Sportswriter headlines Meadowlands Pace

Horseracing Betting Lines

07/14/2010 - East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sportswriter, winner of the North America Cup, will take on nine rivals in Saturday's $1 million Meadowlands Pace at The Meadowlands. The field of 10 three-year-old pacers will leave the starting gate at 10 p.m. (et).

The 2009 champion two-year-old male pacer barely got into the race after finishing fourth in his elimination race. The first three across the wire in the three elimination heats automatically gained entry into the Pace. Sportswriter, driven by Mark MacDonald, was the fastest of the three fourth- place finishers.

The three elimination race winners were Rock N Roll Heaven, Rockin Image and Ok Commander. Each heat was valued at $50,000.

Sportswriter, trained by Casie Coleman, has eight career wins in 13 starts for $1,562,460. In 2010 the colt has just one win, The North America Cup, in five starts for $746,780.

Sportswriter, owned by Steve Calhoun, West Wins Stable and Southwind Farm, will start from the far outside post.

"He's a warrior," MacDonald said about his drive. "It seems like we've always got something to overcome with this horse. He's just such a game horse. One of these days, everything is going to come together for this horse. It's been one thing after another, but he seems to show up for the big dances. That's the main thing."

A win will make Sportswriter the ninth horse to win both the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace. Last year Well Said turned the double joining Rocknroll Hanover (2005), Gallo Blue Chip (2000), The Panderosa (1999), David's Pass (1995), Cam's Card Shark (1994), Presidential Ball (1993) and Precious Bunny (1991).

Here is the full field for the Meadowlands Pace in post position order: Kyle Major, Jody Jamieson, 15-1; Rockin Image, Yannick Gingras, 3-1; Rock N Roll Heaven, John Campbell, 5-2; Valentino, George Brennan, 15-1; I'm Gorgeous, Andy Miller, 12-1; Delmarvalous, Brian Sears, 12-1; Nova Artist, Brian Sears, 15-1; One More Laugh, Tim Tetrick, 9-2; Fred And Ginger, Dave Palone, 10-1 and Sportswriter, Mark MacDonald, 6-1.

Delmarvalous, fourth in his elimination, replaced OK Commander who was scratched due to lameness. OK Commander developed an abscess in his right front leg after winning his Meadowlands Pace elimination.

Delmarvalous is trained by George Teague, Jr. who also trains I'm Gorgeous.

Blcakjack Horseracing Betting News

<< "Birdman" has second surgery of offseason
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets announced forward-center Chris Andersen underwent surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left ring finger. A release from the team indicated Andersen broke the fin

<< Del 'Cap features six top females
Stanton, DE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Saturday's $750,000 Delaware Handicap has attracted six of the leading female thoroughbreds in the nation. The winner of the 1 1/4-mile race gains automatic entry into this year's Breeders' Cup Ladies'

<< Johnson resigns as Vandy football coach
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vanderbilt's athletic department has called a press conference for 2 p.m. (et) at which time head football coach Bobby Johnson is expected to announce his resignation. The Tennessean first reported the decisi

<< Nets name Billy King general manager
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Nets have named Billy King as their next general manager. King takes the reins from Rod Thorn, who is stepping down as team president and general manager after 10 years on the job

<< Braves get Gonzalez from Jays in five-player deal
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Braves acquired shortstop Alex Gonzalez from the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in a five-player trade. The Braves sent shortstop Yunel Escobar and pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes to Toronto and also acqu

Johnson retires as Vandy football coach >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vanderbilt head football coach Bobby Johnson announced his abrupt retirement Wednesday after eight years guiding the program. A press conference was called for Wednesday afternoon at which time

Rockets ready to match Cavs offer sheet to Lowry >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets plan to match the offer sheet extended Wednesday to restricted free-agent guard Kyle Lowry. Houston general Manager Daryl Morey said on his Twitter account Wednesday afte

Melzer into Stuttgart QFs >>
Stuttgart, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - French Open semifinalist Jurgen Melzer was a second-round victor Wednesday at the Mercedes Cup tennis event. The second-seeded Melzer got past Germany's own Mischa Zverev, a wild card this week, 7-

Pennetta eases into Palermo quarters >>
Palermo, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion and top seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy was an easy second-round winner Wednesday at the $220,000 Palermo International tennis tournament. Pennetta handled Czech Renata Voracova 6-

Schiavone will skip Slovenian event >>
Portoroz, Slovenia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - French Open champion Francesca Schiavone will miss next week's WTA Tour event in Slovenia, citing a left wrist injury. The world No. 8 was slated to be the second seed at the $220,000 Slovenia Open.

Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.