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Preakness Picks: Challengers Most Likely to Upend Orb's Triple Crown Bid

Justin Onslow — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:39:26 -0400

The 2013 Preakness Stakes is like many others in the last 35 years. With Orb’s win at the Kentucky Derby, the colt is now in line for a historic Triple Crown bid—an accomplishment not completed since Affirmed won thoroughbred racing’s ultimate prize in 1978.

But like so many of those previous Derby victors, Orb faces an uphill battle to secure the second and third legs of the Triple Crown. His pursuit commences Saturday evening at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Shug McGaughey-trained colt drew the No. 1 post, pinned between the rail and 9-1 challenger Goldencents. While Orb has 4-5 odds of triumphing at Pimlico (per Bovada.lv), poor positioning and a few strong challengers may be enough to keep the Triple Crown out of reach for another year.

Let’s take a look at three challengers most likely to derail Orb’s Triple Crown hopes prior to the final leg at Belmont on June 8.

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
1	Orb	Shug McGaughey	Joel Rosario	4-5
2	Goldencents	Doug O'Neill	Kevin Krigger	9-1
3	Titletown Five	D. Wayne Lukas	Julien Leparoux	33-1
4	Departing	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	Brian Hernandez, Jr.	7-1
5	Mylute	Tom Amoss	Rosie Napravnik	17-2
6	Oxbow	D. Wayne Lukas	Gary Stevens	18-1
7	Will Take Charge	D. Wayne Lukas	Mike Smith	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Bob Baffert	Martin Garcia	12-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	Eddie Plesa Jr.	John Velazquez	10-1

*Odds acquired from Bovada.lv

3. Itsmyluckyday (Post 9, 10-1)

Itsmyluckyday didn’t produce a strong finish at Churchill Downs (15th place), but the Eddie Please Jr.-trained colt is by no means a long shot at the Preakness.

One of the fastest sprinters in the field, Itsmyluckyday won’t be deterred by the No. 9 starting post. In fact, the colt has more than enough tactical speed to emerge from the outside down the stretch, unaffected by the bunching that will likely occur closer to the rail.

Orb’s position next to the rail may mean trouble toward the end of the race, when top challengers like Goldencents and Departing are positioning for a strong finish on the inside. If the Derby winner gets pinned to the rail and can’t break free, Itsmyluckyday could be the horse to take advantage.

The Holy Bull Stakes winner has a rare blend of tactical speed and endurance that will allow jockey John Velazquez to adapt to the pace and positioning of the rest of the field. Without a challenger to his outside, Itsmyluckyday could easily come from off the pace to take down a first-place finish.

2. Goldencents (Post 2, 9-1)

Like Itsmyluckyday, Goldencents failed to impress at Churchill Downs, despite favorable odds and adequate post positioning.

But the Doug O’Neill-trained colt isn’t without the ability to triumph at Pimlico. Arguably the fastest pure sprinter in the field, Goldencents could be an extremely dangerous challenger if he can manage to position himself ahead of Orb out of the gate.

Running from the No. 2 post, Goldencents can gain a huge advantage by assuming the lead ahead of Orb. Without adequate space between Goldencents and the rail, Orb will be cut off from setting the pace, forced to wait for an opportunity to emerge from the pack later in the race.

Orb certainly has the ability to do just that, but Goldencents won’t make it easy. Look for the latter to break quickly from the gate and assume an early lead at Pimlico.

1. Departing (Post 4, 7-1)

One of the three new shooters in this race, Departing doesn’t have the benefit of having run with Orb at the Kentucky Derby.

That may not be much of an issue, however.

The Albert Stall-trained colt has the best odds of derailing Orb (7-1), due in large part to his success on longer tracks.

Unlike many thoroughbreds in this year’s field, Departing has raced most of his events on tracks of a mile or longer. With four wins in five starts (three of which were a mile or longer), Departing shouldn’t struggle with Pimlico’s 1 3/16-mile track.

The colt also benefits from a good post draw that should keep the inside wide open. At 33-1, Titletown Five is unlikely to pose much of a threat to the Illinois Derby winner.

We already got a good look at Goldencents and Itsmyluckyday at the Derby, but don’t be surprised it the field’s best new shooter surpasses all the Derby challengers en route to a dominating first-place finish at the Preakness.

Preakness 2013 Weather: How Horses Will Fair in Muddy Track

Steven Cook — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:31:37 -0400

Horses, trainers and jockeys at the 138th Preakness Stakes hoping for conditions opposite of those at the Kentucky Derby just weeks prior may be out of luck, as rain looks to be pouring down all over Baltimore in the hours leading up to the race.

The Doppler radar (via Weather.com) isn't showing promise for sunny skies and a dry track. In fact, there looks to be scattered showers at Pimlico starting at noon ET that will keep the track's surface wet and muddy throughout the day.

If it's raining all day leading up to the race, we could see absolutely dreadful conditions similar to those at Churchill Downs earlier this month.

But if it can hold off in the mid-afternoon and move out of the area like it's looking around 3 p.m. ET, things will be much more bearable.

Here's the forecast for the hours of the race (via Weather.com), which shows likelihood of precipitation at 6:20 p.m. ET.

Judging from the weather reports, there's no doubt that Orb and his eight opponents will be racing through some less-than-ideal circumstances and that will make things quite difficult for certain horses.

One of those horses whose difficulties were made clear after Churchill Downs was popular pick Itsmyluckyday. Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. admitted to the Miami Sun Sentinel that the sloppy conditions were a huge factor in his poor performance there.

Plesa said it was evident to him early in the race that the colt was having a difficult time with the sloppy surface. Itsmyluckyday had trained sharply at Calder Casino & Race Course leading up to the Derby, but never managed to get closer than sixth in the 1 ¼-mile Derby.

The muddy conditions at Churchill Downs were so extreme that some trainers referred to it as creamy peanut butter, according to ESPN. I don't know about you, but I'm not sure if I could walk on a peanut buttery floor, much less compete in a prestigious race.

Despite the poor conditions there, though, the horses seemed to handle the mud tremendously and still posted scorching times that didn't resemble any issues with the surface. This was obviously highlighted by Orb, who galloped his mud-coated frame to victory on the outside stretch.

