Thursday 6/9/16 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

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[superbeets]

Copa America TODAY 03:00

Ecuador

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Peru

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
PMSK		4/5	5/2	4	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
HWAWHDALALND​ Most recent​	0 - 1 2 - 0 0 - 0 2 - 1	ALHDALHWNWAW​ Most recent​

EXPERT VERDICT: Ecuador will be buoyed by their 0-0 draw with Brazil, but they remain without a win in four outings. Peru have won three games in a row but all of those victories have been against weaker opponents than Ecuador and this could be a tight clash.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
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[superbeets]

Copa America Fr 10Jun 00:30

Uruguay

v

Venezuela

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		8/13	14/5	5	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
ALHWADHWHWAL​ Most recent​	1 - 0 1 - 1 2 - 2 1 - 1	HLADADALNDAW​ Most recent​

EXPERT VERDICT: Uruguay allowed their opening game to slip away against Mexico but they should be able to get back to winning ways when they face Venezuela. Their opponents’ win over Jamaica was only their second win in their last 15 matches and this is much more difficult.

RECOMMENDATION: Uruguay
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[superbeets]

Copa America Fr 10Jun 03:00

Mexico

v

Jamaica

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
		3/10	4	12	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
NWAWHWNWNWHW​ Most recent​	3 - 1 1 - 0 0 - 0 0 - 1	HLAWHDALAWHL​ Most recent​

EXPERT VERDICT: Two late goals against Uruguay ensured Mexico got their Copa America campaign off to a perfect start and they can see off Jamaica. The Reggae Boyz struggled in their opener against Venezuela, although they were reduced to ten men, and this looks tougher.

RECOMMENDATION: Mexico
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[superbeets]

European Championships Fr 10Jun 20:00

France

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Romania

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
ITV		3/10	9/2	12	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSIN FRANCE	RECENT FORM
HWALAWHWNWNW​ Most recent​	2 - 0 1 - 1 2 - 1 0 - 0	ADHWHDHDNLNW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Romania were unbeaten in ten qualifying fixtures in Group F

EXPERT VERDICT: It might be wise to tread carefully in France’s Euro 2016 curtain-raiser against Romania. The tournament hosts haven’t been subjected to the rigours of a qualifying campaign and may feel the pressure slightly in the opener against defensively sound opponents who can hold out until at least half time.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw-France double result
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REFEREE: Viktor Kassai STADIUM:

 

[superbeets]

European Championships Sa 11Jun 14:00

Albania

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Switzerland

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BBC1		9/2	5/2	4/6	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
AWHDALAWNWNL​ Most recent​	1 - 2 0 - 2 2 - 3 1 - 1	ALAWALHLNLHW​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Switzerland kept clean sheets in five of their seven qualifying wins

EXPERT VERDICT: Tournament debutants Albania have failed to win in six clashes with Switzerland and only so much can be read into wins over Qatar and Luxembourg. The Swiss have qualified for three of the last four Euros and should make a winning start against opponents powder-puff in the final third.

RECOMMENDATION: Switzerland to win 1-0
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[superbeets]

European Championships Sa 11Jun 17:00

Wales

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Slovakia

	HOME	DRAW	AWAY
BBC1		15/8	2	15/8	More markets

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RECENT FORM	LAST HEAD-TO-HEADSAT ALL VENUES	RECENT FORM
ALHWHLHDALAL​ Most recent​	5 - 2 1 - 5	HWHDADNWAWHD​ Most recent​

KEY STAT: Wales have beaten only Andorra in seven outings

EXPERT VERDICT: Avoiding defeat looks crucial if Wales are to progress from Group B and they face a tricky test against a Slovakia side buoyed by their recent 3-1 friendly victory away to Germany. The Slovaks were 2-0 winners at home to Spain early on in qualifying and finished three points ahead of Ukraine so they could contain Gareth Bale and co.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw
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[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Golfers to Bet - FedEx St. Jude

Tournament: FedEx St. Jude Classic
Date: Thursday, June 9th
Venue: TPC Southwind
Location: Memphis, TN

The TOUR golfers head to Memphis on Thursday, as they’ll be playing in the St. Jude Classic to prepare for next week’s U.S. Open.

With the major coming up in a week, this field isn’t as talented as others. It will, however, feature guys like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Gary Woodland. Johnson won this event back in 2012, shooting a nine-under to defeat John Merrick by one stroke.

Fabian Gomez will also be playing this weekend and he won this event a year ago. Gomez shot a 13-under to defeat Greg Owen by four strokes and that score was the best since Harrison Frazar won in 2011.

Another person that is worth mentioning coming into this tournament is Justin Leonard. Leonard won this event in both 2005 and 2008 and will be hoping to make it three victories on Sunday.

With that being said, let’s now take a look at some of the best plays you can make for this tournament:

Golfers to Bet

Dustin Johnson (6/1) - Johnson is not getting very favorable odds this weekend, but he would still be a guy to put a few units on for this tournament. As previously mentioned, Johnson won this event back in 2012 and has familiarity when playing on this course. He also happens to be playing some impressive golf recently. Johnson shot a 14-under to finish in third place at the Memorial Tournament last week and has now come in the top-five at three of the past five tournaments. One of those events was The Masters, so it doesn’t really matter what stage Johnson is playing on. He is one of the best drivers in the world and is talented with his irons as well. It’s just a matter of whether or not Johnson is putting well, but he has done so on these greens before and it’s likely he’ll do it again on Sunday.

Brooks Koepka (14/1) - Koepka has had a bit of a disappointing season, but he is coming off of his best outing of the year. Koepka shot a 15-under and finished in second place at the AT&T Byron Nelson in the middle of May. He is one of the most talented golfers on the TOUR and will be hoping to earn his first victory of the year this weekend. This just might be Koepka’s best chance to do it, as this field is a bit watered down compared to most of the other tournaments that he has played in. It’d be nice for him to get a victory heading into the U.S. Open and he has all the strokes to get it done. If his momentum can carry over from his last tournament then it’s hard to imagine him not being near the top of the leaderboard in this one.

Graeme McDowell (60/1) - McDowell has not played in many tournaments this season and he most recently appeared at THE PLAYERS, but he is a very talented player and is capable of winning any time he is out there. McDowell was very good at THE PLAYERS, shooting an eight-under and tying for ninth place. He also happens to have one victory on the year, as he won the OHL Classic in November. McDowell also has two other top-five finishes this year, but the reason his odds are favorable is because he has already missed five cuts. That is not very characteristic of him and it should be expected that McDowell gets on track with a good finish at this tournament.

