War Pass sends clear message with opening start

Horseracing Betting Lines

02/25/2008 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - If there was any doubt about last year's champion two-year-old colt War Pass, those doubts were extinguished on Sunday. The Eclipse Award winner made his first start of the year in a $60,000 allowance race at Gulfstream Park.

Under the experienced handling of jockey Cornelio Velasquez the three-year-old showed himself to be ready for a campaign leading to the Kentucky Derby. He easily disposed of four rivals in the one-mile race.

"He's a very happy horse," said Velasquez. "He's the best horse in the country right now. He's better than last year, he galloped out really strong. He wanted to win today."

War Pass posted a 7 1/2 length win while covering the mile in 1:36.38. Velasquez never had to do much more than stay in the saddle as the colt began to answer questions about his stamina.

"You still have anxiety no matter how you look at it," noted trainer Nick Zito. "When horses haven't run for a long time, there are injuries every day, so I know how grateful I am. He's unbelievable. That's what we wanted for him."

Owned by Robert LaPenta, War Pass is expected to make his next start on Saturday, March 15 in the 1 1/16 mile Tampa Bay Derby. Street Sense captured last year's Tampa Bay Derby leading to his Kentucky Derby victory.

"Three weeks from now it will be a little tougher," Zito continued. "I was happy for the fans. I'm a fan myself. I'm grateful to Gulfstream Park for putting the race on. He broke like a rocket. It would have been nice if he had sat back, but as long as he keeps winning, I'm happy. He's a special horse, he really is."

War Pass is undefeated in five career starts with better than $1.4 million in earnings. Last year he won the Champagne Stakes before taking the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by nearly five lengths.

If things continue to go well for War Pass, the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on Saturday, April 5 would be his final race before the Run for the Roses.

LaPenta and Zito also won Sunday's $350,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park with Cool Coal Man. The colt made a three wide move from fourth place on the final turn to win the 1 1/8 mile event.

Zito is still mapping out Cool Coal Man's schedule, but the Florida Derby on Saturday, March 29 is a possibility.

"I can't say where or what race he'll will run in," Zito noted, "possibly the Florida Derby. He's not a big horse. He'd need to have a good 30 days from now. We'll see."

Cool Coal Man is a winner of four of seven starts for more than $300,000. He turned the tables on Anak Nakal, another Zito trained thoroughbred. Anak Nakal, eighth on Sunday, won last year's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes when Cool Coal Man finished seventh.

It must be noted that the final time for the Fountain of Youth was revised to 1:49.53 from 1:51.86.

Gamblingg Horseracing Betting News

<< Red Sox agree to terms with Colon
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox announced on Monday that they have agreed to terms with pitcher Bartolo Colon on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Colon was on the disabled list twic

<< Bobcats' Wallace suffering post-concussion symptoms
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace developed post-concussion symptoms over the weekend after suffering a Grade 3 concussion Friday during the third quarter of the team's game against the Sacrame

<< Tipsarevic takes opener; Santoro retires in Zagreb
Zagreb, Croatia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eighth-seeded Serbian Janko Tipsarevic was among Monday's winners, while fourth-seeded Frenchman Fabrice Santoro retired from his opening-round match at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors tennis event. Tipsarevic tr

<< UConn still tops women's poll
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Connecticut remained the top team in the latest Associated Press women's college basketball poll. The Huskies are atop the rankings for the second straight week and for the ninth time in the last

<< Kerzhakov returns to Russia with Dinamo Moscow
Moscow, Russia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Russian international striker Alexander Kerzhakov will return to Russia with Dinamo Moscow after the club paid an estimated $10 million to Sevilla for the services of the 25-year-old. Kerzhakov jo

Creamer wins, remains No. 5 >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paula Creamer remained No. 5 in the world rankings for women's golf following her win Sunday at the Fields Open in Hawaii. Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam, Suzann Pettersen and Karrie Webb remained

Edwards wins rain delayed Auto Club 500 >>
Fontana, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carl Edwards captured the rain-delayed Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway (formerly California Speedway). The No.99 Roush Fenway Racing Ford crossed the finish line ahead of Jimmie Johnson under caution after

U.S. women drawn into Group A of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The U.S. has been drawn into Group A along with Jamaica and Mexico for 2008 CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying from April 2-12 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The U.S. will open the tournament on April 4 vs. Ja

Rangers sign McCarthy, six others >>
Surprise, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers signed pitcher Brandon McCarthy to a one-year contract Monday. McCarthy went 5-10 with a 4.87 earned run average in 23 games (22 starts) for Texas last season. He spent his previous

Stars' Boucher activated from IR >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Stars activated defenseman Philippe Boucher from the injured reserve list Monday after missing the last 38 games due to a shoulder injury. In 28 games this season Boucher has registered one go

Credit Card Betting: Sportsbook accepts U.S. credit cards

Online Sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard

MySportsbook.com is the best at processing US credit cards for deposits. Welcome to the most player friendly online sportsbook on the planet!

The principals behind MySportsbook are obviously a management group that understands the players needs as evidenced by their commitment to provide easy depositing with their high credit card acceptance rate and free weekly $10 bets they offer to clients with active betting accounts.

The perks don't end there! MySportsbook offers casino, poker and horses as well. Twice named Best Sportsbook by eGaming Review, this place is rock solid financially so you don't ever have to sweat the payout as you may with some other online bookies operating with less betting volume and client base.

Sign up today and grab your share of a 10% bonus that is added instantly to your betting account. Enjoy 52 risk free bets throughout the year as well!

Reasons to Play There: You have to see their no hitter, cycle hitter and slaughter rule promos for baseball. Worth a laugh and probably a few bucks throughout the MLB season. They offer supersized bonuses of 15% if you up your minimum deposit to $500 or more. Lay -105 on Friday NBA! Contests during the NFL football season!