Ladies' Classic to decide Three-Year-Old Filly title

Horseracing Betting Lines

11/02/2011 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This is the second straight year the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, formerly the Distaff, will have no bearing on the Eclipse Award for Older Filly and Mare. The two top older females are being kept out of the race, one is being given a rest and the other will start in Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

In fact, the division crown has already been decided with Havre de Grace the odds-on pick to receive the honor no matter the outcome of the 1 1/4-mile Classic. The four-year-old filly is the 3-1 second pick in the program for the race and very likely could go off as the favorite in the now 12-horse field. Arch rival Blind Luck is on vacation after failing to fire in her last start of the year.

The 1 1/8-mile Ladies' Classic is dominated by three-year-old fillies as Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty is the 2-1 favorite and Alabama Stakes champ Royal Delta is 5-2 in the morning-line. It's Tricky, winner of the Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks, is the 5-1 third choice in the 10-horse field.

"She wins Friday and she'll earn an Eclipse Award. There's a lot on the line," It's Tricky's trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said Tuesday about the value of this year's $2 million race.

The three fillies can be regarded as fresh since they all will have five weeks since their last starts. On October 1 Plum Pretty easily won the Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing with It's Tricky a distant second and at Belmont Park runner-up Royal Delta was decisively beaten in the Beldame by Havre de Grace.

"She's an improving three-year-old. She's lightly raced, but she's coming into her own," trainer Bill Mott noted about Royal Delta. "She was a very easy winner in the Alabama. She finished second to Havre de Grace in her last race, and there's no Havre de Grace in the race on Friday. We feel good about her."

These fillies have faced off before. In the Alabama It's Tricky was second to Royal Delta with Plum Pretty finishing fourth after setting most of the pace. Four weeks earlier in the Coaching Club American Oaks, it was Plum Pretty second and Royal Delta third to It's Tricky.

The highest rated older female in the Ladies' Classic at 6-1 is Ask the Moon, trained by Marty Wolfson. The six-year-old won the Ruffian and Personal Ensign at Saratoga this summer. At Santa Anita she was sixth in the Lady's Secret behind Zazu who is now injured.

"She's full of energy. She couldn't be better or happier," noted Heather Irion, who is supervising Marty Wolfson's horses at Churchill Downs until he arrives on Friday.

Five-year-old Ultra Blend is 8-1 in the morning-line for trainer Art Sherman.

"She's tough as nails, and you don't have to worry about whether she'll try or not," Sherman said. "If she's in with good horses, she'll run with them at their level. She'll be tough in there."

Unlike Plum Pretty, Ask the Moon and It's Tricky, Ultra Blend is not a speed horse. She was second in the Lady's Secret, won the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar and was second in both the A Gleam and Milady Handicaps.

The advantage Royal Delta has over Ultra Blend and the speed horses is her tactical speed. The filly will leave from post six with Jose Lezcano riding.

"It's a good spot for her. No complaints," Mott said after the post position draw.

Mott has three wins in the Ladies' Classic having posted victories with Unrivaled Belle last year and in 1997 and 1998 with Ajina and Escena, respectively.

Sitting comfortably off the pace, Royal Delta is the pick for the final race Friday, giving her a coveted Breeders' Cup win and divisional bragging rights.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

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