Rachel Alexandra loses to Unrivaled Belle in La Troienne

Horseracing Betting Lines

04/30/2010 - Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For the second time in as many starts this year, reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra has lost on the racetrack, this time to Unrivaled Belle in Friday's $400,000 La Troienne at Churchill Downs.

The champion filly has now finished second in both 2010 starts after going undefeated in eight races last year. Last month she lost at the Fair Grounds to Zardana in the New Orleans Ladies.

With regular jockey Calvin Borel aboard, Rachel Alexandra was first out of the gate in the 1 1/16-mile race. Quickly joining her along rail was Be Fair ridden by Terry Thompson.

These two fillies dueled for the lead around the first turn and up the backstretch. Unrivaled Belle was running in third with Zardana racing fourth in the six horse field.

As the field entered the far turn Rachel took a short lead with Unrivaled Belle gaining ground on the outside.

The two fillies were locked in a stretch duel all the way to the wire. Jockey Kent Desormeaux kept Unrivaled Belle right along side of the 1-5 favorite. Sent off at 9-1, Unrivaled Belle registered a head victory over the odds-on favorite.

Unrivaled Belle and Rachel Alexandra were followed by Morena, Distinctive Dixie, Zardana and Be Fair.

The time for the La Troienne was 1:42.97 on a fast track.

Unrivaled Belle is trained by Bill Mott for owners Gary Seidler and Peter Vegso. The filly adds $265,659 to her bankroll which now totals more than $500,000.

The winner of five of eight career starts, Unrivaled Belle was coming off a victory in the Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March. Last year she won a minor stakes at Belmont Park and was second to Flashing in Belmont's Gazelle.

Unrivaled Belle paid $20.80, $3.40 and $2.80. Rachel Alexandra returned $2.10 and $2.10, and Morena paid $4.80 to show.

Following the race trainer Steve Asmussen talked about Rachel's race and where she is headed.

"She isn't quite as fast as she was at one point last year," said Asmussen. "You don't run a horse to get beat. I don't think she was short, just not as fast as one point last year. She stayed very steady and galloped out to the wire. She's a tremendous filly.

"I hope this helps to get her where she was last year. She was not a short filly, but she's not quite as fast as she was last summer and we want to get to where she was last summer and this was a step in the right direction."

Rouelette Horseracing Betting News

<< Knaus, Gustafson extend contracts with Hendrick
Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hendrick Motorsports crew chiefs Chad Knaus and Alan Gustafson confirmed on Friday their contract extensions with the racing organization. Knaus, who has guided four-time defending Sprint Cup Series

<< Dallas needs to build confidence against Revs
Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman thinks his team just needs some confidence, but there's only one way to get that. "Right now we're not getting the results and results build confidence." the FC Dallas coach

<< Report: New Hofstra coach charged with DWI
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hofstra University has reportedly suspended head men's basketball coach Tim Welsh without pay following an arrest early Friday morning. According to the New York Daily News, the 49-year-old Welsh was fo

<< Evans, Jennings, Curry headline NBA All-Rookie team
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NBA Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans of Sacramento, Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings and Golden State's Stephen Curry were unanimous selections to the league's All-Rookie Team. Evans was named the league's

<< Rapids hope to continue hot start vs. S.J.
Santa Clara, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rapids head to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes in a Major League Soccer clash on Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Rapids (3-1-1) are off to the best start in their 15-yea

Favre clarifies ankle injury; still uncertain of return >>
Hattiesburg, MS (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brett Favre's decision to return as Minnesota Vikings quarterback in 2010 apparently won't rest on surgery for his injured left ankle. Earlier Friday, ESPN reported that Favre's ankle is still pa

AL Central: Belcher making impact on Tribe's pitching staff >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Indians' first-year pitching coach Tim Belcher has been around the block. A 14-year pitcher in the big leagues, Belcher's 2,442 career innings are the most of any active pitching coach in Major League Baseball.

