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Monday 1-1-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc
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MARC LAWRENCE
Play - South Carolina (Game 265).
Edges - Gamecocks: 4-1 SUATS last 5 bowl games; and SEC bowlers are 17-5 ATS as underdogs of 4 or more points when coming off a loss… Wolverines - 1-4 SU, 2-3 ATS, and 2-3 ITS (In The Stats) versus fellow bowl teams this season; and 3-4 SU and 2-5 ATS against .666 or greater foes this season… With USC head coach Will Muschamp 8-3 SUATS in his career against reeling foes coming off consecutive losses, we recommend a 1* play on South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. Thank you and good luck as always,
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Outback Bowl Michigan vs. South Carolina Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/19/2017
OUTBACK BOWL STORYLINES
1. Michigan looks for a positive end to what has been a difficult season when it faces South Carolina in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day in Tampa, Fla. The Wolverines were forced to start three different quarterbacks over the course of the campaign as Wilton Speight missed eight games with a fractured vertebrae and Brandon Peters sat out the loss to Ohio State with a concussion en route to a four-loss regular season. Peters has been given the green light to return and will start against South Carolina as Michigan hopes to avenge a 33-28 setback to the Gamecocks in the 2013 Outback Bowl.
2. South Carolina hopes a new offensive playcaller will solve its scoring woes after the Gamecocks finished 98th nationally in points (24.1) and 108th in yards per game. Kurt Roper was let go on Dec. 6 - just over a week after South Carolina was held to 207 yards in the 34-10 loss to top-ranked Clemson - and Bryan McClendon, who doubles as the wide receivers coach, will be tasked with solving a stout Michigan defense, which finished fifth nationally in tackles-for-loss (103) and seventh in sacks per game (3.25). "I'm excited about having Bryan McClendon calling plays for the bowl game," South Carolina coach Will Muschamp told reporters. "Certainly he's going to have an opportunity to be our coordinator going forward."
3. The Wolverines have fared well against SEC opponents, compiling a 25-8-1 record, including two straight victories by an average margin of 25 points. The Gamecocks overcame a slew of injuries and hope to cap off an encouraging season by winning nine games for the first time since 2013. Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, who was named a unanimous All-American after registering 13 1/2 tackles for loss and five sacks, will play his final collegiate game before preparing for the NFL draft as will South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst after earning first team SEC honors with 41 receptions for 518 yards.
TV: Noon ET, ESPN2. LINE: Michigan -7.5
ABOUT MICHIGAN (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten): Speight, who announced his decision to transfer from the program one day after Michigan's 31-20 loss to fifth-ranked Ohio State, played the first four games of the season before suffering a back injury on Sept. 23, and leaves Ann Arbor with a 14-3 record as a starting quarterback. Peters threw for 486 yards and four touchdowns in four full games before he was knocked out in the second half of the 24-10 setback to Wisconsin, but has been medically cleared to play against South Carolina. Karan Higdon had a breakout year as he gained 929 yards on the ground to go along with 11 touchdowns and needs 71 yards to become Michigan's first running back with 1,000 yards since Fitzgerald Toussaint in 2011.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (8-4, 5-3 SEC): Jake Bentley threw for 2,555 yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with six rushing scores while Bryan Edwards had a stellar sophomore season by hauling in a team-high 59 passes for 705 yards and four TDs. A.J. Turner, who led the team with 517 rushing yards suffered an ankle injury against Clemson but is expected to play in the Outback Bowl as is freshman wide receiver Shi Smith, who has recovered from a leg injury which caused him to miss the loss to the Tigers. Linebacker Skai Moore was selected to the All-SEC first team by the coaches after leading the Gamecocks with 88 tackles while defensive back Jamyest Williams was selected to the All-SEC freshman team.
PREDICTION: Michigan 23, South Carolina 17
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Chick Fil A Peach Bowl Central Florida vs. Auburn Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/19/2017
PEACH BOWL STORYLINES
1. Central Florida will try to complete an undefeated season and gain some respect for the American Athletic Conference when it takes on Auburn of the SEC in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 in Atlanta. Scott Frost, who took over a UCF team that was winless in 2015 and turned them into a 12-0 team two years later, will coach the Knights before moving on to his new job at Nebraska. "It's gonna take us being together every step of the way," UCF senior linebacker Shaquem Griffin told the Orlando Sentinel. "Ups and down, we're gonna have to be able to stick it out. Auburn is an amazing team, but we're an amazing team also."
2. The Tigers might be in the College Football Playoff if not for a shoulder injury to leading rusher Kerryon Johnson that limited the junior to 44 yards on 13 carries in the 28-7 loss to Georgia at the SEC championship game. Johnson has rushed for 1,320 yards and 17 touchdowns this season and had 167 yards on the ground with 66 through the air against Georgia is the teams' first meeting, which was won by Auburn 40-17. The junior reportedly has been practicing and his presence could take a lot of pressure off sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who was only 16-of-32 with 145 yards in the SEC title game.