All of the talk heading up to Churchill Downs was on how the conditions of the race track would affect the competitors, but it didn't seem to show up much when the race got started. That was all done amidst a crowded 19-horse field, mind you.

Though just because the Kentucky Derby was finished without a major mishap doesn't mean Saturday will follow suit. It only takes one off step for a thoroughbred to come tumbling down, and those chances are definitely amplified on a muddy, slippery track.

But with 10 less horses competing and a much less muddy track at Pimlico, these subpar conditions shouldn't affect the outcome of the race too much. Unless your pick is on Itsmyluckyday, don't start second-guessing who you're going with in the "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans."

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Chelsea vs. Everton: Premier League Live Score, Highlights, Recap

Sam Tighe — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:28:01 -0400

Stamford Bridge—London, England.

Chelsea vs. Everton

Sunday, May 18, 11 a.m. ET

Chelsea's final game of the season doesn't have the colossal ramifications of Arsenal and Tottenham's, but it's still well worth tuning in for.

A playoff for third place with Arsenal after the season's end isn't exactly top of the Blues' wishlist, and a final win for Rafa Benitez at the Bridge would ensure that's not a possibility.

It's also the small matter of David Moyes' final game of a 10-year tenure as Everton manager, and both sets of fans will be eager to give their head coaches good send-offs.

Chelsea fans may not have warmed to Benitez, but they'll certainly be grateful for delivering the Europa League trophy midweek.

Follow @stighefootball

Arsenal Transfer News: Analyzing What Makes Target Yaya Sanogo Special

Tim Daniels — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:24:57 -0400

Most of the early transfer talk surrounding Arsenal concerned links to marquee names such as Wayne Rooney and Stevan Jovetic. But it appears the first splash Arsene Wenger wants to make involves lesser-known striker Yaya Sanogo.

Wenger confirmed that the Gunners are working toward an agreement with the 20-year-old French youth international but cautioned no deal is complete yet, according to John Cross of the Daily Mirror.

We are advanced with him, but it's not done. I'm very confident (it will be done).

He's a young striker who is promising. He has some talent. Big talent.

Sanogo has shown terrific ability in front of goal for both Ligue 2 side Auxerre and France's youth national team. He's found the net eight times in 12 league matches during the current campaign—an impressive rate even against a lower level of competition.

The most important thing to realize about the Gunners' target is that he's still very raw. He's had no trouble scoring, but the difference between where he's played so far and the Premier League is gigantic. It would be a major jump.

There would be a transition period before he's ready to make an impact with Arsenal. While he possesses the potential to fill the void atop the club's formation in the future, it won't happen right away next season. So that search should continue into the summer.

That said, it's hard not to be intrigued by his upside. Sanogo is 6'3'' with a combination of strength and speed that makes him an ideal player to lead an attack. He can win a ball in the air one minute and run past a defender the next.

Injuries have held him back, though. Robin Bairner of Goal.com explains the constant issues that have held him back in recent seasons.

Looking at the player's injury record gives a clue as to why. He has been beset by problems throughout his young career, including a broken leg that kept him out of virtually the entire 2009-10 campaign and a torn adductor that saw him sidelined for much of the following season.

To make matters worse, he has been plagued by a series of more minor issues over the course of the last year and will on Friday, assuming he is selected to play against Clermont, only feature in five consecutive matches for the first time in his career.

It's a concern, there's no doubt about that. Players who receive the injury-prone label early in their careers often have a hard time shaking it. The endless issues also tend to become a mental battle, although Sanogo has bounced back strong each time.

For Wenger, it all comes down to risk and reward.

The risk is that injuries will stop him from reaching his sky-high potential and keep him from ever making a serious impact with the Gunners. On the flip side, the reward is Premier League experience allows him to grow as a player and he becomes the lead striker Arsenal lost when Robin van Persie left.

Add in the fact Wenger only has to pay a compensation fee, and it's clear the potential reward outweighs the inherent risk.

Sanogo has all the tools to become a star. Taking a chance on him while his stock is still low could pay off in a major way for Arsenal down the line.

They just have to hope he can remain healthy enough to start putting his finishing ability, strength and speed into one total package. It's going to take some patience from the Gunners, but that's something the club should understand going in.

Arsenal have to take some chances to keep up with the likes of Manchester United. Sanogo is an example of one they should take, and it sounds like they are close to doing exactly that.

The Preakness 2013: History-Making Accomplishments to Watch for at Pimlico

Mike Chiari — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:24:05 -0400

While every racing fan will have history on their minds on Saturday as they watch Orb attempt to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown, there are plenty of other horses and people involved in the Preakness Stakes who can potentially make history themselves.

Horse racing has such a long and rich history that it is truly special when something is accomplished for the first time ever or for the first time in many years. There will be plenty of chances for that to happen in this nine-horse field as almost everyone involved can potentially do something special.

Here are the top three history-making accomplishments that could potentially come to fruition at Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

Starting Order

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	10-13
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	9-1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	33-1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Albert M. Stall Jr.	7-1
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	17-2
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	18-1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	12-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10-1

*Odds courtesy of Bovada

Rosie Napravnik First Winning Female Jockey

Rosie Napravnik acquitted herself quite well aboard Mylute in the Kentucky Derby as they finished fifth in a stacked field. While she was unable to become the first female jockey to win the Derby, her fifth-place finish was the best for a female jockey in the premier race at Churchill Downs. Napravnik is hoping to build upon that on Saturday as she can become the first female jockey to win the Preakness Stakes.

While Mylute is only No. 3 in terms of the betting-line favorites, he certainly has a chance to come out on top. He surprised a lot of people with a strong run in the Kentucky Derby, and nobody is questioning Napravnik's status as an elite jockey at this point.

Even if Mylute finishes dead last, Saturday will be a big day for Napravnik. According to Mike Gathagan of Pimlico Race Course, Napravnik will be only the third female rider in Preakness history.

That, in and of itself, is pretty special. Napravnik probably looks at herself as just another jockey, though, so simply starting the race won't be enough in her book. She wants to win just like the other eight jockeys involved. Outlasting Orb will be an extremely tall order, but Napravnik is up to the task.

Kevin Krigger First Black Jockey Winner since 1898

Much like Napravnik, jockey Kevin Krigger is looking to ride into the record books at the Preakness. He also had a chance to make history at the Kentucky Derby as he could have become the first black jockey to win The Run for the Roses since Jimmy Winkfield in 1902. Goldencents ultimately faltered, though, as he couldn't keep up the break-neck pace that he set and ended up finishing 17th. Krigger will look for redemption at Pimlico.