Francesco Molinari (60/1) - Molinari is a good guy to take this weekend, as he is a very skilled player and will be receiving great odds in this one. Molinari has done most of his damage in his career on the European Tour, winning three of those tournaments. He has, however, showed that he can perform at a high level in America as well. Molinari was a force at THE PLAYERS in May, shooting a nine-under and tying for seventh. He really has all the strokes and his smooth game should have him in contention in this one. While Molinari hasn’t any PGA tournaments in America, he could change that on Sunday. This field is certainly going to make for a wide-open tournament and he’s worth a unit or half-unit.

Odds to win FedEx St. Jude Classic -

Dustin Johnson 6/1
Phil Mickelson 13/1
Brooks Koepka 14/1
Gary Woodland 18/1
Ryan Palmer 20/1
Harris English 25/1
Daniel Berger 28/1
Colt Knost 30/1
Charles Howell III 40/1
Luke Donald 40/1
Kyle Reifers 45/1
Boo Weekley 50/1
Brendan Steele 50/1
Jon Curran 50/1
Francesco Molinari 60/1
Graeme McDowell 60/1
Chad Campbell 65/1
David Hearn 65/1
Russell Henley 65/1
Matt Jones 70/1
Retief Goosen 70/1
Seung-Yul Noh 70/1
Jamie Donaldson 75/1
Ben Martin 80/1
Steve Stricker 80/1
Tom Hoge 80/1
Wesley Bryan 80/1
Will Wilcox 80/1
Bud Cauley 85/1
Cameron Tringale 90/1
Fabian Gomez 90/1
Martin Piller 90/1
Spencer Levin 90/1
Camilo Villegas 100/1
Harold Varner III 100/1
Hudson Swafford 100/1
Patrick Rodgers 100/1
Robert Garrigus 100/1
Scott Brown 100/1
Thomas Aiken 100/1
Darron Stiles 110/1
Michael Bradley 110/1
Troy Merritt 110/1
Wes Roach 110/1
Ben Crane 120/1
David Toms 120/1
Freddie Jacobson 120/1
Tim Wilkinson 120/1
Alex Cejka 125/1
Jason Bohn 125/1
Si Woo Kim 125/1
Zac Blair 125/1
Bobby Wyatt 130/1
Lee Mccoy 130/1
Scott Stallings 130/1
Cameron Percy 140/1
Aaron Baddeley 150/1
Chad Collins 150/1
Ernie Els 150/1
George McNeill 150/1
Jerry Kelly 150/1
Justin Hicks 150/1
Michael Thompson 150/1
Padraig Harrington 150/1
Shawn Stefani 150/1
Will MacKenzie 150/1
Andrew Loupe 170/1
Sung Kang 170/1
Greg Owen 175/1
Ken Duke 175/1
Kyle Stanley 175/1
Steve Marino 175/1
Vaughn Taylor 175/1
Morgan Hoffmann 180/1
Richard Sterne 180/1
Brian Stuard 190/1
Cameron Smith 190/1
Jason Gore 190/1
Justin Leonard 190/1
Martin Laird 190/1
Whee Kim 190/1
Blayne Barber 200/1
Brendon de Jonge 200/1
Bronson Burgoon 200/1
John Merrick 200/1
Johnson Wagner 200/1
Luke List 200/1
Mark Wilson 200/1
Scott Langley 200/1
Scott Pinckney 200/1
Stewart Cink 200/1
Chesson Hadley 210/1
Billy Hurley III 230/1
Robby Shelton 230/1
Rod Pampling 230/1
Hiroshi Iwata 240/1
Brett Stegmaier 250/1
Dawie Van Der Walt 250/1
Derek Ernst 250/1
Erik Compton 250/1
Henrik Norlander 250/1
Jeff Overton 250/1
Luke Guthrie 250/1
Mark Hubbard 250/1
Matthew NeSmith 250/1
Michael Kim 250/1
Peter Malnati 250/1
Sam Saunders 250/1
Steve Wheatcroft 250/1
Stuart Appleby 250/1
Tyler Aldridge 250/1
Tyrone Van Aswegen 250/1
Andres Gonzales 300/1
Andres Romero 300/1
Arjun Atwal 300/1
Brice Garnett 300/1
Carl Pettersson 300/1
Carlos Ortiz 300/1
D.A. Points 300/1
Derek Fathauer 300/1
J.J. Henry 300/1
Kelly Kraft 300/1
Rhein Gibson 300/1
Steve Flesch 300/1
Tom Gillis 300/1
Alex Prugh 350/1
Andrew Landry 350/1
Brian Davis 350/1
Brian Gay 350/1
Miguel Angel Carballo 350/1
Rob Oppenheim 350/1
Steven Bowditch 350/1
Tim Herron 350/1
Abraham Ancer 400/1
Brendon Todd 400/1
D.J. Trahan 400/1
Dicky Pride 400/1
Joe Affrunti 400/1
John Rollins 400/1
Marc Turnesa 400/1
Ted Purdy 400/1
Wes Homan 400/1
D.H. Lee 450/1
Trevor Immelman 450/1
Billy Mayfair 500/1
Frederick Janneck 500/1
Hayden Springer 500/1
Richard H. Lee 550/1
Cameron Beckman 750/1
Frank Lickliter II 750/1
Loren Personett 750/1
Lucas Lee 750/1
Philip Barbaree 750/1
Robert Allenby 750/1
Shaun Micheel 750/1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

10 Players to Watch: FedEx St. Jude Classic
By Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange

1. Dustin Johnson, United States -- DJ has done just about everything but win for the ninth consecutive season on the PGA Tour and came close again last week when he finished third in the Memorial Tournament, one stroke out of the playoff in which William McGirt defeated Jon Curran. It was Johnson's seventh top-10 result of the season, including a tie for fourth in the Masters. He will tee it up in the St. Jude Classic for the fourth time and he claimed one of his nine PGA Tour victories in 2012 at TPC Southwind. Johnson, in his second tournament after missing six weeks because of a back injury, finished with 68-67-66 to hold off John Merrick by one stroke. The following year, he tied for 10th in his title defense.