3. Sophomore quarterback McKenzie Milton has put up some amazing numbers this season with 3,795 yards and 35 scoring strikes while running for another 497 and seven touchdowns. Milton, a 5-11, 177-pound gunslinger from Hawaii, will get the toughest test of his career against an Auburn defense that has allowed only 17.3 points per game to rank 10th in the country. Milton went 18-of-30 for 178 yards and one TD pass in a 38-10 victory against Maryland on Sept. 23 in his only matchup against a team from a top-five conference this season while the Tigers are yielding 177.8 yards per game through the air.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Auburn -9.5
ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (12-0, 8-0 AAC): Milton, who threw for a career-high 494 yards in the 62-55 double-overtime victory over Memphis in the AAC championship game, has three receivers at his disposal with at least 30 catches. Junior wideout Tre'Quan Smith had four 100-yard receiving games and boasts 1,082 on 54 receptions with 13 touchdowns while sophomore Dredrick Snelson has 42 catches for 656 yards - career highs of nine and 145, respectively, in the last game. Junior linebacker Pat Jasinski (team-best 96 tackles) and edge-rusher Griffin (5.5 sacks) lead a Knights' defense that gives up 165.7 yards per game on the ground.
ABOUT AUBURN (10-3, 7-1 SEC): Stidham, a transfer from Baylor, has had a strong year overall with 2,827 yards and 17 touchdowns passing with four interceptions and a 66.7 percent completion rate. Junior wide receiver Ryan Davis is Stidham's top threat with 76 catches for 768 yards and five scores, including 18 receptions for 204 in the last two contests, while sophomore Darius Slayton has caught 24 balls for 574 yards. Jeff Holland boasts a team-best nine sacks and fellow junior linebacker Deshaun Davis easily tops the Tigers with 75 tackles - 10 in the SEC title game.
PREDICTION: Central Florida 31, Auburn 28
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Citrus Bowl Presented By Overton's Notre Dame vs. LSU Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/19/2017
CITRUS BOWL PRESENTED BY OVERTON'S STORYLINES
1. Two storied programs face off on New Year's Day, when No. 15 Notre Dame takes on 14th-ranked LSU in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando. It's the first trip to the Citrus Bowl and the 16th different bowl game for the Fighting Irish, while the Tigers are playing in the game for the second straight year and fifth time overall. Notre Dame holds a 6-5 edge in the all-time series, including a 31-28 win in the most recent meeting in the 2014 Music City Bowl.
2. Both teams lean heavily on their ground games and boast 1,000-yard rushers. Notre Dame's Josh Adams (1,386 yards, nine touchdowns) should be fresh after seeing his production drop off late in the season, as he averaged 8.9 yards per carry in his first eight games but just 3.7 over the final four contests. Derrius Guice (1,153 yards, 11 TDs) was a workhorse down the stretch for the Tigers as he carried the ball at least 19 times in each of the last six games, including a regular season-ending 45-21 win over Texas A&M in which he had 28 rushes for 127 yards.
3. Notre Dame's defense thrives on turnovers, but it hasn't been causing them lately. The Fighting Irish had 17 takeaways through their first seven games but only three in their last five. They might have a tough time producing takeaways against an LSU team that committed only eight turnovers all season, four of which came in a loss to Troy on Sept. 30.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: LSU -3
ABOUT NOTRE DAME (9-3): The Fighting Irish have the nation's seventh-best rushing offense thanks to Adams and quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who has rushed for 765 yards and a team-high 14 touchdowns. Wimbush has passed for 1,818 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, but four of those picks came in the last three games - two each in losses to Miami (Fla.) and Stanford - and he will be without Chase Claypool, the team's second-leading receiver who has a shoulder injury. The defense was solid for much of the season but has allowed an average of 226.3 rushing yards over the last four games.
ABOUT LSU (9-3, 6-2 SEC): The Tigers lean on Guice and the ground game, as well as one of the nation's stingiest defenses. LSU gives up just 311.7 total yards per game and is effective stopping both the run and the pass, ranking in the top 25 nationally in both categories. Guice is a weapon, but part of the reason he has so much room to run is the efficient season quarterback Danny Etling has had, as he has passed for 2,234 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.
PREDICTION: LSU 24, Notre Dame 23
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Rose Bowl Game Presented By Northwestern Mutual Georgia vs. Oklahoma Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/19/2017
ROSE BOWL STORYLINES
1. Oklahoma brings the nation's fourth-best scoring offense into the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1 against a Georgia team boasting the fourth-best defense in the country. Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield threw 41 touchdown passes en route to 4,340 yards through the air to help the Sooners average 44.9 points per contest, but Georgia - led by linebacker and Butkus Award winner Roquan Smith - has held opponents to 158.3 yards passing per game while giving up just 13.2 points per contest. The winner could be who handles the other team's strength the best: Georgia has not faced a passing attack the caliber of Oklahoma's, but the Sooners' offense has not lined up against a defense like the Bulldogs.
2. The Bulldogs are two wins from their first national championship since the 1980 season, in part because of an improved offensive line and the one-two punch of senior running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Chubb is second on the SEC's all-time rushing list and sits at 1,175 yards on the ground this season while Michel is 52 yards away from 1,000, and both have rushed for 13 touchdowns. Having two strong running backs has paid big dividends for freshman quarterback Jake Fromm, who effectively has navigated the offense after taking over for the injured Jacob Eason on opening day.