If Krigger wins the Preakness, it will be even more historic. According to Baltimore City and Press, Krigger would be the first black jockey to win the Preakness Stakes since 1898.

It has been a very long time since an African-American jockey has been relevant, so Krigger is breaking the mold no matter how well Goldencents runs on Saturday. If Goldencents struggles in the Preakness like he did in the Kentucky Derby, though, Krigger will likely consider this endeavor to be a failure. Goldencents should be one of the most talented horses in the field, so Krigger should be able to contend.

Expect redemption to be on Krigger's mind more so than anything as he wants to prove that the Kentucky Derby was a fluke. A victory would certainly accomplish that, but it would also give hope to aspiring black jockeys who hope to be like Krigger one day.

D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert Look to Move Up All-Time List

D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert are two of the greatest horse racing trainers of all time. Whenever they have horses entered in a big event, they are always a threat to win.

Since their horses comprise four-ninths of the Preakness field on Saturday, there is certainly a decent chance that one of them will be celebrating. If either Lukas or Baffert manages to win, they will move up to No. 2 on the all-time Preakness victory list.

According to The Associated Press, Robert Wyndham holds the record for Preakness wins with seven. Both Lukas and Baffert are in hot pursuit as they have five victories apiece, which makes them the winningest active trainers at Pimlico, according to Racing Stats & Info on Twitter.

Although Shug McGaughey is in the driver's seat with Orb to his credit, both Lukas and Baffert are in the mix. Lukas actually has three horses entered in the form of Will Take Charge, Oxbow and Titletown Five, who happen to be the longest shots on the board. Baffert has everything riding on Govenor Charlie, who also is not considered to be among the top contenders.

Both legendary trainers know that they have their work cut out for them as Orb is a heavy favorite, but they are hoping that strength in numbers will prevail. It isn't as if either man needs to add anything more to their respective résumés, but they both want to win nonetheless.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Yankees Acquire Infielder Reid Brignac from Colorado

Matt Barbato — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:12:31 -0400

According to a report from Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the New York Yankees have acquired infielder Reid Brignac from the Colorado Rockies. Brignac, a utility infielder, was designated for assignment by the Rockies earlier in the week. According to NBC Sports, Heyman later tweeted that the Rockies will receive $75,000 in return.

Brignac has been in the majors for six seasons, five in Tampa Bay. In his first season in Colorado, he hit .250 with a .294 OBP, with one home run and six RBI.

Brignac's best quality is that he is a guy who can play almost everywhere on the diamond. He primarily plays at second base or shortstop, but has also played in left field, right field and third base. With Derek Jeter, Eduardo Nunez, Kevin Youkilis and Alex Rodriguez all on the disabled list, Brignac could be used in numerous situations to give the healthy players a much-needed rest.

This is another nice move by GM Brian Cashman. Brignac adds depth at three of the four infield positions and can even play in the outfield if necessary.

Brignac is the second player the Yankees have acquired from the Rockies this season, the first being Chris Nelson. It is unknown when Brignac will join the Yankees.

Bay to Breakers 2013: Date, Start Time, Route and Race Preview

Timothy Rapp — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:09:02 -0400

The Bay to Breakers run, a 12K race in San Francisco, is one of the most entertaining races in the country. At the annual running, you will see both serious runners and folks running in full costume (and yes, even a few streakers).

Would you expect anything less from San Francisco?

Let's take a closer look at this annual spectacle.

When: Sunday, May 19th at 7 a.m. PT

Where: San Francisco, CA

Route: Info on the race's route can be found here.

Preview

Bring your costume!

One of the time-honored traditions is both registered runners dressing in costume and non-registered runners dressing up and joining the fray for a few blocks at a time.

While alcohol is not permitted at the race, there's no shortage of participants that have imbibed before the race, to say nothing of the hordes of people gathered to watch the race, one of San Francisco's largest annual parties.

And yes, nudity is permitted, though not encouraged. So if you are bringing your kids, well, get ready to cover their eyes.

Sure, there are plenty of serious runners at the race who are there to beat personal bests or challenge themselves at the longer distance. But the real color of the run comes from the costumed participants.

Will Kane of the San Francisco Chronicle has more info on the race:

"It's a 12-kilometer art project," said Matt Striker of the San Francisco Travel Association. The race is a "pressure release valve for those of us that live here."

More than 30,000 registered runners will start the 7.5-mile course at Howard and Main streets at 7 a.m. Organizers expect another 50,000 to 70,000 people will turn up to watch the mobile mob huff and puff up the Hayes Street hill or sprint for the finish through Golden Gate Park.

As Kane notes, police and race officials will be at a heightened state of awareness following the bombings at this year's Boston Marathon, and additional security will be enlisted, as well as surveillance cameras being added to several points along the race.

But, of course, the expectation is that the race will go off without a hitch and once again be a blast.

The race dates back to 1912 (then called the Cross City Race) and was started to lift morale alongside rebuilding efforts in the city after a devastating earthquake rocked San Francisco in 1906. It's now evolved into one of the largest—and most memorable—races in the United States.

If you've never seen pictures of the event, it's quite the spectacle. It may not be the most traditional of races, but it's arguably the most fun.

Roger Federer Will Fall Short of Championship in 2013 French Open

Alex Kay — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:06:51 -0400

Roger Federer has put together a Hall of Fame career and will be remembered as one of the best tennis players in history—perhaps the best. However, the Swiss superstar never been able to master the clay at Roland Garros and has just one victory under his belt in 14 attempts.

Federer will make his 15th attempt at the 2013 French Open, but that winning number is likely to remain stuck at one when the tournament concludes.

For starters, Fed hasn’t exactly had the most dominant year, starting with his third straight semifinals exit at the Australian Open.

That Grand Slam disappointment was followed up by more defeats at the Rotterdam Open, Dubai Tennis Championships and BNP Paribas Open before a two-month break to work on his fitness and prepare for the clay season.

However, Federer returned and was quickly bounced from the Mutua Madrid Open by Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the third round. Considering he had won the tournament just a year prior, it was a major step back for the 31-year-old defending champion.

