Top-notch field of 11 set for Pacific Classic

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/21/2008 - 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 Breeders' Cup Classic as part of the "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge.

Go Between, trained by Bill Mott, attempts to stop a three race streak in which he has finished second in each start. After winning the Sunshine Millions Classic in January he was the runner-up in the Santa Anita Handicap, the Ben Ali and the Hollywood Gold Cup.

Owned by Peter Vegso, the chestnut horse is the 3-1 morning-line favorite and will be ridden again by Garrett Gomez from the six-hole.

"The horse is doing excellent," said Kenny McCarthy who handles the Bill Mott string at Churchill Downs. "We gave him a couple of easy works after he came back from the Hollywood Park race and then put two sharp works into him."

The five-year-old has won seven of 25 lifetime starts with earnings of $2,183,880.

Here is the rest of the field for the 18th Pacific Classic: Student Council, Awesome Gem, Mast Track, McCann's Mojave, Well Armed, Surf Cat, Mostacolli Mort, Barcola, Delosvientos and Zappa. All horses will carry 124 pounds.

Defending Classic winner Student Council has won eight of 29 career starts for $1,547,731. His lone win this year came in the Pimlico Special and he is coming off a second to Commentator in the Whitney Handicap at Saratoga.

It was announced on August 12 that Student Council will be retired at the conclusion of the 2008 racing season and enter stud in 2009. The six-year-old will stand at Millennium Farms, his current owner.

"His racing career has brought us much excitement," noted Millennium Farms owner Ro Parra. "And after a few more races this year, we are sure that the combination of his pedigree, conformation, soundness, toughness, durability and great race record will make him desirable to breeders around the world."

Well Armed, trained by Eoin Harty for WinStar Farms, took the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar in his most recent start. The gelding has career earnings just over $1 million with five wins in 17 career starts.

"Going the extra distance isn't optimal, but I think he can do it physically," said Harty. "After all, he's by Tiznow (double winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic). He has overcome a lot in his lifetime; the worst was a broken pelvis two years ago and Bill Casner (partner in WinStar Farm) rehabbed the horse himself. These people (WinStar) have sent me three Tiznows and they've all won major races. That's this horse, Colonel John and Tiz Now Tiz Then. What are the chances of that?"

The Pacific Classic will be broadcast on ESPN2 with a post-time set for 9:45 p.m. (et).

Wwwdonbest Horseracing Betting News

<< 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-

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

<< Metcalf homers twice, Millwood goes nine as Rangers rout Tigers
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Travis Metcalf homered twice, knocking in three runs, and Kevin Millwood hurled nine strong innings, as Texas rolled past Detroit, 9-1, in the final contest of a three-game series. Brandon Boggs, Mich

<< LaRue, Cardinals rough up Pirates
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason LaRue hit a two-run homer, doubled and finished with three runs batted in, as St. Louis blasted Pittsburgh, 11-2, in the finale of a two-game set with the Pirates. Rick Ankiel also had a two-run bl

Dunn, D-Backs overcome early deficit to clip Padres >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer and walked twice, as the Arizona Diamondbacks held on for an 8-6 win over San Diego, in the second of three games with the Padres. The game was expected to be a pitcher

Cardinals P Wainwright to return >>
St. Louis, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright is expected to return from the disabled list and start Friday against the Atlanta Braves. Wainwright has been on the DL since June 8 with a

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

Hawpe's late hit helps Rockies edge error-prone Dodgers >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brad Hawpe knocked in the go-ahead run in top of the ninth inning, as the Colorado Rockies rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3, in the middle test of a three-game series from Chavez Ravine. Hawpe f

Molina's sac fly in ninth lifts Giants past Marlins >>
San Francisco, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bengie Molina had the game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning, as the San Francisco Giants held off a late rally by the Florida Marlins to win 6-5 in the middle install


Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

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