Six horses that took part in the Kentucky Derby are set to race in the Preakness Stakes; I’ll Have Another (1st), Bodemeister (2nd), Went the Day Well (4th), Creative Cause (5th), Daddy Nose Best (10th) and Optimizer (11th). The two most notable horses that finished strong at the Derby that won’t be in action in the Preakness Stakes are Dullahan (3rd) and Union Rags (7th).

There are currently 11 horses scheduled to run in the Preakness Stakes. For those of you looking to get an early feel for the horses racing this Saturday, here is quick breakdown of the five horses who have the best odds to win, plus a complete list of all 11 horses’ odds to win. Keep in mind that the draw for post positions isn’t until Wednesday night, which will have a big impact on the final odds for this race.

I’ll Have Another (3/1) -  After stalking the leaders and closing for a 1 1/2-length victory over Bodemeister in the Kentucky Derby, it’s no surprise that I’ll Have Another is one of the favorites in the Preakness.  He now has three wins in three tries in 2012, obviously none more impressive than the Run for the Roses.  This horse will have to try and close a little earlier on Saturday considering the Preakness is a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Derby.

Bodemeister (3/1) – One of the favorites going into the Derby, Bodemeister had a great run but fell just short.  He blazed through the opening mile and held the lead until the final furlong, only to be passed over the final sixteenth.  The Preakness will be run at 1 3/16-miles, which is just an extra sixteenth of a mile longer than the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby’s distance of 1 1/8-miles.  Bodemeister won that race by 9 1/2 lengths to really show off his speed.

Creative Cause (6/1) – The gray son of Giant’s Causeway hadn’t finished worse than third in nine career races until his fifth place run in the Kentucky Derby. Creative Cause was withing striking distance at the top of the stretch, but faded to fifth as he simply had nothing left in the tank. He has four wins to his credit, and the shorter distance at the Preakness could benefit him as well.

Went the Day Well (8/1) – This is a horse that I really like. Went the Day Well got off to a rough start in the Kentucky Derby, finding himself 18 lengths back in the early going. However, he was able to make up a ton of ground on the leaders. Went the Day Well finished a strong 4th, just 2 1/2 lengths back of race winner I’ll Have Another.

Daddy Nose Best (15/1) - His 10th place finish at the Kentucky Derby was very misleading. You could argue that Daddy Nose Best had a great shot down the stretch before getting bumped. That bump appeared to cause him to tire, which could be the reason for his disappointing finish. If he can get a clean run like he did when he won the Grade 3 $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 25, then Daddy Nose Best could challenge the favorites.

Complete Preakness Stakes Odds

Originially posted on BetFirms

I’ll Have Another (3/1) -  The Kentucky Derby champion looks to remain unbeaten this year while taking another step towards becoming the 2012 Triple Crown champion in the Preakness.

Bodemeister (3/1) – He nearly went wire-to-wire in the Kentucky Derby but had to settle for runner-up. Bodemeister will get a chance at redemption in the Preakness, which is a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Derby.

Creative Cause (6/1) – He performed well in the Kentucky Derby to finish fifth. Traffic issues hampered his performance, and if Creative Cause gets a clean run this time around, Creavite Cause could win the Preakness.

Went the Day Well (8/1) - His surprising fourth in the Kentucky Derby means another chance at a Triple Crown race for this Proud Citizen colt. Went the Day Well came from 18 lengths back early to finish 2 1/2 lengths back of the Derby winner.

Daddy Nose Best (15/1) - The bay son of Scat Daddy posted a victory in the Grade 3 $800,000 Sunland Derby on March 25.  He was bumped down the stretch of the Kentucky Derby, and tired to finish 10th.

Teeth of the Dog (15/1) – He jumped straight from his maiden-breaking race into grade 1 competition, finishing third in Wood Memorial (G1). Teeth of the Dog is definitely a live underdog come race day.

Tiger Walk (20/1) – The highly regarded son of Tale of the Cat has shown promise but has yet to defeat some of the year’s top contenders. Another step up in competition won’t help matters for Tiger Walk.

Cozzetti (25/1) – The son of Cozzene is looking for his first graded stakes win of his career. Cozzetti has shown potential but has finished no better than third in last four races.

Optimizer (25/1) – He could not find a seam in the Kentucky Derby and finished a disappointing 11th. Optimizer will get another chance at redemption in the Preakness Stakes.

Pretension (25/1) - He was a winner at Pimlico in latest outing, so he’s at least familiar with the surface and surroundings.  Pretension’s track experience is certainly a plus for son of Bluegrass Cat.

