brad beal

Las Vegas - On the college hoop board, we're gonna go all SOOIE PIG once again! We jumped on Arkansas over Alabama this past Wednesday night for a few of reasons. The Razorbacks have won eight of the last nine overall, with seven covers in the last eight games. And now, they've won 14 of 15 at home this season. There's also revenge on the table. The Hogs went to Baton Rouge back in January and the Tigers ate 'em up, 92-76, so REVENGE is on the table as well. So, it's Sooie Pig, or, Pig Sooie, for the money. Again. BOOK IT!

Also would not yell if you put a few pennies on Kentucky at home minus a deuce over Florida.

A little taste of the NBA tonight and we're looking at Washington over Minnesota. The Wizards, as long as Bradley Beal is on the court, are SMOKING. They have won and covered six of the last seven with the only loss coming at the L.A. Clippers. That loss was not surprising since the Wiz had just beat the Lakers the night before. Now we will turn our attention to the T'wolves, and you might wanna hold your nose. The stench is almost unbearable. They have lost 10 of the last 11 overall, and come to D.C. lugging a NEGATIVE 0-6 perfect against the spread. Never watched Harry Potter, but thinking the Wizards are MONEY in this spot.

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Just got some copy from my master horse guy, Martin Calia. If you like the ponies, check this out...

With the Kentucky Derby 9 weeks away, we hopefully will gain some perspective on who will be in that starting gate on May 1st ! We have a prep at Oaklawn Park, the G3 Southwest Stakes, which features the two year old BC champion Essential Quality. But before I get to the Southwest, my BEST BET is in the 8th at Oaklawn, in the 5 furlong Spring Fever. That would be the number 9 horse, Kimari. This Wesley Ward trainee has a win over the track in last year's Purple Martin Stakes. That win came in the slop and rain is in the forecast today as well. Speaking of Ward, he is 26% when he hasn't run a horse between 60-180 days, 29% going turf to dirt, 30% on dirt tracks, 29% sprinting and 19% in Stake races! All gaudy numbers. Add that Kimari is the class of the race and you know what you get? That's right as Eck would say, BEST BET BAABBBEEE! So it's a Benjamin to win on number 9 Kimari and a $5 exacta wheel 9 with all.

Now to the 10th race, the G3,Southwest Stakes. We have BC Juvenile winner Essential Quality breaking from the one post. He is undefeated (3-3) with 2 Grade 1 wins. He is trained by Brad Cox who is 8/31 at the present meet and a super 31% in graded stakes races! Although I think EQ will be tough to beat, he is the 3/2 favorite and is racing outside of Kentucky for the first time. He will also encounter a muddy track and breaking from the one post might not be ideal. Therefore my pick will be number 4 Jackies Warrior. He was the beaten favorite in last year's BC juvenile finishing 4th by 3 1/4 lengths. Warrior didn't get the lead and was kept two wide until he made the lead at the eighth pole but the trip took its toll as Essential Quality rolled by for the win. If the Steve Asmussen trainee breaks well today and is able go gallop along on the lead in the slop, he should beat EQ. The Warrior is no slouch as he is 4-5 lifetime with 2 G1 wins on his resume. The bet will be $100 to win on #4 Jackies Warrior and a $20 exacta box JW with the #1 Essential Quality.

On to Gulfstream for the G2 Fountain of Youth. The favorite will be Greatest Honour, the G3 Holy Bull Stakes winner. I think Honour will be tough to beat, but again his odds are 9/5, and I'm going to try to beat him today. My pick is #4 Fire at Will. He is a BC turf winner and is trained by Mike Maker. Will is 3/4, with a Stakes win off the turf and a G 2 to go long with his Juvenile Turf win. If he can set the pace it could be an upset. The bet will be $50 win and place on #4 Fire at Will and a $20 exacta box 4 and 8.

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