While Fed is still alive in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, he’s just not going to have what it takes to capture his 18th Grand Slam in Paris come early June.

Don’t mistake that for lack of effort or an early defeat, as this veteran star is likely going to surge into the semifinals—as he has in seven of the last eight years. He may even make the finals, as he has five times in that same span.

Unfortunately, with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal both playing at the top of their games and stylistically better suited for the surface at Roland Garros, it’s just improbable that Fed will be able to pull off the upset.

Even if Federer were having a brilliant season, he'd still be hard-pressed to surpass either one of these two elite opponents in the French Open.

The aging star will have a chance and certainly give anyone he faces a run for their money, but he will ultimately fall just short.

Preakness 2013 Horses: Speedy Thoroughbreds Sure to Fly out of Gate

Steven Cook — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:04:12 -0400

All talk surrounding the 2013 Preakness Stakes has surrounded Triple Crown hopeful Orb, to nobody's surprise. But that's only where you start as far as talking about elite thoroughbreds capable of victory at Pimlico.

While a handful of Orb's opponents have followed him from Churchill Downs after the Kentucky Derby, there's no shortage of fresh horses who skipped this year's Run for the Roses in the efforts to have a better shot at victory in the Preakness.

That move has paid off for some trainers and owners, while at other times, the horse with the hot hand or the most recent experience takes the crown. With this year we have a combination of both, and each side of the spectrum shows incredibly talented horses who are capable of stealing Orb's thunder and ending his Triple Crown bid.

Post position to start out the race is a huge deal as well, despite the nine-horse field making things a bit less crowded and easier to move around in. Some horses found just the gate to suit their style.

Let's take a look at the speedsters Orb will have to fend off to keep the Triple Crown hopes alive.

Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Md.

When: Saturday, May 18

Post Time: 6:20 p.m. ET

Purse: $1 million

Television: NBC

Post Positions and Odds for 2013 Preakness Stakes

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	10-11
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O’Neill	8-1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	28-1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	13-2
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	13-2
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	16-1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	10-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10-1

Odds via Bovada

Mylute

It just seems like the perfect time may have finally presented itself for Mylute to make history for the jockey and trainer he follows.

For starters, jockey Rosie Napravnik is trying to become the first female jockey to win the Preakness Stakes. And it's a long time coming, as she's boasted a few consecutive seasons of solid racing and figures to be one of the sport's elite horse riders.

Napravnik and Mylute are coming off a fifth-place finish at Churchill Downs amidst a muddy, crowded track. Her resolve and ability to stick with it through tight spots will pay off in the much more spacious Pimlico.

As crazy as it is that respected trainer Tom Amoss has never won a Triple Crown race, this is likely his best shot at doing so.

And with the experience Napravnik has in following Orb throughout the Churchill Downs race earlier this month, it shouldn't be too tough for Mylute to stick with the derby champion and make a late push.

Goldencents

It's hard to see a scenario where Goldencents doesn't come firing out of the gate. The only question is how the last half of the race will treat the scrutinized thoroughbred.

Part-owned by Rick Pitino and trained by I'll Have Another star Doug O'Neill, Goldencents has all of the training and preparation necessary to become the horse to upset Orb's chance at the Triple Crown.

We could talk all day about Goldencents' championship-caliber pedigree and training, buti t's the position that will help him the most. Starting out in the No. 2 position, he'll be able to get out to an early lead with little to no issues considering Orb will be saving his best for last.

O'Neill wasn't shy about how his contender looked on the track the eve leading up to the big race, according to his personal Twitter.

Jockey Kevin Krigger will have to magnificently work the opening gate to make sure his horse gets out in front and can take the inside. Doing so is so crucial at Pimlico, where it's much tougher to caddy-corner the turns.

Inside position is huge in the Preakness, and Goldencents can prove that if he can win Saturday.

Govenor Charlie

Starting in the No. 8 spot, Govenor Charlie will have a great opportunity to attack from the outside late in the race just as Orb did in Churchill Downs.

But it's not the starting position that has trainer Bob Baffert excited. It's his decision to skip out on the Kentucky Derby in the efforts to rest his thoroughbred that has Govenor Charlie boasting a unique advantage over most of the field.

Baffert knows what he's doing at Pimlico. He's won five races in 13 appearances there and certainly has the knowledge part of the track down.

The trainer seems to be a fan of his horse's post spot as well, according to his personal Twitter account.

Led by one of the sport's legendary trainers and ridden by jockey Martin Garcia, Govenor Charlie seems to have a solid shot at upsetting the field and proving his worth. A victory is certainly too much to ask for, but it's not impossible and he should at least be finishing in the first three.

Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Results: Joel Rosario's Win Is Excellent Omen for Orb

Timothy Rapp — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400

Joel Rosario has a winning touch these days. And that's good news for Orb—and horse-racing fans in general—as the Preakness Stakes approach.

After leading Orb to a victory in the Kentucky Derby, the jockey kept his hot streak alive, riding Fiftyshadesofhay—one of the better horse names in recent memory, for what it's worth—to victory in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes in the lead-up to the Preakness.

From Claire Novak of ESPN:

Jockey Joel Rosario's remarkable run continued May 17 when he cleverly brought Fiftyshadesofhay from off the pace to win the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

Rosario, who will ride Kentucky Derby winner Orb in the Preakness Stakes May 18, took his mount in hand to rate sixth early on, atypical of her usual running style. After closing well and altering course to the outside in the upper stretch, the Bob Baffert-trained filly reached the wire in front under strong right-handed urging to win by a neck over 12-1 shot Marathon Lady.

This is how hot Rosario is right now—he ran a totally different style of race than what Fiftyshadesofhay generally runs and still led the horse to a win, according to the horse's trainer, Bob Baffert (via Novak):

"I said 'Ride her the way you feel,' and then when he had her back, I thought 'Oh boy, this is something new!'" Baffert remarked. "Is he a riding sunofagun or what? I thought she'd run well, but I was surprised when he took her back like that."

But Rosario's plan was to keep the horse to the outside and let it progressively build up to speed, and the plan worked to perfection.

Rosario now has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, however, as the entire horse-racing world hopes Orb can be the first horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978. And Orb isn't just the favorite, it's an overwhelming favorite, currently coming in at 4-5 odds, according to Bovada.