2. Brooks Koepka, United States -- The 26-year-old Koepka came close to his second PGA Tour victory last month when he lost to Sergio Garcia of Spain on the first hole of a playoff in the AT&T Byron Nelson. That was his fifth top-10 finish of the season, including a tie for fifth in the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship, where he lost to eventual winner Jason Day 3 and 2 in the quarterfinals. Koepka, who won the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open, has played well in his two appearances at TPC Southwind. He posted bookend 3-under-par 67s in 2014 and wound up in a tie for 19th, and last year he led after 36 holes at 64-67 before playing the weekend in 71-70 to tie for third, five shots behind champion Fabian Gomez of Argentina.

3. Phil Mickelson, United States -- Lefty plays the week before major championships almost without fail and he is in the field this week at the FedEx St. Jude Classic for the sixth time. Although he does not count the tournament among his 42 PGA Tour victories, he has had success at TPC Southwind, posting a tie for second in 2013 at two strokes behind Harris English, and a tie for third last year, when a closing 65 left him four shots behind champion Fabian Gomez. He also tied for 11th in 2014. Mickelson has been a U.S. Open title shy of the career Grand Slam since he won the 2013 Open Championship at Muirfield, and this week will be all about getting his game sharp for the national championship next week at Oakmont.

4. Harris English, United States -- Winless since he captured the FedEx St. Jude Classic and the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in 2013 for his only PGA Tour victories, English has been close to breaking through again. Last year, he lost to Jason Day of Australia on the second hole of a playoff in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, and two weeks ago he was in the chase most of the way before finishing second, three shots behind Jordan Spieth in the Dean & DeLuca Invitational. He also finished third in the Waste Management Phoenix Open earlier this season. English won at TPC Southwind three years ago when he started fast with 64-66 and held on with 69-69 to beat Phil Mickelson and Scott Stallings by two strokes.

5. Ryan Palmer, United States -- Enjoying his best golf this season in recent weeks, Palmer is coming off a tie for third in the Dean & DeLuca Invitational, in which he posted four scores in the 60s and chased winner Jordan Spieth all the way to the finish before losing by three strokes. That came a few weeks after he tied for fourth in the Valero Texas Open. Palmer has won three times on the PGA Tour, but not since the 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii, although his game seems to be coming around with seven results in the top 25 this season. This will be his ninth appearance in the FedEx St. Jude Classic and he tied for third in 2012, finished solo fourth the following year and tied for 10th in 2006.

6. Colt Knost, United State -- Knost is playing perhaps the best golf of his PGA Tour career, having tied for third in the Players Championship (his best-ever finish on the circuit) and tied for fourth the following week in the AT&T Byron Nelson last month. Those are two of his six results in the top 25 this season and he will try to keep it going this week when he plays in the FedEx St. Jude Classic for the fifth time. The 2007 U.S. Amateur champion has missed the cut twice at TPC Southwind, but he tied for 15th in 2011 after opening 66-68, and tied for 13th last year, when he shot 64 in the second round and 66 in the last. Knost won twice on what is now the Web.com Tour in 2008 to earn his PGA Tour card for the first time.

7. Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland -- After a two-year skid, G-Mac found his way back to the winner's circle early this season when he beat Jason Bohn and Russell Knox of Scotland to win a playoff in the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. That was the start of a run in which he finished in the top five three times in five outings, and he also tied for ninth in the Players Championship. McDowell tied for 29th in the BMW PGA Championship, flagship event of the European Tour, two weeks ago and will be making his fifth start in the FedEx St. Jude Classic. He tied for seventh in his first trip to TPC Southwind in 2009, shooting 63 in the final round, but has missed the cut twice in his last three starts.

8. Daniel Berger, United States -- Even though he has not yet played as well as he did when he was Rookie of the Year last season on the PGA Tour, Berger has had his moments -- including a tie for ninth in the Players Championship and a tie for 10th in his first Masters. He remains winless on the PGA Tour, although he nearly won as a rookie before losing to Padraig Harrington of Ireland on the second hole of a playoff in the Honda Classic. Berger's six top-10 finishes last year made him the only rookie to reach the Tour Championship and he needs a second-half run to climb the FedEx Cup standings for a return trip. He is 50th in the standings and could start that surge when he plays at TPC Southwind for the first time this week.

9. Gary Woodland, United States -- A two-time winner on the PGA Tour, Woodland might finally have his game back on track, as his tie for fourth in the Memorial Tournament was his first top-10 finish in more than a year. That was his fourth result in the top 25 in five outings, with his only miss a tie for 28th in the Players Championship. Woodland will be playing in the FedEx St. Jude Classic for the third time and might have finally figured out TPC Southwind the last time he was there, when he shot 6-under-par 64 in the final round to wind up in a tie for 18th in 2013. He averages 307.7 yards off the tee, so if he can hit it straight he will be coming into most of the greens this week with wedge.

10. Fabian Gomez, Argentina -- Proving that his first PGA Tour victory in the FedEx St. Jude Classic last year was no fluke, Gomez backed it up in February when he won the Sony Open in Hawaii. After closing with an 8-under-par 62 that included seven consecutive birdies at one point, he beat Brandt Snedeker with a long two-putt birdie on the second playoff hole. It wasn't close last year at TPC Southwind, where Gomez finished with a 4-under-par 66 to beat Greg Owen of England by four strokes, closing out the victory with a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Those two victories have made him a lock to qualify for Argentina's Olympic team along with Emiliano Grillo for the Games later this summer in Rio de Janeiro.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

PGA Tour Picks: St. Jude Classic Odds and Expert Betting Predictions
by Alan Matthews

Bird vs. Magic. Ali vs. Frazier. McGirt vs. Curran. Some of the great sporting rivalries in American history.

OK, I'm kidding about that last one, but little-known golfers William McGirt and Jon Curran topped a very strong field at the Memorial Tournament last week. The duo finished at 15 under, and McGirt beat Curran on the second playoff hole to win his first PGA Tour event in his 165th career start. McGirt had to two-putt from 65 feet on the 72nd hole to force the playoff. His 6-foot par putt on the second playoff hole was good enough for the win. Curran missed a 25-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole for victory.

McGirt got a three-year exemption for the victory. He only has one other career win in his pro life, that coming on the former Tar Heel Tour in 2007. He has played in one major championship in his 12 years as a pro, the 2012 PGA Championship. He originally was going to play in a Monday qualifier this week for the U.S. Open but now doesn't have to worry about that. Curran has yet to win on the PGA Tour. Last season, Curran fell to Alex Cejka in a five-man playoff at the Puerto Rico Open.

