HORSE: Kentucky Derby (6:24 PM ET, NBC)
A key factor when studying the form for any big race is to evaluate how horses have fared racing against fellow competitors in previous starts. Such an analytical tool is particularly relevant when handicapping Saturday's 135th Kentucky Derby. Read on for more about this subject then head over to the HORSES section for more about the sport’s biggest event of the year, scheduled for a little after 6 PM ET on NBC.Since late December, the leading California-based 3-year-olds ran against each other on several occasions at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. Pioneerof the Nile won each of these encounters, and the horses he defeated have since shipped out of town and run well or won major Derby preps in Arkansas, Louisiana and New York, further boosting the credence and quality of those California races.
Papa Clem finished second to Friesan Fire in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds, then went on to beat the early Kentucky Derby favorite, Old Fashioned, in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
I Want Revenge twice fought out close finishes with Pioneerof the Nile in California, then shipped to New York to demolish the 3-year-olds in Aqueduct's Gotham and Wood Memorial.
With so many collateral form lines to take into account, it seems a logical assumption that Friesan Fire and Pioneerof the Nile are the two best horses in this year's Kentucky Derby.
This pair holds multiple winning decisions against most of the other leading contenders, with the exception of Florida Derby runner-up Dunkirk.
So leave it at that; box Friesan Fire and Pioneerof the Nile in the exacta and be done with it? No, that would take half the fun and much of the profit out of handicapping the Derby, so let's look at how the race will be run.
One striking aspect of Saturday's race is the lack of pace. Join in the Dance, breaking from post 9, will make the running, closely followed by Friesan Fire.
There is little doubt that Friesan Fire, a son of A.P. Indy, has the pedigree and stamina to last the Derby's 11/4-mile distance, even if pressing or setting the pace. This could provide jockey Gabriel Saez with a tactical advantage over the rest of the field.
Should the other jockeys let Saez open a lead into the far turn, Friesan Fire could be tough to run down in the final furlong.
Regal Ransom, General Quarters and I Want Revenge have a pace profile that should see them closest to the leaders. Traffic, luck and timing could be the difference in their chances for success.
Pioneerof the Nile will be midpack but has a vicious turn of foot. This son of Belmont winner Empire Maker actually might be better closing into a decent pace rather than fighting the bit and pulling for the lead, as was the case in the Santa Anita Derby.
Trainer Bob Baffert has prepped his charge over the Churchill Downs dirt with two excellent workouts in the last nine days. Garrett Gomez is undefeated on the horse and had his choice of riding Pioneerof the Nile or Dunkirk. He chose the former.
The dark horses of Derby 135 are Dunkirk and the Godolphin-owned pair of Regal Ransom and Desert Party. The former has tremendous potential, but three lifetime starts. A moderate second to Quality Road in a suspect Florida Derby is not the ideal preparation to make the Derby winner's circle. Dunkirk has place prospects at best.
Regal Ransom is better drawn (post 10) than his stablemate in post 19. Regal Ransom's tenacious defeat of Desert Party in Dubai's UAE Derby points this one out as the better of the Godolphin team. Give Alan Garcia's mount a good chance to hit the board at long odds (30-1).
For wagering value, Friesan Fire (5-1) and Pioneerof the Nile (4-1) will go off at decent odds. It might be wise to bet both to win and place, although the latter is preferred to get the win.
The exacta has been forecast already, so for trifecta and superfecta players, key the above two with Papa Clem, I Want Revenge and Dunkirk.
Finley has been handicapping the Triple Crown races for more than 25 years
Computer analysis
Liam Durbin, owner and handicapper at E-ponies.com, has correctly picked the Derby winner the last three years in a row. Speed score is based on early speed and total speed. Class score evaluates the quality of competition the horse has faced and how he performed in those races. Form measures consistency. Last is a composite of the first three, but only considers the last 50 days. The computer picked Pioneer of the Nile to win by a slight margin over I Want Revenge. Last three categories show changes in jockeys, equipment and weight.
Here are the odds by post position for the race as of Friday. Get current prices on the LIVE ODDS page.
1. West Side Bernie: 30-1
2. Musket Man: 20-1
3. Mr. Hot Stuff: 30-1
4. Advice: 30-1
5. Hold Me Back: 15-1
6. Friesan Fire: 6-1
7. Papa Clem: 20-1
8. Mine That Bird: 50-1
9. Join in the Dance: 50-1
10. Regal Ransom: 30-1
11. Chocolate Candy: 20-1
12. General Quarters: 20-1
13. I Want Revenge: 3-1
14. Atomic Rain: 50-1
15. Dunkirk: 4-1
16. Pioneer of the Nile: 4-1
17. Summer Bird: 50-1
18. Nowhere to Hide: 50-1
19. Desert Party: 15-1
20. Flying Private: 50-1
Weights: 126 pounds. Distance: 1 1/4 miles. Purse: $2,202,200 if 20 start. First place: $1,442,200. Second place: $400,000. Third place: $200,000. Fourth place: $100,000. Fifth place: $60,000. Post time: 6:24 p.m. EDT.
VIRTUAL HORSE RACING ON MOBILES FROM SPIN3
The sport of kings comes to mobile gamblingMicrogaming's mobile gambling technology associate Spin3 has launched Royal Derby, an innovative virtual horse racing mobile gambling game.
Royal Derby is a virtual horse racing game where players exercise their skills to pick a winner using a variety of race scenarios -- including the form of the horse and jockey, ground conditions and the weather.
No two races are ever the same, with the odds and potential winnings for each of the race's six horses determined by the unique scenarios generated for each race. Royal Derby replicates the thrill and complexities of horse racing with rich animation and audio effects, and is one of most sophisticated mobile gambling games available today.