Zetterholm (25/1) – The Silver Train colt was a winner in his last outing; the Patsyprospect Stakes at Aqueduct on April 6. He continues to get better with each race. Zetterholm is a live underdog Saturday.

Originially posted on BetFirms

While I’ll Have Another has a great shot at winning this Saturday at Pimlico Race Course, there have only been seven horses in the last 15 years who have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The last time it happened was in 2008 by Big Brown. Last year, Animal Kingdom won the Kentucky Derby, but he was edged out by Shackleford and had to settle for second at the Middle Jewel.

Picking the winner of these Triple Crown races isn’t an easy task.  Just six of the 12 horses scheduled to race this Saturday participated in the Kentucky Derby, so don’t expect to see the same race we saw at the Derby. Another thing that you have to keep in mind is the Preakness Stakes is 1/16 of a mile shorter than the Kentucky Derby.  This race generally favors the speed horses rather than the closers.

1st Place (Win): Bodemeister (3/1) - This horse was extremely impressive in the Kentucky Derby. Bodemeister posted amazing fractions out of the gate and really set the tone for the race. He still finished second after setting such a ridiculous pace, but was passed over the final sixteenth of a mile by I’ll Have Another.

I believe the Preakness is the perfect distance for Bodemeister. It’s a 1 3/16-mile race instead of the 1 1/4 distance ran at the Derby. He ran the 1 1/8-mile Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in 1:48 3/5 to win by 9 1/2 lengths, and I believe you’ll see a similar effort from him as he dominates the Preakness from start to finish as well.

2nd Place (Place): Went the Day Well (8/1) - This horse is the biggest threat to knock off both Bodemeister and I’ll Have Another. Went the Day Well managed to finish an impressive 4th in the Kentucky Derby, just 2 1/2 lengths back of the winner. What was most impressive about his run is that he struggled out of the gate and found himself 18 lengths back of the race leader in the early going.

The reason I like Went the Day Well to be able to finish second in the Preakness is his versatility. He has improved with each race, and he has shown he has the ability to contend from either a closing or a stalking position. In his victory at the Grade 3 Spriral Stakes, Went the Day Well was able to stalk the pace in the early stages.

3rd Place (Show): I’ll Have Another (3/1) – It would be foolish not to have the Kentucky Derby winner in the top three come Saturday. I’ll Have Another remained perfect in 2012 with his Derby victory, which was his third win in as many tries this year. I was one of the few who had him picked to win simply because I thought it was the perfect distance for him, and his closing ability would prevail in the end.

However, I’m not going to pick him to win the second leg of the Triple Crown. That’s because this race is a sixteenth of a mile shorter, and I don’t believe he’s going to be able to keep up with the pure speed of Bodemeister this time around. I’ll Have Another should be in all of your exotics as this is certainly a top three horse in this rather weak field.

Originially posted on BetFirms

Oddsmakers don’t like the Clippers chances of getting even with a win in Game 2. The Spurs are favored by 11-points over Los Angeles with the total set at 194 points.

Los Angeles

I don’t think there’s any doubt the Clippers were feeling the effects of their brutal seven game series with the Grizzlies in Game 1, but I also think this is a very difficult matchup for Los Angeles. The Spurs are great at taking away whatever it is the other team does best. San Antonio didn’t allow the Clippers to run the pick and roll and really limited their fast break opportunities.

The Clippers are going to have to make some big adjustments in Game 2, but what it really comes down to is the play of Chris Paul. In the first game, Paul was held to just six points on 3 of 13 shooting. While he did make up for some of that with 10 assists, if he isn’t scoring 20 points a game, the Clippers aren’t going to beat the Spurs. Especially if San Antonio continues to take away the pick and roll.

Blake Griffin finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, but was limited to just 28 minutes. It looked like the knee wasn’t bothering him early on, but it seems to be taking its toll over the course of the game. Griffin finished just 7 of 17 from the field and the Spurs are basically daring him to shoot from 10-15 feet out.

There was some positives to take away from Game 1. Caron Butler had one of his better offensive games with 15 points and Nick Young and Eric Bledsoe game off the bench to contribute 36 points. Bledsoe had a team-high 23 points on 10 of 16 shooting. The only problem with that is the Clippers still lost the game by 16-points.

San Antonio

The Spurs have to be happy with how things went in Game 1, but head coach Greg Poppovich knows his team can play even better. San Antonio turned the ball over 18 times, well above their season average of just under 12 a game. A lot of that probably had to do with the long lay off between series. Expect this team to take a lot better care of the ball as the series goes on.

