Ultra Sports Bet » curlin

My Derby crush

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:17:39 +0000

I am the worst Kentucky Derby handicapper in the world. It’s not that I don’t put the time into it. I start following the two year olds in the summer and get more and more obsessed as the first Saturday in May draws near. My problem is that I fall in love with a horse or two at some point in the process, and then odds or value are irrelevant to me. Sometimes I get lucky, like I did last year with Curlin. More often I don’t, with a long list of also-rans having my love and affection through the years. This year I picked a favorite early. I liked Pyro a lot heading into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. I originally noticed him because he is a stable mate of Curlin. He treated me well in that race, finishing a strong second to War Pass. Since then he has largely been off the radar, though I couldn’t have been more excited when he recently started working with Curlin. Well, he made his three year old debut in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds this year. Wow. He was good last year, but he grew into himself in a big way in the offseason. It’s too early to peak, and I know I am setting myself up for a tough fall, but I am just plain giddy about this horse. Check out this race – the stretch drive is truly incredible:

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Grasshopper jumps back onto the track

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:19:40 +0000

There is a whole lot of interesting horse racing going this weekend, as the Triple Crown trail reaches a new level and some golden oldies come back in action. I’ll be watching it all, but one horse that I am especially excited to see is Grasshopper (on the rail in the Travers when he wasn’t quite good enough against Street Sense). He was terrible last time out in the Super Derby, but he is well rested and quite a bit older now, and I am very curious to see if he is better off for it. He runs in the Mineshaft at Fair Grounds on Saturday, and he is the 5/2 second choice behind the incredibly overrated Magna Graduate. The sport has a pretty big void in the older horse division that was made even more gaping with Curlin heading to Dubai for two races. Grasshopper has the talent to step up into that void, and I can’t wait to see if he has the heart to go with it.

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Racing and other things

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:12:48 +0000

This is the last article until the Super Bowl kicks off that won’t be about that game. There is all sorts of good content on tap.

Check out this article. It’s one I wrote today about the effect of superstars on the performance of NBA teams against the spread. I’m biased, but I think it is kind of interesting.

The focus of the racing world is mostly on the road to the Derby, but there are other things going on. This is Asiatic Boy, and he is making me giddy. He is based in Dubai, and he is spectacular. He won the UAE Triple Crown last year, and he had a big, impressive win today in Dubai. I’m so excited because of what is on his horizon. He’s pointed at the Dubai World Cup. So is Curlin, my favorite horse in the world who, it was just announced, will be racing again this year. Curlin versus Asiatic Boy coud be a real Clash of the Titans. I can’t wait. The race is on March 29, by the way.

Speaking of racing, I won’t say much yet, but I will foreshadow a bit… there will soon be much more thoroughbred content available in these parts, but not at the expense of the other sports. Happy days are ahead.

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Life is good

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 23:53:05 +0000

My beloved Curlin was absolutely dominant in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (and a major steal at 4/1 to boot) and wrapped up Horse of the Year, and my beloved Michigan rolled to an easy win and a cover of a huge spread against Minnesota. I may forget it sometimes, but life is pretty darned good.

You can catch the highlights of the race here.

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Curlin has me giddy

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 16:56:38 +0000

It was a week ago, but the Jockey Club Gold Cup still has me buzzing. Most of the significant prep work for the Breeders’ Cup Classic has been done already, so I have started doing my homework to find the horses I like in the big race on October 27. That means I have three weeks to find a reason not to back Curlin, a horse I have been in love with since his first race this spring.

If you haven’t seen this race yet, you have to watch it. If you’re not a racing fan, watch this video anyway – the stretch drive may turn you into one.

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