causeway never finished worse than second in 13 straight races with 9 victories and 4 second place finishes.
5. Rock of Gibraltar – - Aidan O’Brien, who trained Giant’s Causeway in 2000, brought Rock of Gibraltar to the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Mile with 7 straight Group 1 victories on his resume. The horse could finish no better than 2nd in that race to long shot Domedriver, but his accomplishments in both 2001 and 2002 cannot be understated. Gibraltar won 10 out of 13 races and finished 2nd twice in a 13 race career.
6. Curlin – - Curlin won the Preakness Stakes and BC Classic in 2007 and finished third in that year’s Kentucky Derby and second, to the filly Rags To Riches, in that year’s Belmont Stakes. He also won the Jockey Gold Cup twice and the Dubai World Cup in 2008. In the 2008 BC Classic, going off as the 7 to 5 favorite, Curlin could do no better than finish 4th. What happened? He didn’t like the all weather track at Santa Anita. It’s a damn shame because if the race had been on dirt, the Steve Asmussen trainee no doubt would have won the BC Classic in 2008 and probably would have jumped to #1 on this list.
7. Rachel Alexandra – - She dominated the 2009 Preakness and beat up on the boys two more times in the Haskell Invitational and Woodward Stakes. She’s going to run in 2010 and no doubt could cement her reputation as the greatest female horse to ever run, but for now Zenyatta gets the nod because of her victory in the BC Classic. Don’t worry, Rachel fans. I’ve got the feeling that she’ll jump up to #1 on this list in 2019 after what she does in 2010.
8. Invasor – - He won 11 out of 12 lifetime races including victories in the Pimlico Special, Suburban and Whitney Handicaps and the BC Classic in 2006. Not many racing fans remember the South American bred horse, but make no mistake, he was damn good. His victory in the 2007 Dubai World Cup, his last race, was a thing of beauty.
9. Ghostzapper – - Bobby Frankel, who passed away on Nov. 16th in 2009, trained a lot of terrific horses. Ghostzapper was his best. The brilliant son of Awesome Again finished off the board only once in 11 races. He had 9 victories in his all too brief career including winning the BC Classic in 2004 at Lonestar Park. Not only did Ghostzapper win, but he shattered the track and race record by crossing the finish line in 1:59.02.
10. Azeri – - The third female horse on this list won 12 Grade 1 races in a 24 race career. She won the Apple Blossom three straight years from 2002 to 2004 and raced until her 6 year old season. She trotted away from racing with a record of 17 victories and 4 seconds out of 24 races and earnings of over 4 million dollars.

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Top Ten Race Horses of the Decade

While horse racing is still without a Triple Crown winner for more than three decades and many top horses are whisked off to the breeding shed entirely too early, we were treated to many outstanding race horses in this past decade.

Here are the ten I feel were the best:

10. Point Given: The Bob Baffert trainee won the 2001 Preakness and Belmont Stakes after a fifth place finish in the Kentucky Derby. The colt finished his three-year-old campaign with victories in the Haskell Invitational and Travers Stakes, becoming the first horse to win four $1 million races in a row. A strained tendon was discovered a week after his Travers win, ending his career with nine wins in 13 career starts for earnings of $3,968,500. The colt won the Eclipse Award for top three year old and Horse of the Year in 2001.

9. Goldikova: It is tough to put a horse on the list that raced just twice in the U.S., but the brilliant Goldikova beat the boys two years in a row in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, victorious in 2008 and again this year. The brilliant filly has won 10 of 15 career starts for earnings of $4,090,090, and we could see her again next year trying to make it a three peat in the Mile.

8. Rags to Riches: Out of the productive mare Better Than Honour, Rags to Riches had an amazing three-year-old campaign, winning the Las Virgenes, Santa Anita Oaks, and the Kentucky Oaks in impressive fashion. She then beat the boys in the Belmont Stakes. Her lone loss on the year was a second place finish behind Lear’s Princess in the Gazelle Stakes in September where she came up a half-length short. She was retired in March of 2008 after reinjuring her pastern bone. If healthy, and campaigned as a four year old, she could have been talked about in the same breath as Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra.

7. Azeri: She became just the third female to win Horse of the Year honors in 2002. She won the Eclipse Award for Older Female three consecutive years from 2002-2004. Her 2002 campaign included five Grade 1 wins, capped off by winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She took on the boys twice in her career, fading to finish eighth in the 2004 Met Mile, then ending her career by finishing fifth in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic where she finished behind four very good runners in Ghostzapper, Roses in May, Pleasantly Perfect, and Perfect Drift. She retired with earnings of $4,079,820 with 17 wins in her 24 career starts.

6. Invasor: The Uruguayan Triple Crown winner was purchased by Shadwell Stable and after a fourth place finish in the UAE Derby in Dubai, he came back to the U.S. and swept the Pimlico Special, Suburban and Whitney Handicaps, and capped off the year by winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, earning the Eclipse Award for Older Male and Horse of the Year. He only made two starts in 2007, winning the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park, then the Dubai World Cup. He was retired in June of 2007.