My choice to win last week was 2014 champion Hideki Matsuyama. Alas, he missed the cut after rounds of 74-73. I wasn't a big fan of either world No. 1 Jason Day or No. 2 Jordan Spieth at the Memorial. And I was right as Day was T27 and Spieth T57. I also mentioned to steer clear or Rickie Fowler as he had missed two cuts in a row at the Memorial. He did again. For a Top-10 finish, I obviously missed on Matsuyama but hit on Rory McIlroy (-150) and Matt Kuchar (+160), who led for a while on Sunday. Those two both finished T4, two shots out of the playoff. Head-to-head, I hit on McIlroy (-105) over Day (-125), Dustin Johnson (-110) over Fowler (-120), Kuchar (-120) over Bubba Watson (-110), and Patrick Reed (-130) over Phil Mickelson (even). Ditto on McIlroy at -110 as the top European. It was McIlroy's eighth Top 10 in 12 starts this year.

Definitely not as strong of a field this week for the St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis. Of course the U.S. Open is next week and many golfers don't like to play a tournament the week before a major. No winner of the PGA Tour event preceding the U.S. Open has gone on to win the Open. Only 11 times overall has someone won the week before a major in a PGA Tour event and then taken that major.

I'm sure some players already are practicing at Oakmont. Johnson and Mickelson are the two biggest names set to tee it up in Memphis. Al Geiberger became Mr. 59 in Memphis, shooting the PGA Tour's first 59 at this tournament on June 10, 1977. But that was at a different course. The TPC Southwind record is 61.

The defending champion is Argentina's Fabian Gomez. That was his first Tour win and he was the fifth man from his country to win on Tour all-time, joining Jose Coceres, Angel Cabrera, Andres Romero and Roberto De Vicenzo. Gomez and Greg Owen were tied for the lead after 54 holes, but Gomez shot 66 and Owen 70 on Sunday to finish second. Mickelson had a final-round 65 to finish in a tied for third, five shots back. Three of the past five winners here have been first-timers. Gomez is a +10000 long shot this week. He has won since, taking the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. Gomez also has missed six cuts this season. Spots in the U.S. Open are up for grabs for anyone who moves into the Top 60 of the world rankings after this event if not already qualified.

Golf Odds: St. Jude Classic Favorites

Johnson is the +650 heavy favorite. He was T3 last week. Johnson won this tournament in 2009 by a stroke at 9 under. He missed the cut last year.

Brooks Koepka and Mickelson are +1400. Lefty closed strong Sunday as noted in Ohio and has come close here a few times, finishing that third last year and a runner-up in 2013. Koepka didn't play last week after a second at the Byron Nelson a couple of weeks ago. He was third here a year ago.

Ryan Palmer (+1800), Daniel Berger, Gary Woodland and Harris English (all +2500) round out the favorites. Palmer also took last week off and was most recently third at Colonial. He was third here in 2012 and fourth a year later. Palmer was 22nd a year ago. English won here in 2013.

PGA Tour Picks: St. Jude Classic Expert Betting Predictions

I am torn on Mickelson this week. Obviously he has a strong history here and is playing well, but I tend to think his mind has to be on the U.S. Open, the only major he hasn't won. I'd probably stay away. Bovada actually offers an interesting Johnson/Mickelson/Koepka vs. the field bet, with the trio at +275 and the field at -400. You can get just DJ and Lefty (+400) vs. the field (-650) as well. I don't think I like those. I will take Johnson at -150 for a Top 10 along with Palmer (+185) and a longer shot in Chad Campbell (+550), who usually plays well in this tournament.

Head-to-head, go with Johnson (-150) over Mickelson (+115), Palmer (even) over Koepka (-130), Woodland (-120) over English (-110), Colt Knost (+115) over Berger (-150), Charles Howell III (-120) over Brendan Steele (-110), and Luke Donald (-115) over Kyle Reifers (-115).

My pick to win his fourth career PGA Tour event and first since the 2010 Sony Open is Palmer.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Stanley Cup Final
By Alex Smith

Pittsburgh Penguins vs San Jose Sharks

2015-16 Regular Season Head-to-Head Meetings
December 1st, 2015: Penguins 5 at Sharks 1 (-125) (Over 5)
November 21st, 2015: Sharks 3 at Penguins 1 (-120) (Under 5)

Pittsburgh Penguins
-- First SCF since 2009 (Beat Detroit in 7)
-- 12-6 SU, 9-5-4 O/U, 9-9 ATS
-- Home Record: 7-3
-- Road Record: 5-3

Power Play: 23.4% (15 for 64)
Penalty Kill: 83.6% (46 for 55)

Starting Goalie:

Matt Murray: 11-4, 2.21 G.A.A; .924 Sv% with 1 Shutout
19-8 SU in 27 GS (Season & Playoffs combined)
Lifetime Record vs SJ: First-Ever Meeting

Pittsburgh Recent Trends
-- 18-7 SU Last 25 Games Overall
-- 10-3 SU Last 13 Home Games
-- 10-4 SU Last 14 Games as a Favorite
-- 9-5-4 O/U Last 18 Games Overall

San Jose Sharks
-- First Ever SCF Appearance
-- 12-6 SU, 9-5-4 O/U, 11-7 ATS
-- Home Record: 7-2
-- Road Record: 5-4

Power Play: 27% (17 for 63)
Penalty Kill: 80.4% (41 for 51)

Starting Goalie:

Martin Jones: 12-6, 2.12 G.A.A; .919 Sv% with 3 Shutouts
Lifetime Record vs PIT: 2-2, 2.37 G.A.A; .923 Sv% in 5 GP

San Jose Recent Trends
-- On a 12-6 SU Run Last 18 Games Overall
-- Over is 7-3-3 Last 13 Games Overall
-- 6-1 ATS Last 7 Games on the Puck-Line
-- 8-2 SU Last 10 Home Games
-- 12-5 SU Last 17 Road Games

STANLEY CUP FINALS BETTING TRENDS

-- Home Favorites in Game 1 are 6-1 SU, 1-6 PL, 2-4-1 O/U
-- 5 of the Last 7 Stanley Cup Winners clinched on Road
-- Home Teams are 31-11 SU Last 6 SCF's -- Puck-Line Underdogs are 17-6 PL
-- Game 1 Winners have won the Stanley Cup in 4 of the last 7 SCF
-- Favorites are 8-3 SU Last 11 OT Games

