Kentucky Passes Retail and Online Sports Betting

 Kentucky is the 37th state to pass sports betting in the US market. There are nine retail sportsbooks connected with horse tracks throughout the state. As part of legalizing online sports betting, those nine sportsbooks can partner with up to three mobile operators. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will serve as the state's sports betting regulator.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear recently commented:

Kentuckian will soon be able to place their bets right here in the Commonwealth, and for the first time, those dollars are going to help support rebuilding our bridges, repaving our roads, fund our education system and improving our communities. We are doing what is right - not just to keep dollars in our state, but to keep our red-hot economy on fire."

Doc's Sports Service has full details in the post, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Signs Legal Sportsbooks into Law.

The Three NBA Superstars' Odds for MVP

The three NBA players remaining on the current betting odds for the *Most Valuable Player are:

Joel Embiid at -110

Nikola Jokic at +120

Giannis Antetokounmpo at +650

*Posted by BetOnline.ag

Taking a look at the current situation for these three players ( and being a die-hard Philadelphia fan), Joel Embiid will win the MVP in the NBA according to my book. There are 100 voters that will make it official, but Embiid is the odds-on favorite of the three superstars.  

Saturday's Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park

 

Of the 12 entries in Saturday’s Florida Derby, there are five horses with morning line odds along with my percentage to win the race.

Forte (4-5 Odds)

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., this Kentucky-bred colt is starting at No. 11 for this race. He is also starting at the odd-on favorite after winning his last four races in his two-year-old and three-year-old career. Forte finished first as a three-year-old in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on March 4. He raced at Belmont Park, Saratoga and Keeneland as a juvenile.

Sired by Violence, Forte was bred to go more than a mile on dirt and win this race. He is the early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Winning Percentage: 70%

Fort Bragg (5-1 Odds)

As a son of Tapit, he finished a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park in his last race as a three-year-old. However, Fort Bragg finishing in the money as a juvenile in all four events at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos Race Course. He placed third in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 17 to end his two-year career.

Fort Bragg has raced 1 1/16 miles on dirt in last three events and he could step-up in distance and class this Saturday at Gulfstream if the breaks fall his way.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Dubyuhnell (6-1 Odds)

Trained by Danny Gargan, he is breaking outside from No. 12 gate with Jose Ortiz as his jockey. Dubyuhnell finished eight in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 11 in his debut as a three-year-old, so the path for success in the Grade 1 Florida Derby is unclear. He finished first in his last two races as a juvenile.

Dubyuhnell has raced competitively for West Paces Racing, LLC and Stonestreet Stables, LLC. Sired by Good Magic, he was bred to go more than a mile on dirt.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Cyclone Mischief (8-1 Odds)

As a son of Into Mischief, he placed third in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream after Forte and Rocket Can. Cyclone Mischief had his last three races at Gulfstream as a three-year-old colt. He completed his two-year career at Churchill Downs and Keenland while being bred in Kentucky.

Trained by Dale Romans, Cyclone Mischief has enough experience at Gulfstream to finish in the money in this race.

Winning Percentage: 15%

Mage (10-1 Odds)

As a live longshot on the morning line in this race, Mage finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes in early March. He is trained by Gustavo Delgado and ridden by jockey Luis Saez out of the No. 4 gate. Mage has races at Gulfstream in two races as a three-year-old colt in his only competitive events.

Also sired by Good Magic, he also has home-track advantage in the Florida Derby with his familiarity at Gulfstream.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Previously posted at Doc's Sports Service

 

NYRA has Belmont Park Renovation Plans Approved

Renovation plans for Belmont Park have been approved by the New York State Franchise Oversight Board. The new edition at Belmont is a one-mile synthetic horse track to join the main dirt course and two other turf tracks. The last time that Belmont Park was improved took place in 1968. 

NYRA also plans to build dorms at both Belmont Park and Saratoga as part of improvement project. Belmont Park is home to the Belmont Stakes in early June. The longer stakes race is the final event of the Triple Crown that includes the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

Doc's Sports Service has all the details in the post New York Racing Association has Plans to Renovate Belmont Parks. 