3. Both teams reached the semifinals directed by young head coaches who earned their stripes as outstanding coordinators. There was plenty of uncertainty around the Sooners when longtime coach Bob Stoops suddenly stepped down in early June, but 34-year-old offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley has thrived after being thrust into the head coaching role. At Georgia, Kirby Smart returned to his alma mater in 2016 after directing defenses on multiple national championship teams at Alabama, and followed up last year's eight-win campaign with the Bulldogs first SEC championship since 2005.
TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Georgia -2
ABOUT GEORGIA (12-1, 7-1 SEC): Fromm's confidence has increased throughout the season, and he ranks second in the SEC in passing efficiency and third with 21 passing touchdowns. Chubb and Michel front the offense, but freshman D'Andre Swift rushed for 597 yards and led the Bulldogs with 88 and a touchdown in the SEC title game victory over Auburn. The Bulldogs defense held opponents to 14 points or fewer 10 times, and ranks eighth in the country in defensive pass efficiency.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA (12-1, 8-1 Big 12): The Sooners dodged a bullet with running back Rodney Anderson, who gained a team-best 960 yards this season, when no charges were filed following a rape accusation. Mayfield's top targets are tight end Mark Andrews, the Mackey Award winner who has eight touchdown receptions, and receiver Marquise Brown, who is 19 yards shy of 1,000 for the season. The Sooners defense allowed 144.2 yards on the ground and gave up 20 or fewer points three times in their last four games.
PREDICTION: Georgia 34, Oklahoma 31
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Allstate Sugar Bowl Alabama vs. Clemson Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/19/2017
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL NATIONAL SEMIFINAL GAME STORYLINES
1. Top-seeded Clemson and fourth-seeded Alabama are facing each other in the College Football Playoff for the third consecutive season when they square off in the semifinals at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1. The Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers in the national title game two seasons ago before departed Deshaun Watson led Clemson on a dramatic game-winning drive in last season's championship game. "I think it's only fitting that to have a chance to advance to Atlanta (for the final), you've got a heavyweight matchup here with Clemson and Alabama," Tigers coach Dabo Swinney told reporters.
2. Clemson's only blemish this season was a loss to Syracuse but the Tigers recovered well to leave no doubt that they were one of the nation's top four teams. It was a bit more complicated for the Crimson Tide as they lost to Auburn and didn't reach the SEC title game before landing the final spot over Ohio State. "I really do believe that based on the total body of work, that our team really deserved the opportunity to be in," Alabama coach Nick Saban told reporters.
3. The Crimson Tide's vaunted defense was torched by Watson (825 passing yards and seven touchdowns plus one rushing score) in the past two seasons and all eyes will be on Clemson junior quarterback Kelly Bryant. Alabama ranks first in scoring defense (11.5) and second in total defense (257.8) and Bryant (2,678 yards, 13 touchdowns passing; 646 yards and 11 scores rushing) can remove himself from the shadow of Watson's performances by leading his own title run. "The quarterback now may be a better runner, if that's possible, than the guy we played the last two years," Saban said at a press conference.
TV: 8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Alabama -3
ABOUT ALABAMA (11-1, 7-1 SEC): Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts (768 rushing yards, eight touchdowns) is a superb runner but his passing issues again popped up when he went 12-of-22 for 112 yards in the loss to Auburn, although he said he and his teammates are motivated to excel after the long layoff. "I think we got a little more time to heal up, a little more time to focus on the things we need to focus on," Hurts, who passed for 1,940 yards and 15 touchdowns, told reporters. "How can we show the world we've learned? How far have we come? I think we're trying to get better now." First-team All-American strong safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (52 tackles, one interception) is the leader of the sturdy defense that also regularly receives stellar outings from junior free safety Ronnie Harrison (team-best 68 tackles, tied for team lead with three interceptions) and sophomore defensive end Raekwon Davis (team-high 6.5 sacks).
ABOUT CLEMSON (12-1, 7-1 ACC): The Tigers have been nearly as good as the Crimson Tide on defense as they rank second in scoring defense (12.8) and sixth in total defense (277.9). First-team All-American defensive end Clelin Ferrell (the sophomore had a team-high 8.5 sacks among his 17 tackles for losses) is one of the headliners along with two second-team All-Americans -- junior defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (47 tackles, 4.5 sacks) and senior linebacker Dorian O'Daniel (team-best 99 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries). Offensively, junior wideout Hunter Renfrow -- who caught the winning score in last season's title game -- has a team-best 55 receptions, while freshman Travis Etienne (744 yards, 13 touchdowns) and sophomore Tavien Feaster (659, seven) share the rushing duties.
PREDICTION: Clemson 23, Alabama 21
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Rangers vs. Sabres Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/31/2017
The Buffalo Sabres hosted the first Winter Classic in 2008 and will participate in the event exactly 10 years later on Monday afternoon, when they take on the New York Rangers in frigid temperatures at Citi Field in Queens. The Sabres, who lost 2-1 in a shootout against Pittsburgh in the inaugural Classic, are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference but have been playing better hockey of late with points in three of the last four games.