Offensively the Spurs were very sharp in the opener. San Antonio shot the lights out from long distance, connecting on 13 of 25 (52%) behind the 3-point line. While it’s unlikely the Spurs will be able to keep up that pace, it’s an area where they figure to continue to have success. San Antonio got a wide-open look just about anytime the wanted.

Tim Duncan had a field day against the Clippers defense with 26 points on 12 of 20 shooting. Duncan also added in 10 rebounds two steals and two blocks. Manu Ginobili came off the bench to score 22 points, while Kawhi Leonard and Daniel Green combined for 31 points thanks in large part to 6 of 9 shooting from behind the arc. What’s scary if you are a Clippers fan, is Tony Parker had just seven points on 1 of 9 shooting. Parker did help out with a game-high 11 assists.

Originially posted on BetFirms

Oddsmakers are expecting another close low-scoring game on Thursday, as the Pacers come in favored by 1-point over Miami with the total set at 182 points.

Miami

The Heat really struggled to get anything going in their first game without Chris Bosh, and it doesn’t look like it will get any easier going forward. LeBron James and Dwayne both played extremely well, but the rest of the team wasn’t a factor at all. James had a team-high 28 points to go with nine rebounds, five assists and six steals, while Wade finished with 24 points, six rebounds and four assists. The rest of the team managed to score just 23 points and no one else had more than five points.

I have stressed the fact that Miami is going to have a very hard time winning this series if they don’t get more out of their role players. Their effort in Game 2 was about as bad as it can get. If you take away James and Wade, the rest of the team shot just 27% (9 for 34). Mario Chalmers is one player the Heat need to get going. He had just five points on 2 of 10 shooting on Tuesday.

I don’t know if people realize just how important Bosh was to this team. He was their only true post player who could get his own offensively and they were already outmatched defensively inside. The move has forced James to play a lot more power forward. A position he can handle, but it’s going to take a toll on him over the course of this series.

Indiana

The Pacers have to be excited about stealing a game in Miami, but there is no time to celebrate. Indiana nearly let James and Wade beat them by themselves in Game 2. If this team really wants to make a statement, they need to hold serve and win both games at home.

Offensively the Pacers have a lot of room for improvement. They shot just 37% from the field and were only 3 of 15 from behind the 3-point line. David West had a team-high 16 points to go with 10 rebounds, while George Hill added 15 points. Danny Granger had another tough night from the field, scoring just 11 points on 5 of 14 shooting.

I was really surprised the Pacers didn’t continue to feed the ball inside to Roy Hibbert, who finished with just eight points on six shot attempts. He is the one player on the Pacers who really has a huge advantage on the offensive end. In Game 1, he had 17 points on 6 of 12 shooting. Not only will Indiana need to get Hibbert more involved if they are going to win this series, but they need their bench to give them more than they did in Game 2. The Pacers bench only outscored the Heat’s reserves 18-11 on Tuesday.

Originially posted on BetFirms

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Jack’s Free Pick Wednesday: Los Angeles Angels -110 at 5Dimes

The Los Angeles Angels are showing solid value as a small home favorite Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.  The Angels are off to a slow start this season, but as a result they are undervalued right now.  It’s only a matter of time before they get rolling with the talent they have on this roster.

Los Angeles is coming off a solid 4-0 victory last night, and now they send underrated starter Jerome Williams to the bump.  As a starter, Williams is 3-1 with a 3.37 ERA and 1.156 WHIP in five outings.  The right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.01 ERA and 0.940 WHIP in three home starts.

Gavin Floyd is having a solid season for Chicago as well, but he’s 0-2 with a 3.15 ERA through three road starts in 2012.  Also, Floyd gave up 6 earned runs over 6 innings in his last start against the Angels.  He is now 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA in his last three games against Los Angeles.

This play falls into a system that is 54-19 (74%) over the last 5 seasons.  It tells us to bet against any team (CHI WHITE SOX) – terrible offensive team (<=4.2 runs/game) against a very good starting pitcher (ERA<=3.50) (AL), after allowing 9 runs or more.  Bet the Angels Wednesday.

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Originially posted on BetFirms

It seems as though oddsmakers are expecting a much closer game in Game 2. Despite the fact that the Thunder covered the spread by 21.5-points in Game 1, Oklahoma City is once again favored b 7.5-points over the Lakers.

Los Angeles

The Lakers looked like they were still recovering from that difficult first round series against the Nuggets. Los Angeles was sharp early in the first quarter, but from the second quarter on they looked tired. As a result, the shots weren’t falling and they were slow defensively. The Lakers actually had a pretty solid game offensively, as they shot 43.2% from the field and 44% from the 3-point line.