Matti Zinder, Head of Spin3 says, "Horse racing is a hugely popular sport, with a strong following in the UK and around the world. With the 2009 Grand National just around the corner, we are sure Royal Derby will capture the interest of both racing fans and the general public alike. Royal Derby replicates the buzz and challenge of picking a winner at the races, and is sure to be a winning mobile gambling game."
Royal Derby is Spin3's 16th game in an ever-expanding portfolio, and significantly represents Spin3's first non-casino style mobile game. It will be launched to clients as a standard Java game and as a web application that can be played on web-enabled Smartphones such as the hugely successful iPhone and G1 Android.
The game's advanced audio and graphics provide a compelling gaming experience, claim company spokesmen. Players can either bet on their chosen thoroughbred to win or can place an "each way" bet, with the winner of each race confirmed with a photo finish - a still image of the winning horse crossing the finishing line.
Operators can also make use of Royal Derby's in-game branding options, inserting their logo within the game itself, along the race track's advertising banner.
Spin3 is currently providing demos of Royal Derby and its inventory of mobile casino games at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which runs until February 19th.
NETENT TO OFFER VIRTUAL HORSERACING
Swedish 3D graphics developer teams up with online gambling providerGothenburg, Sweden-based 3D graphics technology firm Solidicon AB is to supply online gambling software provider Net Entertainment with the latest technology and other game components necessary to build high quality virtual racing games.
Solidicon has developed a technology to port its revolutionary real-time 3D game content from its land based gaming platform to the online gaming environment. The first game title from Net Entertainment using the technology is Golden Derby, a virtual horse racing game featuring a super-realistic 3D environment, five betting modes which are familiar to horse racing punters, and odds ranges, together with a Jackpot pool.
P-A Gustafsson, Solidicon’s CEO commented, “With increasing competition on the online gaming market, we expect players will demand more from the games in terms of content, quality and innovative concepts. The uniqueness and quality of the Golden Derby product will set new standards and point the direction of what to expect from Net Entertainment and Solidicon in the future.”
"Net Entertainment is pleased to work with Solidicon and thereby gain access to their extensive experience of 3D graphics and rendering. We will continue to broaden our product portfolio moving forward and the cooperation with Solidicon will allow us to offer the latest in virtual racing games.” said Johan Öhman, Net Entertainment’s CEO.
Solidicon was founded by Daniel Hansen (CTO), Jonas Wikström (Creative Director) and P-A Gustafsson (CEO), three game developers with each having over 10 years of industry experience.
Their company has developed a game engine with the capacity to show very detailed 3D environments in real-time. The technology also makes it possible to create an endless number of outcomes for game events such as virtual horse racing, and allows clients to customise the product to make it more personal, such as dynamic in-game advertisement spots.
MORE ONLINE BETTING FOR U.S. HORSERACING
BetAmerica.com launches new U.S. licensed online wagering serviceThe horseracing industry in the United States continues to take full advantage of its exemptions from anti-online gambling legislation in the country, with BetAmerica.com this week unveiling a new online wagering service.
The website features thoroughbred, quarter horse and harness betting with cash rewards, and the company boasts that its new Internet based wagering system, will "make it even easier to watch and wager on horse races."
With the launch of its redesigned website and wagering platform, BetAmerica.com joins the ranks of U.S. based pari-mutuel account wagering services, licensed and regulated by the State of North Dakota.
Ken Lien, President of Lien Games Racing LLC, the BetAmerica.com parent said that the company co-mingles all bets into the U.S. host track pools, and has a proven track record of processing over $200 000 000 in pari-mutuel wagers.
"With our new Internet based wagering system, BetAmerica.com is making it even easier to watch and wager on horse races," Lien said. "BetAmerica.com offers free video for all members, no wager or subscription fees and most importantly, cash rewards based on every dollar wagered on our designated BetAmerica Bonus Tracks."
BetAmerica.com covers over 80 racetracks, and joins other licensed pari-mutuel services, such as TwinSpires, XpressBet and Youbet.
"In addition to our racing products, we will also be rolling out new and exciting contests and competitions over the coming months," promised spokesman Jared Alexander. "We believe that by reinventing what online racing and gaming is in North America, we will be able to expand the player base and draw users away from the offshore entities. It's not about rewrapping the same products and services; it's about rethinking and redefining the entire experience for the player."
U.S. INTERNET HORSE RACING PROGRESS
Sona Mobile completes Express Funding element in NYRA Internet betting projectU.S. horse race betting over the Internet, a legislated exception to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, added further functionality this week with the completion of an Express Funding phase for the New York Racing Association by Sona Mobile.
The secure software solutions provider announced that it has completed the Express Funding functionality of the Internet Wagering Application for the Association as part of Phase II of a contract between the parties.
Under the terms of the agreement, Sona Mobile was contracted to develop a web-based wagering platform for NYRA which allows racing fans to access real-time racetrack information and securely place wagers over the Internet on all races. Phase I of the project included online registration, access to track information and online wagering capabilities.
NYRA, which owns and operates the three largest racetracks in New York, will pay Sona Mobile the remaining 50 percent of the development funds following the launch of Phase II.
Express Funding is the new way for NYRA Rewards Program members to fund their accounts. Members making personal check deposits, including electronic funds transfer requests, will now receive immediate credits to their account. The new functionality is offered as part of the NYRA Rewards Program and is free to its members. The Express Funding program enables eligible users to have immediate access of up to $500 in any single transaction per day, which will be instantly available in their NYRA Rewards account.
Shawn Kreloff, chairman and CEO of Sona Mobile, commented, "The NYRA Rewards Program is arguably one of the country's most attractive account wagering programs with some of the best racing content in the industry. NYRA's use of Express Funding paves the way for Sona to continue to develop and release innovative enhancements to the system, and these enhancements are already being tested by our Research and Development team."
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