"Even though the results aren't there (overall), you can see when we play a certain style, we're very effective," Buffalo coach Phil Housley told reporters after his team finished 4-5-4 in December. "Our guys are just doing the right things. We're really heavy on our forecheck. We're cleaning up our own end. ... I like the aggressiveness that we have." New York has earned points in six of its last seven games (4-1-2) coming into its second appearance in the Winter Classic, after losing in a shootout at Detroit 3-2 on Friday. The Rangers, who beat Philadelphia 3-2 in the 2012 outdoor event, can't afford a letdown as they sit six points out of first place in the Metropolitan Division and five above the bottom. "At the end of the day, everyone is going to give you the answers: 'It's a huge game. We need the points.' And that's true," Rangers left wing Rick Nash told the New York Post. "But I think it's more of an event, a show that you put (on) and something you'll always remember."
TV: 1 p.m. ET, NBC, Sportsnet, TVA
ABOUT THE RANGERS (20-13-5): New York will be without Chris Kreider, who is tied for second on the team with 11 goals, for about two months due to a blood clot in his right arm and needs more from its top scorers. Mats Zuccarello (team-high 29 points) has not landed on the scoresheet in three games, J.T. Miller has notched one point in five contests, Pavel Buchnevich has gone without a goal for seven matches and Mika Zibanejad is pointless in his last seven outings. The Rangers are relying a lot on Henrik Lundqvist (422 career wins), who went 5-3-2 with a .936 save percentage in December.
ABOUT THE SABRES (10-20-8): Housley said there is a good vibe around the team, and 21-year-old center Jack Eichel has played a big part in the revival with seven goals and four assists in his last six games to take over the scoring lead (35 points). Eichel scored twice as Buffalo rallied for a 4-3 overtime win at New Jersey on Friday and owns a plus-5 rating over his last four games while Evander Kane has registered 11 of his 34 points in the last 12 contests. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen scored his first goal of the season - the game-winner - on Friday and added an assist for his third multi-point performance of 2017-18.
OVERTIME
1. New York RW Michael Grabner tops the team with 17 goals but has been shut out in the last four games despite recording 12 shots.
2. Buffalo G Robin Lehner has posted a .933 save percentage in his last five contests and is 2-2-1 all-time versus the Rangers.
3. The Sabres went 2-0-1 against New York last season and has earned at least one point in four straight meetings (3-0-1).
PREDICTION: Sabres 3, Rangers 2
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Handicapped by Rick Needham at Aqueduct
RACE #7 - AQUEDUCT - 3:34 PM EASTERN POST
The Jerome Stakes
8.0 FURLONGS DIRT THREE YEAR OLDS STAKES $150,000.00 PURSE
#5 FIRENZE FIRE
#7 SEVEN TRUMPETS
#1 HONOR UP
#2 DIAMOND KING
Inaugurated in 1866, it is open to three-year olds, the purse is currently set at $150,000 at a distance of one mile 70 yards. Another Kentucky Derby trail prep race, the winner receives ten points towards the running of the roses in hopes to end it's Triple Crown run in the Belmont Stakes. The Jerome has been won by some of the best thoroughbreds racing has ever seen, Kelso, Bold Ruler, and Tom Fool. Here in the 152nd running of The Jerome, #5 FIRENZE FIRE takes a BIG class drop (-15), and has produced "POWER RUN PERFORMANCES" in each of his last five starts, including a trio of "POWER RUN WINS" embedded in this recent streak of racing consistency. Jockey Irad Ortiz and Trainer Jason Service send him postward this afternoon ... they've hit the board with67% of more than 9- entries saddled as a team to date. #7 SEVEN TRUMPETS, a 4-1 shot, comes off back-to-back "POWER RUN WINS" in his last two starts.
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F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Camarero
Camarero - Race 6
Quinella / Trifecta / Superfecta / Daily Double 6-7
Claiming $8,000 • 6 1/2 Furlongs • Dirt • Ages 4 and up • CR: 70 • Purse: $6,500 • Post: 5:00P
FOR NATIVE FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. WEIGHT, 120 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE DECEMBER 1, 2017 ALLOWED 2 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $8,000.
Contenders
Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line
Accept
Odds
Race Type: Fast-paced Race. There are many horses that could vie for the early lead. Check on scratches of any of the Front-runners. * KEY ANGLES * LA BORINQUENA: Horse racing off a layoff of 90+ days and horse has run well in the past in its fir st and/or second starts after a long layoff. Horse has the highest TrackMaster Power Rating. RONRONERA: Horse racing off a layoff of 90+ days and trainer's win percentage with horses coming off a layoff is at least 25. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. COMPOSITORA: Horse racing off a layoff of 90+ days and trainer's win percentage with horses coming off a layoff is at least 25. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating.