My Picks for the 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four

East Region

Tennessee +125

Michigan State +280

Kansas State +375

Florida Atlantic +450

South Region

Alabama -140

Creighton +180

San Diego State +650

Princeton +2800

Midwest Region

Houston -105

Texas +195

Xavier +600

Miami (FLA) +800\

West Region

Connecticut +190

UCLA +225

Gonzaga +225

Arkansas +575

Previously posted on BetOnline.ag

MLB Divisional Futures Odds

American League East

New York Yankees +115

Toronto Blue Jays +205

Tampa Bay Rays +375

Baltimore Orioles +1200

Boston Red Sox +1200

American League Central

Cleveland Guardians +140

Minnesota Twins +180

Chicago White Sox +240

Detroit Tigers +2000

Kansas City Royals +2500

American League West

Houston Astros -200

Seattle Mariners +300

Los Angeles  Angels +750

Texas Rangers +750

Oakland Athletics +8000

National League East

Atlanta Braves -110

New York Mets +150

Philadelphia Phillies +385

Miami Marlins +4000

Washington Nationals +20000

National League Central

St. Louis Cardinals -130

Milwaukee Brewers +175

Chicago Cubs +450

Cincinnati Reds +5000

Pittsburgh Pirates +5000

National League West

Los Angeles Dodgers +100

San Diego Padres +100

San Francisco Giants +800

Arizona Diambacks +3300

Colorado Rockies +6600

Previously posted on BetOnline.ag

Saturday's Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds

 

I came up with five horses to keep a close eye in the Louisiana Derby with morning line odds at Fair Grounds and my percentage to win.

Instant Coffee (2-1)

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Luis Saez, he is breaking out of the No. 2 gate for the Louisiana Derby. His three-year debut was a victory at Fair Grounds in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 21. As a son of Tapit, he covered 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 1:45.12 in front of Two Phils and Confidence Game.

Instant Coffee was bred in Kentucky and he has raced for Gold Square, LLC. He went 1 1/16 miles on dirt in his last three competitive events at Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds.

Winning Percentage: 55%

Sun Thunder (5-1)

Sired by Into Mischief, the Kentucky-bred colt placed second in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 18. He finished fourth in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes on Jan. 21 at Oaklawn Park prior to that. Sun Thunder is trained by Kenneth McPeek and he is starting in this race at No. 4 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.

He covered at least one mile on dirt in this previous three races at Oaklawn Park and Fair Grounds. However, Sun Thunder is overpriced in his 5-1 odds on the morning line at the Louisiana Derby.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Kingsbarns (6-1)

After not competing as a two-year old, Kingsbarns went two-to-two with pair of first place finishes in a one-mile Allowance race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 14 and 1 miles and 40 yards in a Maiden Special Weight race at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 12. He is trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by jockey Flavien Prat at the No. 6 gate in the Louisiana Derby.

Kingsbarns is upgrading the distance and grade for this race. However, his pedigree of Uncle Mo going back to Indian Charlie sets up well in the backstretch.

Winning Percentage: 20%

Tapit’s Conquest (10-1)

This Kentucky-bred colt is also trained by Brad Cox and he raced at Saratoga, Churchill Downs and Fair Grounds. He finished second at Fairs Grounds in a 1 1/16 miles Allowance race on Jan. 21 before placing fourth in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18 at this same horse track. At least I could say that Tapit’s Conquest has home track advantage at Fair Grounds.

He is starting the Louisiana Derby at No. 9 with jockey Manuel Franco getting the ride. As the son of Tapit, he has the potential to finish in the money in this race.

Winning Percentage: 15%

Shopper’s Revenge (12-1)

Starting at No. 1 gate with Ricardo Santana as his jockey, Shopper’s Revenge is long odds on the morning line for the Louisiana Derby. He is trained by Steve Asmussen and he has a rating of 5.89 for Horse Racing Nation. As a three-year old colt, Shopper’s Revenge finished second in a 1 1/16-mile Allowance race at Oaklawn on Feb. 18 after the winner Airtime. He won a 1 1//16 Maiden Special Weight at this track on Jan. 14 of this year.

Sired by Tapit, he is a live longshot to make some noise in the backstretch of this race, but he will probably finish second or third if breaks fall his way.

Winning Percentage: 5%

Previously posted at Doc' Sports Service