The next closest horse on the odds is Departing at 7-1. In other words, it will be a huge shock if Orb doesn't win the Preakness.

The Preakness could potentially cause Orb some problems, however. While the horse has proven in the past it can run off the leaders and handle a shorter track, Rosario had Orb run well off the pack in the Kentucky Derby and close in the end.

That strategy won't be viable in the Preakness, a shorter track that will require Orb to remain for closer to the pack then in the Derby. A slow start in this race could potentially cost the horse a shot at the Triple Crown.

But given Rosario's hot hand of late, it seems unlikely Orb will be done in by a poor strategy. If Orb gets out to an early start and keeps pace with the leaders, its hard to imagine the horse—or its jockey, Rosario—losing.

Results

Purse: $500,000

Age: 3-year-old fillies

Grade: 2

Length: 1 1/8 miles

Place	Horse
1	Fiftyshadesofhay
2	Marathon Lady
3	Toasting
4	Maracuya
5	Petit Trianon
6	Emollient
7	Lady Banks

Horse	Win	Place	Show
Fiftyshadesofhay	$6.60	$3.80	$3.00
Marathon Lady	-	$8.40	$4.80
Toasting	-	-	5.40

Report: New York Yankees Acquire INF Reid Brignac in Trade with Colorado Rockies

Kenny DeJohn — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:58:51 -0400

The New York Yankees continue to make moves in order to maximize the effectiveness of a roster decimated by injuries.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that New York has acquired infielder Reid Brignac from the Colorado Rockies. According to NBC Sports, Heyman reported the Rockies will receive $75,000 in the deal for Brignac.

No corresponding roster moves have been announced just yet, but Alberto Gonzalez will likely be the odd man out in this equation. There's no reason to have two versatile reserve infielders on the roster. Brignac also has much more upside than Gonzalez.

Yankees fans will remember Brignac from his days with the Tampa Bay Rays (2008 to 2012). During his time there, he hit .227/.268/.317 with 10 home runs and 67 RBI. He played 113 games in 2010 and hit eight home runs and drove in 45—his best season to date.

General manager Brian Cashman has been notorious for making these scrappy deals this season. He acquired infielder Chris Nelson from the Rockies just a few weeks ago, though he's already been designated for assignment as well.

The Yankees won't be looking to get much out of Brignac, but his experience in a bigger role (2010) likely prompted the move. He has the potential to at least hold his own at the plate, whereas Gonzalez often seems lost in the batter's box.

We'll have to wait to see how this move pans out, but it has all the makings of another Cashman steal. Maybe Brignac can end up challenging Jayson Nix for the reserve infielder's role when the injured stars return.

Even if he can't, the Yankees likely won't have given up much in the process. This is another smart move by the Yankees GM.

Dwight Freeney Reportedly Reaches Agreement on 2-Year Deal with Chargers

Mike Hoag — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:31:35 -0400

Former Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney has reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with the San Diego Chargers, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.

ESPN's Ed Werder later confirmed the report, courtesy of a quote from Freeney that showed he was in fact San Diego bound.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio provides details on the deal:

"Per a source with knowledge of the deal, Freeney’s two-year contract with the Chargers carries a base value of $8.75 million.

The deal pays $5.25 million in 2013, via a $3.25 million signing bonus, $1.5 million in base salary, and a $500,000 roster bonus tied to Freeney’s presence on the weekly 46-man roster.

Freeney is due to earn $3.5 million in 2014, $500,000 of which is linked to weekly roster bonuses."

Freeney, drafted by the Colts No. 11 overall in the 2002 NFL draft, solidified the defensive nucleus of the Colts teams of the past decade.

He went to seven Pro Bowls, was selected to the NFL’s All-Pro first team on three occasions (2004, 2005, 2009) and set the franchise record in sacks (107.5) while playing with Indianapolis over the last 11 seasons.

The 6’1”, 268-pound defender expressed his desire to stay with the team but said he understands that the nature of the business might not make that possible.

The Chargers scooped him up after his worst statistical performance of his career. He was a member of the old guard in Indy, the team that was built by the now-departed Bill Polian.

The writing was on the wall for 33-year-old when the Colts transitioned to the 3-4 defense during the 2012 offseason. Freeney spent the first 10 years of his career lined up as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme and is more suited for that role.

That much was apparent by his diminished role last season. His attempted transition to outside linebacker didn’t pan out, and he struggled dropping back in coverage when not rushing the passer. He still racked up five sacks in his limited opportunities, but he was nowhere near the dominant force of years past.

The Chargers present an interesting opportunity for Freeney to get back into his groove in the twilight of his career. They’re hoping the aging pass-rusher can regain his double-digit sack form in 2013, but it's still just a short-term deal.

Freeney will get a chance to square off against his old team on Monday Night Football in San Diego on Oct. 14 this season.

Phil Jackson Reveals True Story of Lakers Snub

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:24:53 -0400

After a miserable 2012-13 NBA season for the Los Angeles Lakers following a huge offseason, many fans are now left wondering what could have been had Phil Jackson taken over the team. Well, at the very least, he's finally telling us all why he didn't end up back in L.A.

On a tour to promote his new book Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success, Jackson showed up on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to talk about the Michael Jordan versus Kobe Bryant debate and give his side of the story on why he didn't end up coaching the Lakers.

Much as the story was told when it happened, Jackson recalls talking to Lakers vice president Jim Buss for an extended period of time, telling Buss he was positive he could coach the roster they had put together.

Jackson requested the weekend to think about it.

But late on that Sunday night, Jackson got a call from Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, who informed Jackson that the team had decided to hire Mike D'Antoni.

The decision caused a rift between Buss and his sister (and now Jackson's fiancé) Jeanie, who didn't speak to each other for an extended period of time.

You know the story from there. Los Angeles was barely able to squeak into the playoffs with a 45-37 record and was swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. D'Antoni's future with the team is shaky at best.

Jackson is now looking for a job elsewhere in the NBA, either in a front office role or once again as a head coach.

He's currently aiding the Detroit Pistons with their search for a new head coach, but his role in the NBA beyond that point is still up in the air.

I think we can rule out anything with the Lakers.