8
LA BORINQUENA
4/1
9/2
6
RONRONERA
7/2
5/1
7
COMPOSITORA
10/1
6/1
P#
Horse (In Running Style Order)
Post
Morn
Line
Running Style
Good
Class
Good
Speed
Early Figure
Finish Figure
Platinum
Figure
7
COMPOSITORA
7
10/1
Front-runner
67
69
77.0
62.8
54.8
6
RONRONERA
6
7/2
Front-runner
71
68
75.4
62.8
56.8
2
BABY CINDERELLA
2
10/1
Front-runner
27
27
69.6
21.5
6.0
4
CONCERTADORA
4
1/1
Front-runner
58
59
57.2
56.8
47.3
8
LA BORINQUENA
8
4/1
Stalker
76
68
75.2
67.2
64.7
1
LA DIPLOMATICA
1
3/1
Alternator/Stalker
63
54
45.6
60.2
51.2
5
LUARCA
5
5/2
Alternator/Non-contender
78
57
61.0
48.0
42.0
3
MUNECA BRAVA
3
10/1
Alternator/Non-contender
43
50
15.8
45.0
30.5
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Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts
Bar
Fair Grounds - Race #1 - Post: 1:00pm - Maiden Claiming - 6.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $15,000 Class Rating: 57
Rating: 4
#5 TAICHUNG BOBBY (ML=5/1)
TAICHUNG BOBBY - I always like to see a thoroughbred getting Lasix for the first time. Stidham adds it on this one today.
Vulnerable Contenders: #8 RIGGED (ML=7/2), #1 MUN UP (ML=4/1), #2 RUN YOUR RACE (ML=9/2),
RIGGED - Can't wager on this horse in today's sprint of 6 furlongs. Hasn't even hit the board in a short distance affair recently. This pony ran a mediocre fig last race out. He shouldn't improve and will likely lose in today's event running that number. MUN UP - He showed not much at all in the last race. No accomplishments for this entrant in a sprint contest over the last couple of months tells me that this colt is in a difficult circumstance RUN YOUR RACE - Should have at least finished in the money in the last two months in a sprint clash to be worth a shot at short odds in a sprint. Not probable that the speed rating he garnered on December 17th will hold up in this event.
STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Putting our cash on #5 TAICHUNG BOBBY to win. Have to have odds of at least 1/1 or better though
EXACTA WAGERS:
5 with 3
TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Pass
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None
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Handicapped by The Walker Group at Gulfstream Park
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.
Race 9 - Stakes - 5.0f on the Turf. Purse: $75000 Class Rating: 113
JANUS S. - FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD . FREE NOMINATION BY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26. $750 TO ENTER. $75,000 GUARANTEED. AFTER PAYMENT OF 1% TO ALL OWNERS OF HORSES FINISHING SIXTH THROUGH LAST, 62% OF THE REMAINING PURSE SHALL BE PAID TO THE OWNER OF THE WINNER, 20% TO SECOND, 10% TO THIRD, 5% TO FOURTH, AND 3% TO FIFTH. WEIGHT: 122 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A STAKES RACE
RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks
# 5 HOGY 8/5
# 3 VISION PERFECT 4/1
# 4 SUCCESSFUL NATIVE 8/1
I think HOGY is a competitive choice. Has been racing in the most competitive company of the group as of late. Looks competitive for the conditions of this race today, showing solid figs in turf sprint races recently. Ortiz has a win percent of 21 over the last month. VISION PERFECT - Could best this group of animals based on the Equibase Speed Figure - 114 - of his last affair. Has a strong shot in this event if you like back class. SUCCESSFUL NATIVE - Has a strong record at the distance and surface, which makes me lean toward this horse.
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F.A.S.T. Sheets Free Race for Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park - Race 1
$1 Exacta / $0.50 Trifecta / $2 Rolling Double $1 Rolling Pick Three (Races 1-2-3) / $0.50 Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.) / $1 Rolling Super High 5
Maiden Claiming $50,000 • 6 Furlongs • Dirt • Age 3 • CR: 77 • Purse: $29,000 • Post: 12:30
FOR CALIFORNIA BRED OR CALIFORNIA SIRED MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD. WEIGHT, 122 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $50,000, FOR EACH $5,000 TO $40,000 1 LB.
Contenders
Race Analysis
P#
Horse
Morn
Line
Accept
Odds
Race Type: Lone Stalker. CATABILITY is the Lone Stalker of the race. * KEY ANGLES * CATABILITY: Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. Horse ranks in the top three in average Equibase Speed Figure at the distance/surface. BLAC K SITE: Horse has run a Good Race within the last 30 days. Horse ranks in the top three in TrackMaster Power Rating. LIPSTER: Today is a sprint and this is the horse's third or fourth start after a layoff. Today is a sprint and the horse is carryi ng at least 120 lbs.
3
CATABILITY
5/1
4/1
8
BLACK SITE
5/1
5/1
2
LIPSTER
10/1
7/1
P#
Horse (In Running Style Order)
Post
Morn
Line
Running Style
Good
Class
Good
Speed
Early Figure
Finish Figure
Platinum
Figure
1
OUR TIGER'S BOY
1
7/2
Front-runner
0
0
97.6
57.8
51.3
6
BUCK DUANE
6
5/2
Front-runner
0
0
87.0
66.3
60.8
2
LIPSTER
2
10/1
Alternator/Front-runner
79
66
82.2
67.2
59.2
3
CATABILITY
3
5/1
Alternator/Stalker
86
72
83.6
64.9
59.4
8
BLACK SITE
8
5/1
Trailer
75
72
57.8
68.3
63.3
4
MAC MCLOVIN
4
12/1
Alternator/Non-contender
76
64
71.2
49.2
38.2
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Handicapped by The Walker Group at Turfway Park
Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.
