Any Given Saturday gets Sunday Haskell win

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/05/2007 - Oceanport, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Any Given Saturday, ridden by Garrett Gomez, gave trainer Todd Pletcher his second consecutive victory in Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park. Last year Bluegrass Cat gave Pletcher the win with John Velazquez in the saddle.

The 1 1/8 mile race for three-year-olds was expected to be a showdown between Preakness winner Curlin and Kentucky Derby runner-up Hard Spun. Curlin was sent off as the 4-5 favorite, while Hard Spun was the 9-2 third choice behind the eventual victor who was 9-5.

Local runner Cable Boy took the lead at the start followed by Hard Spun, Any Given Saturday and Xchanger in the seven horse field. Curlin and jockey Robby Albarado settled off the pace by about six lengths.

Cable Boy, with Jose Velez, Jr., took the field up the backstretch and into the far turn. On the turn Hard Spun, reunited with Mario Pino, assumed the lead with Curlin on the outside. Any Given Saturday was running in third.

Coming off the turn Hard Spun was in front with Curlin still to the outside. Any Given Saturday split the two colts and took the lead at the top of the stretch.

Any Given Saturday continued on to post a 4 1/2 length win over Hard Spun with Curlin finishing third. Imawildandcrazyguy was fourth followed by Cable Boy, Xchanger and Reata's Shadow. Stormello was scratched with a case of colic.

The time for the 40th running of the Haskell was 1:48.35 on a fast track.

The victory was worth $600,000 to move the colt to just under $1 million in his career. Owned by WinStar Farm and Padua Stable, Any Given Saturday has won five of eight career starts, including the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park early last month. WinStar Farm owned last year's winner Bluegrass Cat.

"The main reason that we felt like this was the right spot for Any Given Saturday is that it's a great race," Pletcher said about coming to Monmouth, "and we felt that was the most important thing. As far as deciding between the Jim Dandy versus the Haskell, you know, you're sort of splitting hairs when you're running against a horse like Street Sense or Curlin. You know you're going against the best three-year-olds in the crop. That part we felt like was a wash. The fact that the Haskell is a $1 million race and a grade one was sort of a tiebreaker."

Any Given Saturday was a little snake bit this year on the way to the Run for the Roses. He lost by a nose to Street Sense in the Tampa Bay Derby and was third in the Wood Memorial to Nobiz Like Shobiz. He finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby.

"This is a very different horse than the one that ran in the Wood Memorial and the Kentucky Derby," Pletcher said. "He's gained weight, become stronger. He's very focused in his training. I thought the Dwyer was a breakthrough performance for him."

Any Given Saturday returned $5.60, $4.00 and $2.10. Hard Spun paid $5.00 and $2.10, and Curlin paid $2.10 to show.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

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Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

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