Gio Ponti out to defend Arlington Million crown

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/17/2010 - Arlington Heights, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending winner Gio Ponti will take on nine challengers to his title in Saturday's 28th running of the Arlington Million at Arlington Park. The 1 1/4-mile grass race gives the winner automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Turf in November.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Gio Ponti won the 2009 Million by 1 1/4-lengths over Just as Well who is also back for this year's race. Gio Ponti would go on be win Eclipse Awards as 2009 champion turf and older male thoroughbred.

The champion turf runner has been made the 7-5 morning-line favorite and will again be ridden by Ramon Dominguez. The pair will start from post six.

In three races this year the five-year-old has one win, the Man o'War at Belmont Park in his last start. He was fourth in the Dubai World Cup in March and second in the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park.

"I'm delighted with Gio Ponti," Clement said after the Man o'War victory. "Everyone made a big deal of him getting beaten (by stablemate Winchester in the Manhattan on June 5), but I never had a doubt that the horse was the leader of his division."

Owned by Castleton Lyons, Gio Ponti has won half of his 20 career starts for better than $4.1 million. Following last year's Million he was second in both the Belmont Turf Classic Invitational and Breeders' Cup Classic.

Hall of Fame member John Henry is the only horse to have won the Arlington Million twice, in 1981 and 1984.

Just as Well, trained and owned by Jonathan Sheppard, will be going for his first win of 2010. He is coming off a second-place finish in last month's Arlington Handicap, a race he won last year prior to the Million.

Julien Leparoux has the mount on Just as Well who is the 5-1 second choice in the program. The son of A.P. Indy will break from the four post.

His first start in 2010 was in the Ben Ali at Keeneland where he was fourth. Just as Well was second in the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico and fifth in the Manhattan Handicap.

After the 2009 Million, Just as Well was sent up to Woodbine for a pair of starts. He was second to Marsh Side in the Northern Dancer, but was a disappointing fifth in the Canadian International to Champs Elysees. He concluded the year in the Japan Cup in Tokyo, finishing seventh.

The seven-year-old has won four of 25 career starts with eight second-place finishes for $842,082.

Here is the complete field for the Million in post position order: Marsh Side, Corey Nakatani, 12-1; Debussy, William Buick, 12-1; General Quarters, James Graham, 8-1; Just as Well, Julien Leparoux, 5-1; Quite a Handful, Tanner Riggs, 30-1; Gio Ponti, Ramon Dominguez, 7-5; Rahystrada, Inez Karlsson, 10-1; Tajaaweed, Michael Baze, 15-1; Tazeez, Richard Hills, 6-1 and Summit Surge, Kieren Fallon, 10-1.

Post-time for Arlington Million XXVIII is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. (et).

Mrgambling Horseracing Betting News

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MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds

With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.

Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season.  Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money. 

This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy.  A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.

Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:

Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame)
Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma)
Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State)
Michael Bush (RB, Louisville)
Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia)
Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville)
Chris Leak (QB, Florida)
Mike Hart (RB, Michigan)
Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State)
Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame)
Drew Tate (QB, Iowa)
Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal)
Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn)
Chad Henne (QB, Michigan)
Kyle Wright (QB, Miami)
Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State)
Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama)
JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU)
Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State)
Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina)
Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech)		 5-2
7-2
7-1
10-1
10-1
12-1
12-1
18-1
18-1
20-1
30-1
35-1
35-1
40-1
50-1
50-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1
60-1

For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.

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) 

And the others:

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

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.