Race 1 - Claiming - 8.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $7100 Class Rating: 87
FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NOT WON THREE RACES SINCE JANUARY 1, 2016 OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON FOUR RACES. WEIGHT, 124 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE AT A MILE OR OVER SINCE DECEMBER 1 ALLOWED 3 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $5,000
RECOMMENDED CHOICES
The Walker Group Picks
# 6 FOREVER SURE 3/1
# 5 BACK TOGETHERAGAIN 4/1
# 9 EASY DOER 4/1
FOREVER SURE is my choice. The average class figure of 79 makes this horse tough to beat. Has run well when racing a dirt route race. This gelding with Lebron in the irons makes him a definite contender. BACK TOGETHERAGAIN - Pasley has him trained soundly to break promptly out of the starting gate. Should be given a chance - I like the numbers from the last affair.
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Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts
Bar
Turf Paradise - Race #2 - Post: 1:11pm - Claiming - 8.0 furlongs on the Dirt. Purse: $7,000 Class Rating: 79
Rating: 4
#8 BENCH RULING (ML=8/1)
#7 BEAR FACTS (ML=9/5)
#5 TRULY UNUSUAL (ML=9/2)
BENCH RULING - Mare looks like the lone speed here. She may turn the race into a procession. Winless in her last three starts, this mare did win on July 20th at Sacramento versus tougher competition. In her last race, this mare showed good early speed then fell back before finishing nicely. Have to make this mare a serious competitor; she comes off a good outing on Dec 13th. BEAR FACTS - Jockey jumped on this mare's back for the 1st ride on Dec 9th. Should 'know' the animal even better this time. Taking a trip down the class ladder; has the class to make her presence felt. The most recent figure of 79 is the highest last race speed rating in the field. TRULY UNUSUAL - Possibly a peak effort for this mare today. Been getting closer and the finish with each recent start. Guillen brings her right back. I propose you stay with this live mare. 47-62-67 are last 3 speed ratings. Improving each time out is something she should do again in this field.
Vulnerable Contenders: #6 CUP OF SOUP (ML=7/5),
CUP OF SOUP - Hard to put your dough on the win end of any horse that finishes second and third as regularly as this thoroughbred does. Can't really back the favorite when she has multiple failures as the public's choice. The fig last race out doesn't fit very well in this contest when I look at the class rating of today's race. Mark this thoroughbred as a possibly overvalued contestant.
STRAIGHT WAGERS:
Play #8 BENCH RULING to win if you can get odds of 4/1 or more
EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [7,8] Box [5,8]
TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Box [5,7,8] Total Cost: $6
SUPERFECTA WAGERS:
None
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Texas vs. Iowa State Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/31/2017
Texas coach Shaka Smart got an unexpected surprise last June when Mohamed Bamba, one of the nation's top high school prospects, chose the Longhorns over expected destinations of Kentucky or Duke. The 6-11 Bamba, who has transformed Texas into an NCAA Tournament-caliber team, will try and deliver the Longhorns their first Big 12 Conference win on New Year's Day when they visit an Iowa State team that is also seeking its first league triumph.
In a 92-86 home loss to Kansas on Friday, Bamba (11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.6 blocks) opened the eyes of NBA scouts, setting career highs with 22 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks - a Texas freshman single-game record. "We ask him to do so much ... but he blocked shots all night long. He rebounded all night long. He got offensive rebounds (eight)," Smart told reporters after the game. "I think he's making progress. For us to get him 16 shots is big." Iowa State had a surprising non-conference campaign considering it was replacing four starters and shot 68 percent from the floor in the first half Friday against Kansas State but couldn't keep up the pace in the 91-75 loss as the Wildcats shot 55 percent from the floor for the game and drained half of their 26 3-pointers. "Defensively, the second half, as well in the first, just unacceptable. Very, very disappointing. (It) kind of takes you back to the beginning of non-conference season," Iowa State coach Steve Prohm told the media, referring to losses against Missouri and Milwaukee that opened the season before winning nine straight.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU
ABOUT TEXAS (9-4, 0-1 Big 12): Junior forward Dylan Osetkowski netted 17 points and brought down eight rebounds against Kansas, while freshman guard Matt Coleman added 17 points, five assists and matched a season high with six boards. Osetkowski leads the team in scoring (14.8 points) and is second in rebounding (7.8) but the Longhorns certainly missed shooting guard Andrew Jones (14.1 points, 43.6 percent from behind the arc), who played just nine minutes Friday after sitting out four games with a broken wrist. Coleman (8.2 points, 4.2 assists) is shooting just 34 percent from the floor but is committing fewer than two turnovers per game.
ABOUT IOWA STATE (9-3, 0-1): Freshman Lindell Wigginton (16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists) wasn't intimidated in his first Big 12 game, scoring 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting, but the 6-2 Canadian made just one of five shots after intermission and missed six of his 15 free-throw attempts on the night. The Cyclones will have a tough time matching up with Bamba, as 6-8 Solomon Young (6.8 points, 5.7 rebounds) - coming off a season-high 16 points - is the tallest starter and 6-9 Cameron Lard (10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds) is the tallest reserve. Joining Wigginton in the high-scoring backcourt is 6-2 senior Donovan Jackson (15.0 points) and 6-5 Nick Weiler-Babb (12.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists).