Preakness 2013 Post Positions: Horses with Least Advantageous Starting Spots

Mike Chiari — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:18:32 -0400

Although post positions may not be as important in the Preakness with nine horses entered as opposed to 19 in the Kentucky Derby, they are likely to come into play to some degree. Perhaps they won't prevent a horse from winning, but they can make the task far more difficult.

A poor draw shouldn't necessarily deter you from betting on a horse, but it should definitely make you think twice and consider other options. There are a number of different things to take into account, and post positions are definitely among them.

Here are three horses that will have to overcome poor starting spots if they hope to make an impact in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

Starting Order

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	4-5
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	9-1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	33-1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Albert M. Stall Jr.	7-1
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	17-2
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	18-1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	12-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10-1

*Odds courtesy of Bovada

Goldencents

Arguably the most disappointing horse in the Kentucky Derby was Goldencents. He entered the race among the top contenders, but he got caught in a very dangerous game. Goldencents and Palace Malice set an unsustainable pace early and Goldencents ended up fading. He ultimately finished 17th and crippled a lot of bettors in the process. It'll be tough for him to do much worse in the Preakness, but that doesn't mean that he'll rebound.

Goldencents drew the No. 2 position, which means he will likely have wait to make his move. While going straight to the front hurt Goldencents in the Kentucky Derby, that is his strength. He should set the pace, but he just needs to do it more reasonably.

Starting second will probably force him to come from behind as he will be right on the rail. Trainer Doug O'Neill believes that the Derby should be thrown out as things didn't break Goldencents' way, according to KY Derby Contenders, but things are unlikely to go well for him in this race either.

Jockey Kevin Krigger will certainly have his work cut out for him. Orb is technically in a worse position at No. 1, but being inside could actually play to Orb's strengths. The same can't be said for Goldencents as he may have to go outside his comfort zone in order to prevail.

Itsmyluckyday

Much like Goldencents, Itsmyluckyday went from darling to dud in the Kentucky Derby as he finished 15th after wasting his energy early in the race. He is looking to rebound in the Preakness, but it won't be easy.

Itsmyluckyday is starting on the extreme outside post at No. 9. That obviously isn't as disadvantageous as starting No. 19 in the Kentucky Derby, but it definitely limits jockey John Velazquez's options.

Generally speaking, it is best to be near the middle as that is where the most avenues open up. Starting outside means that Itsmyluckyday will almost be forced to hang back and make a late move. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when you're facing a closer like Orb, it's very difficult to make progress.

Itsmyluckyday's best strategy would probably be staying near the front early so that he can build a lead and possibly hold off Orb, but he'll be hard pressed to do that from No. 9.

It wouldn't be fair to say that Itsmyluckyday has no chance because he is obviously a talented horse. His dominance at Gulfstream Park prior to the Derby proves that. At the same time, he needs everything to go perfectly in order to contend for the win. That already can't happen because the outside lane won't give him the trip that Velazquez desires.

Titletown Five

As the longest shot in the entire Preakness field, the odds are already stacked against Titletown Five. Starting in the No. 3 position won't do him any favors either. The unheralded colt hasn't gotten much love from the bettors heading into the Preakness, and that probably has more to do with his light track record than his post draw. With that said, starting No. 3 is likely to hurt Titletown Five much more than it helps him.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained horse obviously has some ability as he was able to make it into the Preakness field, however, he only has one career victory, which occurred way back in October of last year. One thing that Titletown Five does have to his credit, though, is finishing ahead of Kentucky Derby winner Orb last August at Saratoga, according to Mark Singelais of the Albany Times Union.

That happened a very long time ago and Orb has gotten significantly better since then. If Titletown Five is able to finish ahead of Orb once again, it will be considered a monumental upset. While the No. 3 spot doesn't necessarily preclude Titletown Five from getting to the front early, it makes it much more difficult.

Trying to close late alongside Orb is pretty much a death wish as Orb has proven capable of flying down the stretch. Titletown Five's chances aren't great anyway, but the No. 3 slot won't help.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Preakness 2013: Poor Post Draw Won't Stop Orb from Winning at Pimlico

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:18:26 -0400

Triple Crown hopeful Orb will have to overcome a poor draw in order to become the sixth horse since 2002 to win the first two legs on Saturday at the 2013 Preakness Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby winner will run out of post No. 1 this weekend. That's the only real bad news for Orb considering Tabasco Cat was the last to win the Preakness from the rail back in 1994.

But before you count out the talented colt, consider the following reasons why he's poised to win the 138th Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

Pimlico Is Not Churchill Downs

While it's usually game over for any horse that draws the rail at the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness is often more forgiving.

Pimlico Race Course is similar to Churchill Downs in terms of surface and distance of course, but there isn't so much trouble looming at the start according to Orb's trainer Shug McGaughey (via ESPN.com):

It's not nearly the problem it would be in the Derby. The Derby is kind of catty-cornered. You got to shove your way out of there or you get shut off down in there. It's pretty straightforward here. There are only nine horses. There's not going to be that kind of jockeying into the first turn. We'll just hold our position and see how the race plays out.

McGaughey also touches on another key reason why no one should be betting against Orb on Saturday.

Small Field

There are only nine horses racing in this year's Preakness Stakes, which bodes well for Orb, who won't have to worry about being freight trained by the pack early on.

While a quick start is important, it won't be the end of the world for jockey Joel Rosario and Orb if they don't break away early considering there are only eight others horses to contend with, as opposed to 18 others at the Kentucky Derby.

In a large field there is a better chance for a closer like Orb to get swallowed up in the pack, but this year's Preakness field is small enough where Orb can recover from his poor draw.

Lack of Elite Competition

While Orb will be pitted against Kentucky Derby horses like Goldencents, Mylute and Itsmyluckyday on Saturday, he won't be pitted against of the horses that finished toward the top at Churchill Downs two weeks ago.

Golden Soul, Revolutionary and Normandy Invasion, who finished second through fourth at the Derby, are all absent from this weekend's race.

Fifth- and sixth-place finishers Mylute and Oxbow will race, but neither came close to matching Orb's world-class speed down the stretch at the Derby.

The other top contender, Departing, didn't race in the Derby, running in the Grade III Illinois Derby instead. But unlike Orb, Departing has yet to prove he possesses the greatness to win a Triple Crown event.