STANLEY CUP FINALS NOTES (2009-2015)

2015 - Chicago vs Tampa Bay (Blackhawks win in 6)
2-4 Favorites, 4-2 Home, 1-5 PL Favorites, 1-5 O/U
No OT Games (First Series since 2009)
Series ends with Home Favorite win
1st Game: Road Underdog wins, Total UNDER 5

2014 - LA Kings vs NY Rangers (Kings win in 5)
4-1 Favorites, 4-1 Home, 1-4 PL Favorites, 1-2-2 O/U
3 Games in OT. Series ends in OT with Home Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total Pushes 5

2013 - Chicago vs Boston (Blackhawks win in 6)
3-3 Favorites, 3-3 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 3-3 O/U
3 Games in OT, Series ends with Road Dog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total OVER 5

2012 - LA Kings vs NJ Devils (Kings win in 6)
4-2 Favorites, 3-3 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 1-5 O/U
2 Games in OT, Series ends with Road Favorite Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 5

2011 - Vancouver vs Boston (Bruins win in 7)
6-1 Favorites, 6-1 Home, 3-4 PL Favorites, 2-4-1 O/U
One OT Game, Series ends with Road Underdog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 5.5

NOTE: 2011 Game 1 is the Last SCF game to have a 5.5 total
(23 game streak with 5 - Record: 7-13-3 O/U)

2010 - Chicago vs Philadelphia (Blackhawks win in 6)
6-0 Favorites, 5-1 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 5-1 O/U
2 OT Games, Series ends with Road Favorite Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total OVER 5.5

2009 - Detroit vs Pittsburgh (Penguins win in 7)
6-1 Favorites, 6-1 Home, 5-2 PL Favorites, 2-5 O/U
No OT Games*, Series ends with Road Underdog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 6

Series Price
Sharks +105
Penguins -125

Exact Games - Series winner
4 Games Penguins Win 17/2
4 Games Sharks Win 14/1
5 Games Penguins Win 7/2
5 Games Sharks Win 15/2
6 Games Penguins Win 4/1
6 Games Sharks Win 4/1
7 Games Penguins Win 7/2
7 Games Sharks Win 5/1

Exact Games
4 Games 5/1
5 Games 9/4
6 Games 7/4
7 Games 9/5

Odds Subject to Change

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Quick start moves Penguins within one win of Cup
By Ross McKeon, The Sports Xchange

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are speeding closer to their fourth Stanley Cup.
Pittsburgh's suffocating pace stifled the San Jose Sharks again Monday in a 3-1 win in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals at SAP Center. The Penguins pushed their advantage to 3-1 in the best-of-seven series.
"This is the hardest hockey I've witnessed in all the years I've been in this league," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "You've got to work for every inch of ice."
Game 5 will be Thursday in Pittsburgh, where the Sharks have to win to force another game at home.
"This group doesn't get too frustrated. We just have to keep going," Sharks forward Chris Tierney said.
San Jose coach Peter DeBoer continued to shuffle personnel on his forward lines in hopes of finding combinations to solve the Penguins' defense. The fact the Sharks went 0-for-2 on the power play hurt, and Pittsburgh scored the first goal for a fourth consecutive game.
"When you have the lead, you can play differently and feel more comfortable getting into a four-line rhythm," DeBoer said. "You can put your guys out there, trust them, because there's not that pressure we have to create a chance and score a goal."
"I don't know what it is. It hasn't been an issue until this series, but it's been a big issue through four games," he added.
Melker Karlsson snapped Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray's shutout bid with his fourth goal of the playoffs at 8:07 of the third period. He picked up a rebound of Brenden Dillon's blocked shot and beat Murray over his left glove to slice the Penguins' advantage to 2-1.
However, Pittsburgh's fourth-line right winger, Eric Fehr, scored his third goal of the playoffs at 17:58 for the insurance the Penguins needed to kill the hosts' comeback hopes.
"We've earned an opportunity, and that's it," Pittsburgh forward Matt Cullen said. "We haven't done anything yet, and it's easy to get far ahead of yourself."
Murray finished with 23 saves, while San Jose goalie Martin Jones made 17 stops.
Pittsburgh scored the only goal of the middle period to take a 2-0 lead into the third period.
Evgeni Malkin recorded his first goal of the series and fifth of the playoffs at 2:37, just nine seconds into Karlsson's interference penalty.
Malkin had an easy tap-in as he got slipped behind the Sharks defense on the far post, where teammate Phil Kessel hit him with a perfect cross-ice feed from above the left circle.
"Malkin's overall game was really good, at both ends of rink," Sullivan said. "(He's) so hard to defend. The puck follows him. It's one of his strongest games."
As has been the case throughout the series, Pittsburgh jumped out first and led 1-0 at the first intermission. The Sharks produced the final six shots to end a period with more shots than the Penguins for the first time (8-6).
"We've got to get the first goal. It's huge," Tierney said. "We're good when we have the lead, and they're good when they have the lead."
Sharks defenseman Paul Martin added, "That's been tough for us to claw and produce when we don't get that first one."
The Penguins took advantage of a bad San Jose line change to score 7:36 after the opening faceoff.
A quick turnaround shot by Kessel from the right circle bounded off Jones' pad right to an unmarked Ian Cole, and the Penguins defenseman one-timed his first goal of the playoffs past the San Jose netminder.
Jones made a number of key saves to keep it only a one-goal lead. Defenseman Brian Dumoulin was stoned on his second grade-A chance of the period at 11:30. And Jones denied both Penguins power-play shots after defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic interfered with Sidney Crosby at 11:37.
DeBoer started to shuffle his lines and shorten his bench at midgame.
Couture joined Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski as he did late in Game 3. Centers Tierney and Nick Spaling were promoted one line each as forwards Karlsson, Dainius Zubrus and Tommy Wingels saw their ice time reduced in the second period.
In the third, Joonas Donskoi moved alongside Thornton and Pavelski while Couture centered Patrick Marleau and Joel Ward, while a quick third line of Karlsson, Tierney and Spaling displayed its offensive prowess. It just wasn't enough to get the job done.
"We've got to find a way to get the second one to tie the game up," Couture said. "We had chances, we had opportunities. We just didn't score. We had some nice looks we didn't capitalize on."
Martin said, "It's tight on both sides. We had some opportunities we didn't capitalize on. It's disappointing and a tough one for us."
Couture fired a shot off the shoulder of Murray with 5:01 left following a turnover by Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang. Marleau drew iron, and the San Jose power play failed for a second time late when it managed one shot by defenseman Brent Burns.
NOTES: Sharks LW Tomas Hertl (lower-body injury) missed his second straight contest in Game 4 on Monday. "Day-to-day. He's out tonight," San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. Hertl sustained a lower-body injury believed to be to his left ankle in overtime of Game 2. A Czech report suggested Hertl is out for the series with a knee injury. ... Penguins rookie G Matt Murray bounced back from a playoff loss on May 20 to go 4-0 in Pittsburgh's next four games before losing Game 3 against the Sharks. ... San Jose's captain C Joe Pavelski has no goals and no points with four shots in the series. He produced a series-high five shots on goal Monday.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL notebook: Stevens named Wild assistant coach
By The Sports Xchange