Kobe Bryant ended up scoring 20 points, but it wasn’t a very good game for him. He was just 7 of 18 from the field and had just two assists and three rebounds. Pau Gasol also struggled to find a rhythm in the offense. He had just 10 points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes. Andrew Bynum was the only player I was really impressed with. Bynum posted a strong double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Metta World Peace came out and hit a couple shots early in the first quarter, but after that he was a non-factor. If the Lakers are going to bounce back and at least make it respectable in Game 2, World Peace has to play better and they need more than just two points out of Ramon Sessions.

Defensively the Lakers have to do a better job on keeping the Thunder from penetrating into the lane and kicking out for wide-open shots. Don’t be surprised if Bryant doesn’t come out and guard Russell Westbrook from the start of the game. The only problem with that, if Bryant is force to guard Westbrook, it takes away from what he can give the Lakers offensively.

Oklahoma City

There was some concern that the Thunder would come out sluggish and out of sync after such a long layoff between series. It didn’t take long for Oklahoma City to find their rhythm, as they shot 53% from the field and 41% from the 3-point line. When this team comes out and shoots the ball like they did on Monday, they are extremely difficult to beat.

Westbrook finished up with a game-high 27 points, but he wasn’t just scoring the basketball. He had seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Kevin Durant also contributed in multiple areas, he had 25 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. James Harden came off the bench to add 17 points in just 24 minutes. While no one else on the team scored in double-figures, nine other players contributed offensively.

Defensively I think the Thunder had a strong game plan in Game 1. Thabo Sefolosha and Harden really made Bryant work for everything he got offensively. They also did a great job of keeping Gasol from playing a huge role. Even though Bynum had a good game, a lot of people overlook the fact that they aren’t double-teaming him every time he touches the ball. That makes it that much harder for the Lakers role players to contribute.

It’s hard to not like the Thunder’s chances of winning Game 2. They have now faced the Lakers four times this season and all three of their wins have come by double-digits. The only game they loss, came in LA when they blew a huge lead after World Peace delivered that vicious elbow to Harden.

Originially posted on BetFirms

TPC Four Seasons is one of the more difficult stops on the year. The par 70 course comes in just under 7,200 yards. It’s at its hardest when the wind is a factor. Just last year the field had to deal with a steady breeze at 20 mph and gusts around 35mph. As a result, only five players finished the four rounds under par. In 2009, Rory Sabbatini set a tournament record with a final score of 261 (19-under). The weather isn’t suppose to be as bad as last year, but winds are expected to be strong enough to cause some problems.

Keegan Bradley was able to hold off Ryan Palmer in a playoff to win this event in 2011, and Jason Day won here back in 2010. What do each of those players have in common? They won here in their first start. TPC Four Seasons is the kind of course where you would think experience would play a role, but it just goes to show you that this tournament is there for the taking.

For those of you looking to place a bet on the HP Byron Nelson Championship, here is quick look at the three golfers who I feel have a great shot at winning this event.

Phil Mickelson

Michelson is still searching for his first win of 2012. While his focus is on winning the Majors, I really like his chances this week. Mickelson is due for a strong finish. After placing third at the Masters, he has finished outside the top 20 in each of his last two starts. The last time Mickelson teed it up at this event, he finished tied for 3rd in 2007.  He has made 15 career starts at this event, six of which he has finished inside the top 15, including a win back in 1996. He is one of the best in the business at getting it up and down around the greens, which is a huge advantage at this course.

Ernie Els

I think Els is definitely someone you have to keep your eye on this weekend. He missed the cut last week at the Players Championship, but I like his chances of being in the hunt on Sunday. Els has finished inside the top 12 three times in his last five starts, including a runner-up at the Zurrich Classic where he lost in a playoff. Els hasn’t played in this event in five years, but he won here in 1995 and has a few top 20 finishes to his credit.

John Rollins

If you are looking for a sleeper pick this week. I think Rollins is worth a shot. The guy has quietly put together a great season. He recently finished 7th in Zurrich Classic and has seven top 25 finishes this year. He is No. 1 in total driving and 30th in greens in regulation. Rollins had his best showing at TPC Four Seasons last year, finished tied for 6th, just three shots off the lead.

More Golf Predictions

Originially posted on BetFirms

I’m going to give my predictions on the Preakness below by listing the finishing order of the top four horses. My goal is to give you some information that you can use to come out on top Saturday. I’ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2-lengths over Bodemeister with a late rally.  These two horses are the favorites to win the Middle Jewel at 3/1.  As you can see below, I believe they are favored for good reason.  Here are my 1-2-3 picks, plus a longshot.

