Just as Well pointed to Arlington Million XXVIII

Horseracing Betting Lines

05/19/2010 - Arlington Heights, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off a second-place finish in last Saturday's Dixie Stakes at Pimlico, Just as Well is on the road to this year's Arlington Million at Arlington Park.

The 1 1/4-mile race, a furlong more than the Dixie, is being targeted by the seven-year-olds' owner and trainer Jonathan Sheppard. Just as Well finished second in last year's Arlington Million, on a yielding turf course, as a 19-1 longshot behind 3-2 favorite Gio Ponti.

Gio Ponti would go on be win Eclipse Awards as champion turf male and older male thoroughbred.

Ridden by E.T. Baird in the Million, Just as Well had an awkward start and was last in the eight horse field. His rally came up 1 1/4-lengths shy of catching the winner.

"He was tracking the winner (Gio Ponti) around the last turn," Sheppard noted following the 2009 Million, "but then Einstein weakened and dropped in front of him, which broke his stride slightly. I'm not saying he would have won, but he would have made it closer."

The 1 1/8-mile Dixie proved to be a little short too in distance for Just as Well.

"I thought he ran great," Sheppard noted after Saturday's race. "Julien (jockey Leparoux) gave him a good ride and we just got beat by a better horse on the day. Probably a little more distance wouldn't hurt him, but he ran well. He's back where he was, that's the main thing. We're happy."

Just as Well was second in last year's Dixie before winning the 1 1/4-mile Arlington Handicap. Strike A Deal, 14-1 at post-time, won the 2010 Dixie by less than a length over Just as Well.

Sheppard's horse has won five of 23 career starts with five second-place finishes for $1.1 million.

After the 2009 Million, Just as Well was sent up to Woodbine for a pair of starts. He was second to Marsh Side in the Northern Dancer, but was a disappointing fifth in the Canadian International to Champs Elysees. He concluded the year in the Japan Cup in Tokyo, finishing seventh.

His first start in 2010 was in the Ben Ali at Keeneland. The 1 1/8-mile race on Keeneland's artificial main track was used as a tightener. Just as Well was fourth to Dubious Miss, beaten by 6 1/2-lengths.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.