Scott Stevens will be headed back behind the bench as the rugged Hall of Famer was named as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
Stevens, 52, served as a co-coach for the New Jersey Devils during the 2014 season before spending time as an analyst for the NHL Network. The three-time Stanley Cup champion spent 13 of his 22 NHL seasons with the Devils and will head to Minnesota to join Bruce Boudreau, who was named the Wild's coach in April.
Minnesota, which has qualified for the playoffs in four straight seasons, was bounced in six games in the first round by the Central Division-rival Dallas Stars in April.

- The Tampa Bay Lighting named Todd Richards as their new assistant coach.
Richards, 49, is the Columbus Blue Jackets' all-time winningest coach and also spent two years behind the bench with the Wild.
One year removed from a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, Tampa Bay advanced to the Eastern Conference final before getting upended by the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Winning title in Pittsburgh would be rare treat
By Alan Robinson, The Sports Xchange

PITTSBURGH -- The Stanley Cup was cradled by Sidney Crosby before 350,000 parade onlookers, dunked in Mario Lemieux's swimming pool, carried on a slippery ride across a baseball outfield by Bryan Trottier.
The one adventure that has never happened to the shiny silver cup in Pittsburgh is being lifted at center ice after a championship-clinching victory.
In fact, of the 11 major sports championships won by Pittsburgh teams since the Pirates claimed the 1960 World Series at Forbes Field -- six Super Bowls, three Stanley Cups, two other World Series -- not one was won on home turf or home ice.
But the Penguins, improbably, can win their fourth Stanley Cup in a quarter-century on Thursday night if they can close out the San Jose Sharks, who trail 3-1 in a finals in which Pittsburgh has never fallen behind in regulation.
And, even better for fans who are paying $1,000 for standing room tickets for Game 5 at Consol Energy Center, the Penguins have a chance to claim the Cup in Pittsburgh.
"We can feel like there's something big coming up here," Penguins forward Carl Hagelin said Wednesday. "Guys are ready to play. We've won games all year, and that's the plan (Thursday)."
Every game of the finals but one has been decided by one goal, yet the Penguins have had a clear advantage in shots, speed, scoring chances and, most visibly, momentum.
Now they have a clear path to the NHL championship -- the second of the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin era -- but it's one that is also fraught with danger. Lose Game 5 at home and the Penguins must trek back to the West Coast for a Game 6 on Sunday they most certainly don't want to play.
"It's been close, the line is so thin out there -- both teams are playing at a high level," Penguins center Matt Cullen said. "We've been able to get the big goal when we needed it.
"(But) the trick is nothing's been done yet. We've got a long ways to go. We haven't done anything yet, other than give ourselves a good opportunity."
Sharks coach Peter DeBoer, whose team lost Game 2 in Pittsburgh, knows that if San Jose can take Game 5 there, spoil the Penguins' party and make them go all the way back to the West Coast again, the series will take on a much different feel. Even if only one of the 32 teams that trailed 3-1 in the finals came back to win the cup -- and that took place 74 years ago.
"I think it's closer than it feels," said DeBoer, whose team had the NHL's best regular-season road record. "We've got to give ourselves an opportunity that if they stumble, we're going to jump on it."
Sharks forward Joel Ward doesn't think the assuredly frantic atmosphere at Consol will be a major disadvantage -- even if Pittsburghers have been waiting to celebrate another title at home since Bill Mazeroski's home run cleared the left-center field wall for the Pirates on Oct. 13, 1960.
"We're not worried about the hoopla, what they've got going on," Ward said. "It's just a matter of we've got to go out and execute. We've been playing with desperation all year."
To try to maintain steadiness and not create a sense of panic, DeBoer plans to keep his lines the same as in Game 4, which Pittsburgh won 3-1 on Monday night in San Jose. That means Melker Karlsson will skate on the top line with Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton, with Tomas Hertl (lower body injury) still expected to be out.
Asked about Hertl's status, DeBoer said, "It's day to day" -- then reacting to media reports that Hertl is done for the playoffs, he said condescendingly, "In Czech, that means out for the season."
"They've (his players) been where Pittsburgh is sitting right now (in earlier rounds), saw how quickly that can turn if you lose a game or the momentum swings the other way," DeBoer said. �It can happen to anybody."
The Penguins aren't talking as if they plan on it happening to them.
"I'm not going to talk about what they're going to have," Hagelin said. "We're going to have a great desperation level.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Thursday's NHL Stanley Cup finals Game 5 betting preview: Sharks at Penguins

San Jose Sharks at Pittsburgh Penguins (A: +145, H: -155, O/U: 5)

Penguins lead series 3-1

The Pittsburgh Penguins are on the threshold of a milestone moment, needing one win to become the first major sports team in the city to win a championship at home since the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960. Armed with a 3-1 series lead, the Penguins go for their fourth Stanley Cup title when they host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night in Game 5.