2013 Preakness Stakes Post Positions

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1/1
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O’Neill	8/1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	30/1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	6/1
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5/1
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	15/1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12/1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	12/1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10/1

*Odds via Preakness.com.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Preakness 2013: Biggest Keys for Orb in 2nd Leg of Triple Crown

Tim Daniels — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:15:02 -0400

A picture-perfect morning at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore will soon give way to anticipation as Orb attempts to back up his Kentucky Derby victory in the Preakness Stakes. A win would move him within one triumph of the elusive Triple Crown.

Orb was downright dominant during the stretch run of the Kentucky Derby. He breezed past horses with ease, and it still didn't seem like he was forced to give 100 percent effort. He was simply the best horse in the field, and he will try to replicate that performance today.

Eight other talented horses will attempt to end Orb's Triple Crown run before it reaches Belmont Park. Let's check out the biggest keys to success for the Kentucky Derby champ to ensure that doesn't happen in the second leg.

Early Pace

The Kentucky Derby was a perfect race for Orb. Jockey Joel Rosario watched as several other horses, including Preakness counterparts Goldencents and Itsmyluckyday, helped set an unsustainable lightning pace in the first half of the race.

By the time Orb was ready to make his move around the final turn, the other top contenders were already burnt out from trying to keep up early. It allowed him to go from near the back of the field to the front it what seemed like a blink of the eye.

It's up to Rosario to read the race again. If the lead pack decides to fly through the first turn again, he has to hold Orb back. If it's a slower pace, he'll want to stay closer to the leaders. By the middle of the backstretch it will be clear if Orb is in good position.

Staying Inside

One of the most impressive things about Orb's derby triumph was the fact it could have been even better. He won by 2.5 lengths, but Randy Moss of NBC Sports points out it would have been six lengths if the factors were equal.

The biggest difference for Orb was the extra amount of distance he traveled, which isn't a surprise considering his outside post position. In the Preakness, he'll start from the inside gate, and that should help eliminate that disadvantage.

Rosario should do his best to ride the rail around the entire track. Fellow jockey Calvin Borel, who doesn't have a Preakness mount, has made a career out of that strategy. It's the best option to put Orb in position for a victory.

Energy Level

Endurance is a major factor during Triple Crown season. A horse has to win three races over a five-week span—easily the most grueling assignment of his young career. It helps explain why no horse has pulled off the feat since 1978.

The good news for Orb is that he's won on a two-week turnaround before. His first career victory came at Aqueduct last November, 14 days after a fourth-place finish. DRF passed along a picture of the talented colt eating some pre-race fuel with hopes of matching that success.

The true test will come as the field turns for home. Rosario will once again ask Orb for that finishing kick. Whether or not he's able to provide it will show where his energy level stands. Should he win, it will be an even bigger concern in the Belmont Stakes.

Preakness 2013 Entries: Breaking Down Best Bets in the Triple Crown Field

Alex Kay — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:14:51 -0400

The 2013 Preakness Stakes is set to run in just a few hours, meanings there’s just enough time left for bettors to get to the nearest OTB and place down some bets on the action at Pimlico.

With such a small field and so many non-contenders competition, it shouldn’t be too tough to turn a profit—albeit small—during the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.

If you haven’t yet decided on how your tickets will look, keep reading to find out which three horses have the best shot at hitting the board and paying dividends on Saturday evening.

*Odds via Preakness.com.

Win: Orb at 1-1

Orb is the heavy favorite heading into this race, and for good reason.

During his winning Kentucky Derby run, the colt proved that he’s an absolute beast in the slop. That experience and skill will be perfect with rains expected in the Baltimore area prior to—and possibly during—the Triple Crown race.

Although he’s been saddled with the dreaded No. 1 post, there’s just not enough traffic around him to keep him pinned down. Jockey Joel Rosario should be able to position his stalker just off the lead with plenty of room to surge ahead after the turn.

Even if he’s positioned in the far back midway through the race, there shouldn’t be any doubt about this colt’s ability to make up ground in a hurry. His Beyer Speed Figure clocked in at a ridiculous 104 two weeks ago, which means he will be able to catch any other competitor in this event.

Bet against Orb at your own peril, as this superstar is going to claim the second jewel of the Triple Crown at Pimlico.

Place: Goldencents at 8-1

While Goldencents was mired in the slop and irritated by the kickback at Churchill Downs, he’s not going to have as much trouble with the conditions on Saturday.

Due to the small nine-horse field, jockey Kevin Krigger will be able to position his mount either ahead of the pack or away from the splashing muds that killed his chances during the Run for the Roses.

The former way would be ideal for Goldencents, as he’s a wire-to-wire runner that dominated his prep races by taking an early lead and never relinquishing them. He certainly has the speed to accomplish this, evident by his 105 BSF recorded at the Santa Anita Derby.

Unfortunately, his stamina may fail him down the stretch of this 9.5-furlong sprint. Orb simply possesses a longer stride and elite closing abilities, which is why it’s extremely possible Goldencents will be surpassed in the final lengths and finish in second.

Doug O’Neill’s polarizing horse may not win it this weekend, but he’s not a bad bet at all to place and place in exacta, trifecta and superfecta boxes.

Show: Govenor Charlie at 12-1

Speaking of trifectas, those looking for a sleeper to round theirs out should highly consider Govenor Charlie.

He’s a relatively unknown and untested colt, but one that hasn’t failed to hit the board during any of his three early races, finishing with two wins and a place in that span.

In fact, Govenor Charlie set a new track record at the Sunland Derby and comes into this with fresh legs and plenty to prove after being held out of the Kentucky Derby due to injury.

At 12-1, he’s an absolute value and could even give Orb a major scare toward the finish line. There’s no doubting his speed, but endurance could be an issue for this horse at the Preakness.

Regardless, Govenor Charlie is the perfect contender to place in exotic bets and will likely surprise the world with a close second- or third-place showing on Saturday.

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Latest Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1-1
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill	8-1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	30-1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez, Jr.	Albert M. Stall, Jr.	6-1
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5-1
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	15-1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	12-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10-1

Detroit Red Wings vs Chicago Blackhawks Game 2: Live Score, Updates and Analysis

Franklin Steele — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:08:30 -0400

Game 2 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings is just a few hours away, and the 'Hawks are looking to take a commanding two-game lead in their 2013 NHL playoff series.

