Zenyatta to face eight in Santa Margarita

Horseracing Betting Lines

03/10/2010 - Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two-time champion mare Zenyatta makes her 2010 debut Saturday in the $250,000 Santa Margarita Invitational at Santa Anita Park. The six-year-old will take on eight other older females in the 1 1/8- mile race.

Zenyatta, trained by John Shirreffs, will start from post eight with Mike Smith again having the mount. Owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Zenyatta is undefeated in 14 career starts for nearly $5.5 million.

"I'm an owner and a fan," Jerry Moss said recently, "and a fan and an owner. "We're lucky to have this horse. Right now, she's progressing really well and her presence is good for the game, because I would agree that racing needs all the help it can get."

The last two years Zenyatta has been voted champion older female and for 2009 finished second for Horse of the Year to Rachel Alexandra. She won the 2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic and last year became the first female to capture the Breeders' Cup Classic.

If all goes well on Saturday, Zenyatta will finally meet Rachel Alexandra in the $5 million Apple Blossom Invitational at Oaklawn Park on Friday, April 9.

"It's very exciting," Moss said about the Apple Blossom. "We like Oaklawn. We've been there a couple of times."

The mare won the Apple Blossom two years ago.

Rachel Alexandra will be in this Saturday's $200,000 New Orleans Ladies at the Fair Grounds.

Here is the full field for the Santa Margarita in post position order: Dance to My Tune, Martin Garcia; Pretty Katherine, Joel Rosario; Made for Magic. Omar Berrio; Pretty Unusual, Chantal Sutherland; Striking Dancer, Alex Solis; Powerofvoodoo, Tyler Kaplan; Gripsholm Castle, Victor Espinoza; Zenyatta, Mike Smith and Floating Heart, Joe Talamo.

The Santa Margarita has a post-time of 6:36 p.m. (et).

Coming up about an hour later will be the $150,000 San Felipe Stakes for three-year-olds. The 1 1/16-mile race is a prep for the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby on Saturday, April 3.

The seven horse field features undefeated gelding Caracortado. The chestnut three-year-old is perfect in five career starts for $199,200. Last month he won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita with regular rider Paul Atkinson. The pair will start from the outside post on Saturday.

"It doesn't seem like distance will be a problem for him, either," Atkinson said. "Like in the Lewis, he just waited, and sitting on him, it was kind of like, 'Can we go now? How about now? Are we ready yet?' When I let him go, he just turns it on and gives you everything he's got."

Here is the complete field for the San Felipe in post position order: Stephen's Got Hope, Tyler Baze; Interactif, Rafael Bejarano; Erbeia, Alex Solis; American Lion, Julien Leparoux; Sidney's Candy, Joe Talamo; Dave in Dixie, Joel Rosario and Caracortado, Paul Atkinson.

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American Idol odds : Blake Lewis the Early Standout

An important American Idol betting lines recap from February 20 Guys episode. The 12 men came out flat overall with Blake Lewis appearing to have the early edge after the first hour and a half.

Rudy - was quite good singing "Free Ride" to start off.  Randy was not impressed though.  Paula thought he started off fantastic.  "Never had anyone stop off so lively" said Paula but Simon (who does not like Rudy) does not feel he has a distinct voice and was not impressed either. 

Brandon was a little pitchy according to Randy and Paula agreed.  Simon said he was a good singer but the song was "too safe" and he needs to make an impact.  He was listed at +1200 odds or $1200 paid out on a $100 bet should he win the competition. 

Big favorite Sundance came in with a flat version of "Knights in White Satin" and the judges let him have it, including Paula.  Randy claimed the song was out of pitch throughout.

Korean American - and a Jenny Woo favorite - Paul Kim was up next.  Another pitchy flat one but Randy said he still liked his potential.  Kim at +3000 odds was said to have sung a "third rate version of that (George Michael) song" according to Simon Cowell.  He sang "Careless Whisper".

22 year old Chris Richardson was up next.  He was listed with +1100 odds coming in.  He got the best response from the judges though Simon did not believe the vocal was that great. 

Nick was boring and pitchy.  Simon didn't think he was that bad though and predicted he would be back next week.  Nick Pedro was a big +3000 dog coming into this competition. 

Beat boxer Blake Lewis was listed with early +1000 odds or $1000 payout on a $100 bet if he were to become the next American Idol winner odds .  These of course were the early odds.  He was considered original for picking an "odd song".  He did not beat box and the judges felt it was the best vocal of the night. 

Sanjaya came in as the second biggest favorite after Chris Sligh but his performance Tuesday night was not very good. 

Chris Sleigh was the early favorite at +450 odds.  Great voice and a great sense of humor.  He's a real standout.  Randy felt it was on point but maybe ahead of the chorus a little bit.  Simon Cowell said he felt like he was in some "sort of weird student gig". 

Jared Cotter followed.  He was listed with +2000 odds early on to win the competition.  The judges felt he needs to take more risks but looked good. 

22-year old AJ Talbado, who has tried out for American Idol five times, was up next.  "Kind of a theme park performance" said Simon.  Though the judges felt he performed okay.  Simon did feel AJ might be better than he originally thought.

Phil - this season's military favorite - came into this competition with +1200 odds to win the competition.  He was the last to perform.  He was certainly strong enough to get through this stage of the competition and perhaps the best one after a shaky start. 

Tomorrow night, the ladies perform and I sure hope they do a better job than the boys.  Check out all the American Idol betting odds here.

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