Pittsburgh pushed the Sharks to the brink of elimination with a 3-1 victory at San Jose on Monday night to edge closer to its first Stanley Cup championship since 2009. "We have to try to do our best to ignore some of the noise surrounding the group and I think our players are well aware of it," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said of the tantalizing opportunity of hoisting the Cup in front of the home fans. The Sharks are trying to become the second team in league history to win the Cup after facing a 3-1 series deficit -- a seemingly insurmountable task given that they have yet to hold a lead in regulation against Pittsburgh. "We want to win one game and get a Game 6 back here at home," San Jose coach Peter DeBoer said. "I think we would be comfortable in that spot that we could get it to go seven."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS

PROBABLE GOALIES:

Sharks - Martin Jones (W/L: 13-9, GAA: 2.06, SAVE %: .918)

Penguins - Matt Murray (W/L: 14-5, GAA: 2.09, SAVE %: .927)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (59-35-10, 51-42 O/U): After averaging a playoff-best 3.5 goals through the first three rounds of the postseason, San Jose has scored only seven times in four games versus Pittsburgh. Captain Joe Pavelski scored 13 goals and had a seven-game point streak entering the Finals, but he has been held off the scoresheet by the Penguins. "If it's different, if it's 3-1 and you don't have anything, it's a different story," Pavelski said. "But right now, with the hole we're [in], a goal or two probably changes the outcome. The way it's been going for most of the postseason, I feel like I should probably have a bit more." Forward Logan Couture has a postseason-best 26 points, but both he and defenseman Brent Burns have been limited to two assists in the Finals.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (63-30-11, 45-41 O/U): Center Evgeni Malkin, the Conn Smythe Award winner in Pittsburgh's 2009 run to the Cup, admitted he wasn't producing enough through the first three games of the series and responded to his own "I want more" declaration by setting up one tally and scoring what proved to be the game-winner in Game 4. “We’ve seen him do it so many times,” Penguins forward Matt Cullen said. “He’s such a big part of the team. He demands a lot of himself, so to see him come out like that in a big game when he kind of called himself out a bit, it’s pretty impressive. That’s what good players do." Forward Phil Kessel is near the front of the line for this season's Conn Smythe after collecting a pair of assists Monday to boost his team-high total to 21 points.

TRENDS:

* Sharks are 8-2 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Penguins are 6-0 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
* Under is 12-3-2 in Penguins last 17 Stanley Cup Finals games.
* Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Pittsburgh.
* Sharks are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Pittsburgh.

CONSENSUS: At the time of publication of this preview, the Pittsburgh Penguins are grabbing 71 percent of the public picks and Over 5 is leading the way in totals wagering at 66 percent.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sharks (46-30) at Penguins (48-26)

Date: June 09, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH -- The Stanley Cup was cradled by Sidney Crosby before 350,000 parade onlookers, dunked in Mario Lemieux's swimming pool, carried on a slippery ride across a baseball outfield by Bryan Trottier.

The one adventure that has never happened to the shiny silver cup in Pittsburgh is being lifted at center ice after a championship-clinching victory.

In fact, of the 11 major sports championships won by Pittsburgh teams since the Pirates claimed the 1960 World Series at Forbes Field -- six Super Bowls, three Stanley Cups, two other World Series -- not one was won on home turf or home ice.

But the Penguins, improbably, can win their fourth Stanley Cup in a quarter-century on Thursday night if they can close out the San Jose Sharks, who trail 3-1 in a finals in which Pittsburgh has never fallen behind in regulation.

And, even better for fans who are paying $1,000 for standing room tickets for Game 5 at Consol Energy Center, the Penguins have a chance to claim the Cup in Pittsburgh.

"We can feel like there's something big coming up here," Penguins forward Carl Hagelin said Wednesday. "Guys are ready to play. We've won games all year, and that's the plan (Thursday)."

Every game of the finals but one has been decided by one goal, yet the Penguins have had a clear advantage in shots, speed, scoring chances and, most visibly, momentum.

Now they have a clear path to the NHL championship -- the second of the Sidney Crosby-Evgeni Malkin era -- but it's one that is also fraught with danger. Lose Game 5 at home and the Penguins must trek back to the West Coast for a Game 6 on Sunday they most certainly don't want to play.

"It's been close, the line is so thin out there -- both teams are playing at a high level," Penguins center Matt Cullen said. "We've been able to get the big goal when we needed it.

"(But) the trick is nothing's been done yet. We've got a long ways to go. We haven't done anything yet, other than give ourselves a good opportunity."

Sharks coach Peter DeBoer, whose team lost Game 2 in Pittsburgh, knows that if San Jose can take Game 5 there, spoil the Penguins' party and make them go all the way back to the West Coast again, the series will take on a much different feel. Even if only one of the 32 teams that trailed 3-1 in the finals came back to win the cup -- and that took place 74 years ago.

"I think it's closer than it feels," said DeBoer, whose team had the NHL's best regular-season road record. "We've got to give ourselves an opportunity that if they stumble, we're going to jump on it."

Sharks forward Joel Ward doesn't think the assuredly frantic atmosphere at Consol will be a major disadvantage -- even if Pittsburghers have been waiting to celebrate another title at home since Bill Mazeroski's home run cleared the left-center field wall for the Pirates on Oct. 13, 1960.

"We're not worried about the hoopla, what they've got going on," Ward said. "It's just a matter of we've got to go out and execute. We've been playing with desperation all year."

To try to maintain steadiness and not create a sense of panic, DeBoer plans to keep his lines the same as in Game 4, which Pittsburgh won 3-1 on Monday night in San Jose. That means Melker Karlsson will skate on the top line with Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton, with Tomas Hertl (lower body injury) still expected to be out.

Asked about Hertl's status, DeBoer said, "It's day to day" -- then reacting to media reports that Hertl is done for the playoffs, he said condescendingly, "In Czech, that means out for the season."

"They've (his players) been where Pittsburgh is sitting right now (in earlier rounds), saw how quickly that can turn if you lose a game or the momentum swings the other way," DeBoer said. "It can happen to anybody."

The Penguins aren't talking as if they plan on it happening to them.

"I'm not going to talk about what they're going to have," Hagelin said. "We're going to have a great desperation level."

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

San Jose-Pittsburgh (P 3-1)
Penguins can win 4th Stanley Cup here; would be first title Pittsburgh team has won at home since '60 World Series. San Jose lost five of last seven games with Pittsburgh, they lost three of last five playoff road games. Seven of last 14 Shark-Penguin games went OT, four to shootout- seven of last eight tilts stayed under total. San Jose is 1-8 on power play in series; Penguins 1-8. Pittsburgh has a 133-98 edge in shots in first four games. Sharks are in Stanley Cup finals for first time; Penguins are in for first time since winning Cup in '09, its third Stanley Cup title. Pittsburgh won its last three home games, giving up a total of four goals.

Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 16-9, Over: 11-5-9
Conference finals-- Home 6-7, Over 7-5-1
Home: 3-1 Over: 0-4

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Stars (1-5) at Mercury (2-6)

Date: June 09, 2016 10:00 PM EDT

The San Antonio Stars and Phoenix Mercury are stuck at the bottom of the WNBA's Western Conference. One could use the other as a potential springboard to get their season on track Thursday night at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix.

