Flat Out returns in Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs

Horseracing Betting Lines

11/22/2011 - Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defeated Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Flat Out makes a quick turnaround for Friday's $500,000 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/8-mile dirt race has attracted a solid field of 13.

Flat Out, trained by Scooter Dickey, will be ridden by Alex Solis from post six. The five-year-old is owned by Preston Stables and is the probable morning-line favorite.

Flat Out went off as the 7-2 favorite in the $5 million Classic at Churchill Downs on November 5. He broke from the inside post in the 12-horse field and raced in eighth for most of the 1 1/4-miles. Under Solis, the horse finished fifth just three-lengths behind the winner Drosselmeyer.

The five-year-old posted victories this year in the Suburban Handicap and Jockey Club Gold Cup. He was second in the Lone Star Park, Whitney and Woodward Handicaps and sixth in Churchill's Stephen Foster Handicap.

In 13 career starts, Flat Out has earned more than $1.2 million with five wins.

Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice has drawn the rail post with Garrett Gomez getting the mount again. Owned by George and Lori Hall, the three-year-old colt is coming off a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic as a 17-1 longshot.

"I'm very happy to report that he came out of the race in good order and he's currently in great shape," trainer Kelly Breen said. "He's eating well and training well. He's a lean, mean fighting machine.

"We're thinking that if he wins this race then he is in the running for champion three-year-old. That would give us two Grade I wins and he would be beating older horses (in the Clark)."

Since winning the Belmont in June, Ruler On Ice was third in the Haskell, fourth in the Travers and runner-up in the Pennsylvania Derby. The colt has won three times in 11 career starts for better than $1.6 million.

Another highly regarded three-year-old entered is multiple stakes winner Prayer for Relief. The colt will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano from post 12 for trainer Bob Baffert and Zayat Stables.

Since returning to the races in May, Prayer for Relief has won the Iowa, West Virginia and Super Derbies and was third in the Oklahoma Derby. This year he has earned just under $1 million in five starts.

Here is the complete field for the Clark in post position order: Ruler On Ice, Garrett Gomez; Alma d'Oro, Jesus Castanon; Demarcation, Corey Lanerie; Stately Victor, Victor Lebron; Mission Impazible, Javier Castellano; Flat Out, Alex Solis; Pleasant Prince, J A Garcia; Headache, Edgar Prado; Mister Marti Gras, Rajiv Maragh; Will's Wildcat, Calvin Borel; Wise Dan, John Velazquez; Prayer for Relief, Rafael Bejarano and General Quarters, Jon Court.

Post-time for the Clark Handicap is set for 5:45 p.m. (et).

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.