Three-bagger for Pletcher on Saturday

Horseracing Betting Lines

02/22/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Three horses, three different ways of winning.

That's what happened for trainer Todd Pletcher this past Saturday in three separate stakes races for three-year-olds. Eskendereya, Discreet Mine and Connemara all recorded victories with different styles of racing.

First up in the $250,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park was Eskendereya. Ridden by John Velazquez, Eskendereya was stalking the pace being set by longshot Lost Aptitude. Pletcher's horse ran away from the field down the stretch to post a most impressive 8 1/2-length win over highly regarded Jackson Bend. Pletcher's other starter, Aikenite, finished third in the 10 horse field.

"You've got to be excited when they perform like that in these kind of races at this time of year," Pletcher on Saturday. "I was particularly pleased with the way he (Eskendereya) finished. I don't think we've ever gotten to the bottom of him.

"We threw a lot at him in the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile) in just his third start and first on synthetic. In the first turn I knew he had no chance. He was jostled badly and sandwiched between horses. At one point I dont think any of his feet were touching the ground (finished ninth). He's had two wins over the track here now, so the Florida Derby would seem logical for him, but we will consider all the options."

Aikenite, owned by Dogwood Stable, will make his next start in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 10.

"When Alan Garcia dismounted," Dogwood President Cot Campbell noted, "the first thing he said was that 'the further they go, the better Aikenite will like it. Please don't forget about me for the next race.' The traffic jam on the first turn cost Aikenite some momentum and he would have been second if it were not for that - he was beaten only three-quarters of a length for that second spot."

Next up on the schedule was the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Pletcher had Javier Castellano aboard Discreet Mine and the pair proceeded to go wire-to-wire in the 1 1/16-mile race.

"This horse gives one-hundred-and-ten-percent every time he runs," said Ginny DePasquale, assistant to Pletcher, who remained at Gulfstream Park. "We're very pleased with the outcome of this race."

Earlier at the Fair Grounds Pletcher and Castellano teamed up to win the Fair Grounds Handicap with Blues Street.

"I'm so blessed," Castellano said after his first win in the Risen Star. "I expected him to be in the lead. He broke well out of the gate and he looked happy galloping along. We got a position, relaxed, made a move on the backstretch and just continued to the wire.

"I'm very satisfied the way he did it today. He broke well out of the gate. He's a speed horse and the fractions he did today were very lovely. He just galloped along in the lead and I'm very happy. I said to Todd Pletcher whatever he wants to do with this horse I want to be on it. I'm the pilot and wherever they want to send me I'll be available."

The final piece of the day's triple came in the $150,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. Jockey Russell Baze was going after his seventh career victory in the event and did not disappoint.

Baze brought Connemara through the entire field from last to notch a 1 1/4- length victory over Haimish Hy with Posse Power rallying to finish third.

"Today it was textbook, he really relaxed," said assistant trainer Mike McCarthy. "I think he moved up in our rankings. We'll probably look at the Santa Anita Derby (for his next race)."

The Florida Derby at Gulfstream will be Saturday, March 20. The following Saturday at the Fair Grounds will be the Louisiana Derby and the Santa Anita Derby goes off on Saturday, April 3.

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How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?

The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.

While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.

For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.

1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.

2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.

How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.

Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.

Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.

How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).

Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.

Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.