Edfors fires 64 to lead in Spain >>
Seville, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sweden's Johan Edfors fired an eight-under 64 to grab a one-shot lead Friday midway through the Open de Espana. Tied for 24th place after the first round, Edfors vaulted to the top of the Real Club lead

Phillies' Madson lands on DL >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies have placed reliever Ryan Madson on the 15-day disabled list with a broken right great toe. The move is retroactive to April 29 and comes on the heels of Brad Lidge's

Nerves get best of Jets rookie RB McKnight >>
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) -New York Jets running back Joe McKnight, the team's fourth-round draft pick, has had a rough first rookie minicamp practice. He dropped a few passes, vomited on the field and had both calves cramp up.McKnight, drafted out of

Pacific-10 Conference odds

Teams that should be in: Stanford

Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.

Should be in:

Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.

Southeastern Conference odds
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State

It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.

Work left to do:

Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.

Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.

Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.

Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional sports lines can be found at: www.Sportsbooks.com

To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards.


FOOTBALL BETTING : Crabtree's base deal: six years, $32 million

Football Betting

In the wake of the news that the 49ers have signed receiver Michael Crabtree after an extended holdout, there has been not a hint of the dollars to be paid to Crabtree.

And since this means that his agent hasn't leaked the numbers, it means that his agent feels no specific motivation to do so.

Possibly because his agent isn't all that thrilled to have his name on the deal.

So the numbers will come from sources other than Crabtree's agent. And we've gotten our mitts into them.

Per a league source, Crabtree has signed a six-year, $32 million contract. (The total includes guaranteed money, base salaries, and the one-time incentive based on achieving minimum playing time.)

The deal also includes $17 million in guaranteed money.

As reported elsewhere, the deal can void to five years based on performance triggers, wiping out a final year base salary of $4 million. But they won't be easily reached.

The source tells us that, in his first four seasons (including 2009), Crabtree must either qualify for two Pro Bowls, or he must qualify for one Pro Bowl in one year and he must participate in 80 percent of the offensive snaps in a separate year in which the team makes the playoffs.

In other words, if in 2010 he qualifies for the Pro Bowl and the team makes the playoffs and he participates in 80 percent of the snaps, he'll still need to make it to the Pro Bowl or achieve the 80-percent/playoffs in another season.

Since the chances of Crabtree making the Pro Bowl or participating in 80 percent of the offensive snaps this year is roughly zero percent, he'll have three years to get it done.

And it won't be easy. Frankly, he'll be hard pressed to make it to one Pro Bowl in three years with the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith, the other Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, DeSean Jackson, Johnny Knox, Percy Harvin, Greg Jennings, Roddy White, T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the same conference for sportsbook betting.

So, by all appearances, it's a six-year deal. And at $17 million in guaranteed money, the per-year guarantee is a tepid $2.83 million per year.

There's another problem with the deal -- it has no mid-tier incentive package. Instead, the additional $8 million that Crabtree can earn (pushing the max value to six years, $40 million) requires the kind of unrealistic, mega-star performances that no rookie is likely to ever achieve.

So while the contract paid to Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji covers five years and pays $22.5 million, he has the ability (if he's a solid player) to make up the difference between his base deal and Crabtree's five-year, $28 million haul via the mid-tier incentive package in Raji's deal.

And unless Crabtree meets the performance thresholds necessary to void the sixth year, he'll be stuck under contract for another year at a base salary of only $4 million.

There's one other area of concern with the deal. Crabtree, per the source, received no option bonus. Instead, he has significant money tied to a fairly new device known as a "discretionary salary advance," which unlike an opition bonus is subject to forfeiture if Crabtree decides in a year or two that he wants to hold out for a better deal. (We're also told that the 49ers have included language that would make certain escalators subject to forfeiture, too.)

Meanwhile, the deal falls well short of the mark for which Crabtree and agent Eugene Parker were aiming -- the five-year, $38.25 million contract paid by the Raiders to receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh overall pick in the draft.

Even if Crabtree successfully voids the final year, he'll make more than $2 million per year less on average than Heyward-Bey.

Thus, as we explained earlier in the day, this is a deal that Crabtree could have done in July, which would have given him a much better chance of making a contribution to the 49ers during his rookie year.

So while the final outcome can be described as win-win, the broader view suggests that it's really a lose-lose situation.

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.