Win – Bodemeister (3/1)

This horse was attempting to become the first since 1882 to win the Kentucky Derby without racing as a 2-year-old. Bodemeister nearly pulled it off, leading the entire way before getting chased down by I’ll Have Another over the final sixteenth of a mile to finish a length and a half short at Churchill Downs.

That’s a big reason why I’m picking Bodemeister this week. The Preakness is a sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Kentucky Derby, thus I believe this horse will be able to keep its lead the entire way. No other horse in the field can match Bodemeister’s speed. That was on display when he won by 9 1/2 lengths at the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

Place – Went the Day Well (8/1)

In a minor upset, I have Went the Day Well finishing ahead of I’ll Have Another in the Preakness Stakes. This horse had some early trouble in the Kentucky Derby, having to rally from 17th in the early going.

Went the Day Well showed of his speed by closing to finish fourth, just 2 1/2 lengths back of first place in the Run for the Roses. Given a better trip, this is the horse that will challenge Bodemeister in the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.

Show – I’ll Have Another (3/1)

I was one of the few who had I’ll Have Another picked to win the Kentucky Derby. My reason for taking him in the Run for the Roses was his closing speed, which was better than any horse in the field and it showed on race day.

The Preakness is the shortest of the three Triple Crown races, meaning that it favors the speed horses rather than the closers. I’ll Have Another will be able to close for third, but won’t have the speed to keep up with Bodemeister and Went the Day Well for 1 3/16 miles.

4th Place – Zetterholm (20/1)

This is my favorite longshot in the field. Zetterholm is the only horse that I believe even has a chance to finish ahead of the trio of Bodemeister, Went the Day Well and I’ll Have Another. This would be a good horse to throw in your exotics. I recommend boxing Zetterholm in a Trifecta along with the aforementioned trio.

He is the bay son of multiple graded stakes winner Silver Train. After starting slow with 11th and 2nd place finishes, Zetterholm has reeled off three straight wins for new, proven trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. His 2 1/4-length victory in the $73,000 Patsyprospect Stakes at Aqueduct on April 6 shows what he’s capable of.

Originially posted on BetFirms

Taking a look at the NBA lines for Game 3, oddsmakers have the 76ers favored by 2-points over the Celtics with the total set at 172.5 points.

Boston

It’s almost as if the Celtics aren’t taking the 76ers seriously. Boston has not came out with the intensity you would expect from a team that is trying to get back to the Eastern Conference Finals. Not to take anything away from the 76ers, but Boston is the more talented team in the series. However, if the Celtics continue to overlook Philadelphia they could end up digging themselves a hole they can’t get out of. I have the feeling that loss in Game 2 at home will get Boston’s attention, and they will come out with a purpose in Game 3.

In Monday’s Game 2 loss, Ray Allen came off the bench to score a team-high 17 points, Kevin Garnett added 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Brandon Bass contributed 12 points. Those are the only three Celtics who finished in double-figures. Paul Pierce  scored just 7 points on 2 of 9 shooting and Rajon Rondo ended the game with just 8 points. I understand Rondo dished out 13 assists, but he has to also look to score more for Boston to really be at their best. If Pierce doesn’t get his act together the Celtics are in some serious trouble. He has hasn’t scored more than 18 points in a game since going off for 24 in a 101-79 win over Atlanta.

We are going to find out a lot about the Celtics in Game 3. This is the game where they should come out motivated and really get after the 76ers. I don’t think Boston is going to just turn on a switch and win this game by 20 points, but I do like their chances of getting a win.

Philadelphia

The 76ers don’t care what Boston is doing. All they care about is the fact that they were able to win a game on the road. Philadelphia is going to come into Game 3 with a ton of energy and the confidence needed to take a 2-1 series lead. The 76ers won all three of their home games against Chicago in the first round, and will win this series if they can do the same against the Celtics.

Jrue Holiday bounced back from a poor showing in Game 1 to lead the the 76ers with 18 points on 7 of 15 shooting. Holliday was red-hot from downtown, connecting on 4 of 6 from behind the 3-point line. Andre Iguodala was second on the team with just 13 points to go with seven rebounds, while Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen each finished the game with 10 points.

It’s going to be an offensive struggle the entire series for Philadelphia. There are going to be nights where guys just aren’t hitting shots, but they have to just keep battling and hope someone steps up each night. The guy the 76ers really need to get going  offensively is Lou Williams. During the regular season, Williams led the 76ers at 14.9 points per game. In the two games against the Celtics he hasn’t reached double-figures and has a combined 17 points.

Originially posted on BetFirms