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5. Zenyatta: It is hard to argue with perfection, and Zenyatta was perfect in 14 starts, a dozen of those wins coming in Grade 1 or Grade 2 company. Some said she was beating up on a weak group of female runners, but she silenced those doubters (me included) by winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic against the boys this year. She won the Eclipse Award for Older Female in 2008, and is in the running for Horse of the Year in 2009. While she is regarded as a synthetic surface specialist, she did win her only start on conventional dirt, winning the Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park last year, beating 2007 Eclipse Award winner Ginger Punch.

4. Tiznow: The 2000 Horse of the Year, Tiznow won back to back Breeders’ Cup Classics in 2000 and 2001. He did it the hard way, fighting off European invaders Giant’s Causeway and Sakhee by a neck and a nose respectively. He earned $6,427,830 from a career mark of 15-8-4-2. He is the lone horse to win the Classic more than once.

3. Rachel Alexandra: The three-year-old filly was perfect in 2009, winning all eight of her starts, including five Grade 1 wins. The only thing keeping her from taking on the boys in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic was the fact that owner Jess Jackson did not want to race his filly on what he called “plastic”. She destroyed the field in the Kentucky Oaks, winning by more than 20 lengths, and won the Mother Goose by nearly the same margin.

The filly was purchased privately by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables after the Oaks win, and it was decided she would take on the boys. She won the Preakness Stakes, the Haskell Invitational, and the Woodward, which came against older males. She is a lock for the Eclipse Award for Three Year Old Filly this year, and many think she will take down Horse of the Year honors for 2009.

2. Curlin: Curlin joined an elite group by winning Horse of the Year honors in 2007 and 2008. Since the Eclipse Awards began being handed out in 1971, only Secretariat, Forego, Affirmed and Cigar have won the award more than once. His three-year-old campaign included victories in the Arkansas Derby, Preakness Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. In his four-year-old campaign, he won a trio of Grade 1’s, the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, and a repeat in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Jess Jackson were not thrilled about the 2008 Classic being run over the synthetic surface at Santa Anita, but decided to run him anyway. The colt checked in fourth, beaten by European invaders Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator, as well as Tiago. He retired with over $10 million in earnings, having won 11 of his 16 starts.

1. Ghostzapper: Casual fans may say Ghost who? However, anyone that saw Ghostzapper run will tell you he was a freak of nature. He made just 11 career starts, winning nine of them. His 2004 campaign was perfect, winning the Tom Fool, Iselin Handicap, Woodward Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, earning him the Eclipse Award for Older Male and Horse of the Year. Owner Frank Stronach decided to bring Ghostzapper back for another year, and he was simply brilliant winning the Met Mile in May of 2005. Ghostzapper has the distinction of earning the top Beyer Speed Figure of all time with his 128 he earned in winning the Iselin in 2004. He earned a 120 or higher Beyer in four of his last five starts. He was indeed the fastest horse of the decade.

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Emerald Bowl Preview and Pick – Boston College Eagles vs. USC Trojans

Saturday, December 26th – AT&T Park (San Francisco, CA) – 8:00 PM ET

College Football Spread: USC -8

Boston College: The Week That Was

The Eagles – in a game that encapsulated their 2009 regular season – were ugly but effective in a 19-17 triumph over Maryland. Boston College lacks imposing, overwhelming talent, but coach Frank Spaziani’s club quietly went about its business and posted an 8-4 campaign this past Autumn, good enough for the program’s eleventh consecutive bowl bid.

Sure, Boston College scored only one touchdown against a Maryland team that finished at 2-10. Yes, BC went only 4-of-15 on third downs against the Terrapins on Nov. 28 in College Park, Md. True, the Eagles didn’t put the game away until they gained a 19-10 lead with 3:59 remaining. Yet, they won again. The two-point triumph reminded observers why Boston College is a success story in college football.

USC: The Week That Was

The Trojans had a shot at the Holiday Bowl, but they fell into a fifth-place tie in the Pac-10 after losing at home to Arizona, 21-17, on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles. USC’s defense played well enough to win, slowing down the visiting Wildcats and quarterback Nick Foles. The same Arizona team that rolled up 41 points against Oregon scored roughly half as much against the Trojans. The problem for Pete Carroll’s crew – as it’s been over the past month of the season – was an offense that’s become stale and shaky. Quarterback Matt Barkley – who showed terrific command late in October – has lost confidence. The freshman completed just 20-of-37 passes for a meagre 144 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

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The Week That Is:

The USC athletic department is living a nightmare. Trojan running back Joe McKnight is knee-deep in a controversy involving the use of an SUV. Three USC players – including Matt Barkley’s favourite target, tight end Anthony McCoy – have been ruled academically ineligible for this Emerald Bowl battle. A program that has dominated much of the decade is now wounded, distracted, and drowning in off-field controversies.

This is exactly the kind of situation in which a bowl game – even a matchup as lopsided as this one – can turn into a big upset. USC owns physical advantages at virtually every position on the field, while the Eagles – from a weak Atlantic Coast Conference – are short on NFL combine specimens. Yet, if USC is completely disheartened and disinterested, Boston College will prevail.

In many ways, this game is a test of USC coach Pete Carroll. If it was hard for Carroll to motivate his players before a series of recent Rose Bowls, it’s going to be very difficult for the coaching superstar to get the Trojans prepared for a low-level bowl on the day after Christmas.

Then again, how did USC do in those Rose Bowls, anyway? USC will still roll to victory.

College Bowl Predictions: USC -8

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