Rematch between Blame and Quality Road not immediate

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/09/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saturday's dramatic stretch drive between Blame and Quality Road in the Whitney Handicap will have to satisfy race fans for more than a month. The earliest the two four-year-olds will meet again appears to be the Jockey Club Gold Cup in October.

Whitney winner Blame, co-owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, will be given time off until the October 2nd running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

"Seth Hancock (of Claiborne Farm) was here this morning (Sunday) and we firmed things up - the Jockey Club Gold Cup will be his next race," said trainer Al Stall, Jr. "It will be that, and then the Breeders' Cup Classic. We'll take him back to Keeneland in a couple of weeks, let him train there, and bring him back up to Belmont."

Trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed that beaten favorite Quality Road will start in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on September 4, a race won last year by Rachel Alexandra.

"If he continues to do well, I see no reason to change our plans," Pletcher said. "It was still a very good effort and we lost to a very good horse."

The Whitney turned out to be one of the best races of the year.

Quality Road, who was sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the six horse field, set a modest pace in the 1 1/8-mile stakes. Undefeated in three starts this year coming into the Whitney, Quality Road appeared set for a big win under jockey John Velazquez.

"He was basically alone on the lead," Pletcher noted. "He's generally a little more focused when he has a target (but) there wasn't anyone eager to take the lead."

Quality Road had a clear lead at the top of the stretch until Blame, ridden by Garrett Gomez, dug in to offer up a challenge.

"I thought if he (Blame) were in striking distance at the three-eighths pole, he had a shot," said Stall. "He really does have a great punch from the three- eighths pole, and Garrett was just reeling Quality Road in, reeling him in. Inside the eighth pole, you could see he had a little more momentum than Quality Road."

Blame drew even with Quality Road in deep stretch and was able to get past the favorite only yards before the wire.

"I was just biding my time until we turned for home," winning jockey Gomez said following the race. "I just didn't want to sit too long because he's got a long, consistent run and just keeps coming."

Gomez timed his ride perfectly to edge out Quality Road by a head in the 1 1/8-mile effort.

"He (Quality Road) got beat spotting an extremely good horse five pounds," Pletcher commented. "Not taking anything away from Blame; we look forward to trying him at equal weights."

Third-place finisher Musket Man came out of the Whitney in good shape and will continue to face the best in the handicap division.

"He looks pretty good, no problems," Musket Man's trainer Derek Ryan said on Sunday. "We'll probably keep him going long now for the rest of the year. One of these days he's going to get a legitimate pace and a race will set up for him. I'll probably either run him back here (in the Woodward) or wait for the Hawthorne Gold Cup, then the Breeders' Cup."

The 1 1/4-mile Hawthorne Gold Cup at Hawthorne Race Course is the same day as the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday, October 2.

Also coming out of the Whitney was 2009 Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird. Winless since taking last year's Run for the Roses, Mine That Bird was fifth and will probably start in the Woodward.

"Right now that would be the next stop," said trainer D. Wayne Lukas. "I'll talk to the owners, get their input, but that's definitely an option."

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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDS

NFL Sports Betting

NFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with.

Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not.

There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year.

Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City.

The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash.

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