<< Top-notch field of 11 set for Pacific Classic
Del Mar, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eleven of the best older thoroughbreds in training make up the field for Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The winner of the 1 1/4 mile race gains an automatic spot in the 2008 Breeder

<< Verdasco rolls; Fish advances, Karlovic falls at Pilot Pen
New Haven, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco was an easy third-round winner, while second-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic went by way of the upset Wednesday at the $708,000 Pilot Pen Tennis event, a final U.S. Open tu

<< Bocanegra's header helps USA hold off Guatemala
Guatemala City, Guatemala (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carlos Bocanegra scored in the 68th minute to help the United States down Guatemala, 1-0 at Mateo Flores on Wednesday in a World Cup qualifier. The USA is now 5-0-4 against Guatemala all-

<< Busch wins caution-filled truck race at Bristol
Bristol, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kyle Busch ended Johnny Benson's bid for a record-setting fourth straight victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Wednesday by winning the O'Reilly 200 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch led 145

Phils' Myers brilliant in shutout of punchless Nats >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brett Myers threw a nine-hit shutout, and Greg Dobbs hit a two-run homer, as Philadelphia blanked Washington, 4-0, in the second of three games with the Nationals. Myers (6-10) worked out of sev

Marlins SS Ramirez leaves game vs. Giants with thumb injury >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Marlins lost shortstop Hanley Ramirez to a thumb injury in Wednesday's 6-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Ramirez singled in the top of the third inning and stole second base. As

Heat re-sign Wright >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat re-signed guard/forward Dorell Wright to an undisclosed contract Thursday. Wright, who originally signed with the Heat after being drafted in the first round in the 2004 NBA Draft, has app

Benesova, Suarez Navarro reach Forest Hills semis >>
Forest Hills, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Czech Iveta Benesova and fourth-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro were a pair of quarterfinal winners Thursday at the $74,800 Forest Hills Tennis Classic, a final U.S. Open tu

2007 Academy Award Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.

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.