Coming off a 74-61 loss on Saturday night at home to unbeaten Los Angeles, San Antonio (1-5) seeks its first road win. The Stars have dropped both of their road games, unable to consistently score, and will have to find an offensive rhythm against a team that can score in droves.

Although the Mercury are just 2-6 after losing 89-81 at defending WNBA champion Minnesota on Tuesday night, they average 85.1 points per game and are the only team in the league with four players averaging at least 12 ppg.

Guard Diana Taurasi leads Phoenix at 19 points per game, although she's struggling to make shots, hitting only 39.7 percent from the field. Center Brittney Griner averages 13.8, guard Penny Taylor 13.1 and forward DeWanna Bonner 12.8.

Emblematic of Taurasi's troubles in the loss at Minnesota, she converted only 4 of 11 shots from the field and finished with 12 points. Defense also hampered the Mercury, who allowed a whopping 57 second-half points to wipe out a strong first half that resulted in a 38-32 halftime lead.

Phoenix does have history in its favor against San Antonio, which it has beaten in eight of its last 10 meetings, including an 85-52 drubbing in the last matchup in September. Going back to the days when the Stars were located in Utah, the Mercury own a 28-13 record at home against them.

San Antonio is connecting on just 37.7 percent of its shots from the field, including a pitiful 26 percent on 3-pointers, and is scoring only 68.2 points per game. The Stars have yet to touch 80 points in a game this year.

Guard Kayla McBride has been San Antonio's only consistent source of offense so far, averaging 18.2 points. Forward Dearica Hamby is the only other double-figure scorer at 10.2 points; she also leads the Stars in rebounding at 6.2 per game.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

At the Gate - Thursday
By Mike Dempsey

Thursday is the first day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, with three of the 19 stakes over the next three days on tap.

The stakes action this afternoon starts with the $200,000 Belmont Coronation Invitational at 1 15/16 miles on the inner turf course. The race drew six fillies and mares led by Generoisidade, a Uruguay import coming in from Southern California for Paulo Lobo.

The seventh race on the card is the $200,000 Astoria for two-year-old fillies. A field of nine will line up to go 5 ½ furlongs on the main track.

All nine exit maiden races, eight off wins, all in their debut efforts, and Golden Mischief (5-1) was beaten a neck in her debut.

The Wesley Ward trained Lightning Dove s the 3-1 morning line favorite. She was an impressive maiden winner at Keeneland on April 28.

The final stake on the card is the $150,000 Intercontinental at seven furlongs on turf with 10 fillies and mares going seven furlongs on turf.

The Chad Brown trained Zindaya, the runner up to Lady Shipman in the License Fee here on May 1 is the 8-5 morning line favorite.

Exaggerator drew the 11 post for Saturday’s $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) and was installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite.

The Todd Pletcher duo of Stradivari (5-1) and Destin (6-1) are the second and third choices and drew posts five and two respectively.


Here is today’s opener from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:

BEL Race 1 Md Sp Wt (1:00 ET)
#2 Malibu Princess 7-2
#5 Portmagee 6-1
#4 Delay of Game 2-1
#3 Genuine Happiness 3-1

Analysis: Malibu Princess dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish third last out at 6-5 in her debut for the Mareina barn. The winner Miss Hollywood came back to beat Alw-1 optional claimers at Gulfstream park in her next outing on June 2 and the runner up Always On My Mind came back to graduate in her next start on May 4. Blinkers are added as she returns off a two month break here for a very capable outfit. She is out of a More Royal mare that has dropped five other foals to race, all winners.

Portmagee is a $75,000 Keeneland purchase making her debut for the Clement barn that is 19% winners (with a +ROI) with first timers. She is by Hard Spun (10% winners with debut runners) out of a FuPeg mare that has dropped three foals to race, two winners. She has decent looking works on the morning tab for a barn that can be underrated on the dirt with maidens.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 2,4,5
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:

BEL Race 7 The Astoria (4:14 ET)
#1 Olive Branch 4-1
#9 Bode's Dream 7-2
#7 Lightning Dove 3-1
#3 Harlands Thunder 8-1

Analysis: Olive Branch tracked the early pace, came with a five wide bid and drew clear late to break her maiden in her debut for the Violette barn. She is one of three in here that has a win over the main track. She caught a racing strip that day that was not kind to speed and played to her advantage, but her trainer said she has been working in the mornings with a talented colt and is capable of much better. The $185,000 Ocala purchase is by Speightstown out of a Bernardini mare, her first foal to race. Lots of speed in here and she has the experience of coming from off the pace.

Bode's Dream went gate to wire to break her maiden in her debut for the Pletcher barn that has won this race in three of the last six years. She broke her maiden at Gulfstream Park as the big favorite but faces just four foes. She was a $300,000 Keeneland purchase, by Bodemeister out of the graded stakes winner Frolic's Dream $$294,094), this her first winner. The outside post may be beneficial here and she picks up Johnny V.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 1,9 / 1,3,7,9
TRI: 1,9 / 1,3,7,9 / 1,3,5,7,9

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Belmont Park
R2: #4 Broadway Bay 8-1
R3: #6 Know It All Anna 10-1
R5: #1 Achnaha 10-1
R6: #1 Celtic Chaos 12-1
#3 Harlands Thunder 8-1
R8: #4 Miss Ella 8-1

Good luck today!

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Mohawk Racetrack

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 9 - Post: 10:10 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 70 - Purse:$17000 - FILLIES & MARES, 4 YEAR OLDS & YOUNGER, NW 2 RACES OR $25,000 LIFETIME. LINE


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 6 BOURBON SEELSTER 5/2


# 2 P L JASMINE 6/1


# 7 ALPHABET QUEEN 10/1


BOURBON SEELSTER will have you running to the cashier's window in here. Can't forget based on TrackMaster speed figs which have been outstanding (73 avg) of late. Certainly did like this filly's last race. Ran a big 73 TrackMaster Speed Rating. Major contender. More wins than you would expect have been earned by contenders lining up behind the 6 hole at Mohawk Racetrack. P L JASMINE - May be the most solid in the pack here, showing very nice numbers of late. Average speed is a solid 72. Stellar in the money percent for McMillan and this interesting entrant. A great probability to get the win. ALPHABET QUEEN - Getting a good instinct about this filly. Could surprise in this one.