TIP-INS
1. The teams split two games last season with each winning on its home floor.
2. The previous freshman record for blocks at Texas was seven by Tristan Thompson in the 2010-11 season and Chris Mihm twice during the 1997-98 campaign.
3. Wigginton is second in the Big 12 in scoring among freshmen behind Oklahoma's Trae Young (29.6) and sixth among players in major conferences.
PREDICTION: Texas 74, Iowa State 72
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West Virginia vs. Kansas State Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/31/2017
Seventh-ranked West Virginia had to work hard to win its Big 12 season opener last time out and looks to make it two straight on the road Monday against Kansas State as the 2018 portion of the schedule begins. The Mountaineers trailed by seven at halftime and their leading scorer had a poor shooting night, but they rallied for an 85-79 victory over Oklahoma State on Friday.
"This is us, this is what we do," West Virginia coach Bob Huggins told reporters after his team forced 21 turnovers and coughed it up 18 times. "We don't shoot it as well as other people. We don't pass it well a lot of times, but we grind and we rebound and we come up with loose balls." Senior guard Jevon Carter had 12 points - more than five below his team-best average - on 2-of-10 from the field while turning the ball over eight times for the Mountaineers and will need a rebound performance against Kansas State, which opened the conference season with a 91-75 win at Iowa State on Friday. Junior forward Dean Wade broke out with a career-high 34 points in the win for the Wildcats, who lost by just two to No. 4 Arizona State in November. "If you're going to win road games in the Big 12, you have to have somebody step up and be special," Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said of Wade. "He was huge. He shot it with confidence, played with confidence and wanted the ball."
TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPNU
ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (12-1, 1-0 Big 12): Carter, who averages 17.7 points, contributed with seven assists and five steals in the win at Oklahoma State - well over his team-best marks in both categories. "This is a hard, hard league," Huggins told reporters. "(Carter) didn't play well, but the first thing he says when he goes in the locker room is, "I didn't play well, I'm sorry, but we won and I'm happy.' That's rhetoric for some people. He means it." Senior guard Daxter Miles Jr. (14.6 points) is 12-for-17 from the field the last two games and sophomore forward Lamont West (12.1) scored 14.8 per contest in the last five games.
ABOUT KANSAS STATE (11-2, 1-0): Wade averages 14.8 points along with a team-high 6.5 rebounds and scored just nine in the previous game before draining 6-of-8 from 3-point range Friday. "I honestly didn't feel like I was doing anything crazy, like 34," Wade told reporters. "I was just focused on the next play, rebounding basically, because that was a big emphasis at halftime." Junior guard Barry Brown Jr. leads the balanced offense (14.9) after averaging 22 in the last two games and junior guard Kamau Stokes, who scored 23 in the win over Iowa State, chips in with 14.8 points and a team-best 4.8 assists per game.
TIP-INS
1. Wade, Stokes and Brown became the first trio of 20-point scorers in a game for Kansas State since the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
2. Carter, the program's all-time leader in steals (267), needs four assists to become the 10th West Virginia player with 400 in his career.
3. The Wildcats lost to the Mountaineers 51-50 in the Big 12 semifinals last March and each team won once on their home court in the regular season.
PREDICTION: West Virginia 78, Kansas State 72
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Bucks vs. Raptors Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 12/31/2017
The Toronto Raptors ran into a little speed bump on the road, but they've been unbeatable at home of late. The Raptors will go for their 12th consecutive home win when they ring in the New Year by hosting the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
Toronto won 12 of 13 before stumbling on the road last week with losses at Dallas and Oklahoma City, but the team had no such trouble in its return home as it blew past the Atlanta Hawks 111-98 on Friday. "It's always great to bounce back ... especially after two on the road, to come back home and get back to moving things and getting that feeling of winning back," Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan told reporters. "It sucks to lose. It sucks. It's good to come here at home to get a win." The Bucks are having an impact on the NBA rule book after winning a game at Oklahoma City on Friday in which star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo stepped out of bounds before his winning dunk but drew no whistle, making the play not reviewable. "Coach trusted me having the ball late and making that play," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "I just tried to go and do what I do best, drive the ball to rim and try to make something happen."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Sportsnet One (Toronto)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (19-15): Milwaukee recovered from a 20-point deficit to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Thursday before winning at Oklahoma City in the second night of the back-to-back on Friday, and the two wins have the team feeling good about itself. "What we've got going on right here is special," Antetokounmpo, who recorded a double-double in each of the wins and is averaging 29.1 points and 10.4 rebounds, told reporters. "No matter what we go through, up and down, wins and losses, whatever we're going through, we're still one as a team. That's the special thing about this group right here." The win over Minnesota marked the beginning of a stretch seven straight against teams with winning records, including a pair of dates against Toronto.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (24-10): Toronto leads the Eastern Conference in scoring average (110.6 points) and is fourth in the NBA in 3-point attempts per game (31.9) up from 22nd (24.3) last season. The Raptors are making a concerted effort to get the whole team involved in 3-point shooting, and nine different players made at least one from beyond the arc in Friday's win, including center Jonas Valanciunas knocking down the sixth of his career. "It opens up driving lanes, it opens up back cuts, it opens up a lot of things," Toronto coach Dwane Casey told reporters of shooting 3-pointers. "When you make shots and make 3s, you really space out the defense. Everything's open if you do that."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Raptors PF Serge Ibaka is expected to return after serving a one-game suspension for an altercation with a team employee.
2. Bucks PF John Henson matched a season high with four blocked shots on Friday and is 27-of-37 from the floor over his last five contests.
3. The teams are meeting for the first time since Toronto knocked Milwaukee out in six games in the first round of the playoffs last spring.
PREDICTION: Raptors 121, Bucks 113
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Magic vs. Nets Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018
The Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets put together a pair of fast-paced, high-scoring affairs during the first week of the season as they both burst out of the gate with winning records. The teams begin 2018 with a meeting in Brooklyn on Monday under very different circumstances, fighting to keep themselves out of the basement in the Eastern Conference.
The Nets claimed the first meeting on Oct. 20 at home with a 126-121 triumph, only to fall at Orlando four days later 125-121, part of the Magic's 8-4 start. However, they've dropped 21 of 25 games since that hot start - including Saturday's 117-111 home loss to Miami in which they squandered an 18-point lead. "This hurts," Orlando coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the setback. "Our guys played their hearts out, played with great effort. I felt like they deserved to win, but you've got to get stops down the stretch, and we weren't able to do that." The Nets have lost eight of 10 after suffering a 108-105 setback at Boston on Sunday.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Orlando), YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (12-25): Although wins remain hard to come by, Orlando finally may be getting Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier going at the same time after injuries hindered the high-scoring forwards. Gordon scored 39 points on 14-of-22 shooting against the Heat while Fournier contributed 23 on 9-of-17, their best totals since coming back from calf and ankle injuries, respectively. Center Bismack Biyombo has recorded two straight double-doubles and is averaging 11.7 rebounds over the course of three straight starts since Nikola Vucevic was lost to a broken hand.
ABOUT THE NETS (13-23): Rondae Hollis-Jefferson continues to carry Brooklyn through its rocky stretch, scoring 22 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in Saturday's loss while helping make a tight game of what looked like a blowout early on. "We stayed poised to make a comeback," Hollis-Jefferson told reporters. "That's basketball. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn't. But for us, now we're definitely competing. It starts with the starting unit, we've got to come out that way. And I feel like the effort's there." The Arizona product is averaging 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds over his last five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Orlando has lost six straight on the road.
2. Nets SF DeMarre Carroll is 1-for-12 from 3-point range over his last four games.
3. Gordon has made 7-of-13 3-pointers since returning from his calf injury.
PREDICTION: Nets 106, Magic 103
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Trail Blazers vs. Bulls Preview and Predictions
By Gracenote for Scores and Stats08:00 PM
by Gracenote on 01/01/2018
The Portland Trail Blazers hope to turn the tables in January after a disappointing month when they visit the surging Chicago Bulls for a New Year's Day matchup on Monday night. The Trail Blazers finished 5-8 in December after dropping a 104-89 decision against the NBA-worst Atlanta Hawks on Saturday to open a three-game road trip that ends in Cleveland on Tuesday.
Portland is 2-2 since leading scorer Damian Lillard (25.2) went down with a hamstring injury and the All-Star guard is questionable for the matchup against the Bulls while fellow backcourt standout CJ McCollum hopes to end his shooting woes after connecting on just 34.6 percent from the field the last five games. The Trail Blazers are still in playoff position despite a rough month and hope to begin their revival against Chicago, which lost for just the third time in 13 games Sunday with a 114-110 setback at Washington. The Bulls led by six entering the fourth quarter before managing just 21 points the rest of the way and seeing their three-game win streak come to an end while allowing the Wizards to make 16 shots from 3-point land. Chicago began to turn things around when Nikola Mirotic returned from injury and the 6-10 forward scored at least 20 for the seventh time in 13 games with 21 on Sunday.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN Northwest (Portland), WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (18-17): McCollum averages 21 points overall and did put up 34 in the win over Philadelphia on Thursday, but will need to be more efficient if Lillard is not able to return. Center Jusuf Nurkic is the only other player averaging in double figures scoring (14.5) and pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game, but is coming off a 3-for-11 shooting performance against Atlanta. Point guard Shabazz Napier has picked up some of the slack with Lillard out, scoring in double-figures six straight games and averaging 21.7 the last three.
ABOUT THE BULLS (13-23): Point guard Kris Dunn returned to the lineup Sunday after missing one game with left patella tendinitis and posted his fourth double-double of the season - all in December - with 19 points and 11 assists. Power forward Lauri Markkanen, the seventh-round pick in the 2017 draft, followed up his career-high 32-point night Friday against Indiana with 11 at Washington on 4-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds. Center Robin Lopez had 16 points in Sunday's loss and has drained 13-of-17 shots from the field in his last two contests.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Bulls have won seven straight games at home after losing eight of the first 10 this season in their own arena.
2. Portland F Maurice Harkless has drained 14-of-24 shots from the field and averaged 12 points over the last three contests.
3. The road team has won the last four meetings, including last season's 112-110 victory for the Trail Blazers in Chicago.
PREDICTION: Bulls 105, Trail Blazers 99
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