Detroit, on the other hand, is looking to bounce back from a flat effort in Game 1. The wear and tear from Round 1 against the Anaheim Ducks was evident, and Chicago took advantage with its brutal forecheck and by getting bodies on Detroit's young defensemen.

The first contest didn't feature too much of the rough stuff, as both teams were cautious with their physicality. In this semi-must-win game for Detroit, things will likely pick up a bit. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed on NBC in the United States.

Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce's Potential Departure Means Jeff Green Is 'The Guy'

Michael Christina — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:06:28 -0400

With the pending departure of Celtics captain Paul Pierce on the horizon, many fans will be looking to Jeff Green to fill the sneakers of the Boston mainstay for at least the near future and hopefully the long term as well.

Pierce’s shoes are certainly big ones to fill.

There is no doubt that his No. 34 will one day hang in the rafters amongst all of the Green Team’s legends, which is the biggest honor that can bestowed upon a Celtics player.

And for Pierce, it is well-deserved. He owns a myriad of team records and is the franchise’s second all-time leading scorer behind John Havilcek. He is also second to Larry Bird in Celtics career scoring average.

Any time you can be mentioned in the same sentence as Hondo and Larry Legend, you know you’ve had a great career. Throw in the fact that Pierce is a 10-time All-Star, an NBA Finals MVP and a bona fide Hall of Famer and it will certainly not be the easiest transition for the young Georgetown alum.

Jeff Green’s talent and potential are undeniable. We saw glimpses this season of just how dominant he can be on any given night.

The performance that obviously sticks out is his national breakout show in March against the Miami Heat. Green scored 43 points and went toe-to-toe against the world’s best player in LeBron James.

James would ultimately score 37 of his own, including the go-ahead basket at the end of regulation to seal the deal for the Heat, but fans walked away from that game knowing that the Celts have a legitimate budding superstar on the roster.

The problem for Green has been consistency. Couple that with the fact that some of his best games during the regular season came while Kevin Garnett was out due to injury and it was hard to gain a complete understanding of how he could ultimately fit into the lineup.

He definitely seemed to thrive as a starter and, should Danny Ainge make the move to trade The Truth, will be thrust into Pierce's spot.

Many analysts have also questioned if Green has the same natural killer instinct that Pierce has exhibited throughout his Celtics career.

At times this season, it seemed as though head coach Doc Rivers was desperately trying to pull that side out of him. Yet there were other times when Green showed his merciless side, knocking down big shots in pressure situations—particularly in Game 5 of the playoffs against the Knicks.

Green has not yet been given the opportunity during his NBA career to be "the guy." If Pierce is ultimately traded, then he will certainly be pushed into that role.

Even though it may not be the flawless transition fans are hoping for, Green Teamers should take solace in the fact that Green has the potential to be the best player on the court on any given night.

It’s certainly sad to see Pierce go, but it will be exciting to see what Green can ultimately do for this team. His inconsistencies this year will certainly lead many to question whether or not he can be that type of franchise player.

It must be remembered, though, that Green was coming off of major heart surgery and missed an entire season. Not only did he have to adapt to a new team essentially, he also had acclimate himself to simply playing the game of basketball again.

As the season went on, fans got to see Green gain confidence with each game back and having a more solidly defined role this upcoming season will only help his progress.

Many have speculated on Rivers' role in a possible rebuilding stage for this team. Ainge recently stated (via The Boston Globe's Gary Washburn) that the Celtics coach would be coming back next season, quashing any rumors that had been floating around previously.

One theory for him staying may be that he knows he has something here with the young combination of Green and Rajon Rondo. Garnett has previously said that he believes Green will ultimately be one of the best players to ever play the game.

Could that be Doc’s feeling as well?

Amid the doom and gloom that have been thrown out there regarding this team’s future, Green should be looked at as a bright spot. Will he have the same impact that Pierce had on this organization over the past 14 years? It’s way too early to tell.

One thing is for certain, though. He has the potential to be everything Pierce was and then some.

Potential, however, will only get you so far. It’s up to Green whether or not he wants his number hanging in the rafters next to the captain’s.

Preakness Odds 2013: Live Updating the Race Day Movement

Jessica Paquette — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:02:45 -0400

After two weeks of anticipation since the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes Day has finally arrived. Many questions will be answered today including the one on everyone's mind: Will Orb move one step closer to becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1978?

Today we will watch the action from Pimlico and keep an eye out for track biases, hot jockeys and the unexpected as the odds on each horse change before the big race. Stay tuned as the excitement unfolds.

Nate Diaz Missed the Message, Makes Another Twitter Misstep

Trent Reinsmith — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:43:31 -0400

The UFC acted quickly when Nate Diaz sent out an ill-advised tweet on Thursday. The promotion almost immediately suspended the fighter pending an investigation. That investigation was completed on Friday evening and Diaz’s punishment for stepping outside the bounds of the UFC code of conduct was handed down.

The punishment that was handed down by the UFC? A 90-day suspension and a $20,000 fine.

Call it harsh, call it over the top, call it what you want, but make sure to call it a clear message from the UFC. The message is that this type of behavior, perhaps once accepted or at the very least tolerated, is no longer something that will be laughed off as “boys being boys.”

When Diaz’s penalty was announced on Friday night and there was no response from Diaz or his manager, Mike Kogan, there was hope that maybe the fine and suspension had served as a wake-up call for Diaz. There was hope that maybe being fined more than he made in his last fight would be enough of a deterrent to make Diaz realize he should think before he hits send on his twitter account.

Wrong.

Early Saturday morning an unrepentant Diaz sent out the following:

So, with attention clearly on him, with a lot of eyes watching what his next step would be, Diaz decided he was going to go out there and keep it real. Where others would have kept silent, Diaz decided that blasting away with yet another offensive, misogynistic message was a good idea. It was not a good idea.

Look, I get it. Diaz is upset that Pat Healy was popped for weed and that Bryan Caraway, the man the tweets were directed at, took the $65,000 bonus for “Submission of the Night” that Healy forfeited. Diaz is upset that Caraway then blasted the use of marijuana, but let’s be honest, that conversation is best kept out of the public eye. Diaz should have kept his complaints among friends and not made it a public issue.

The minute that Diaz put his feelings out there on Twitter it reflected poorly on his employer, the UFC, and they had to act, especially since they now have a code of conduct in place that discusses this type of fighter behavior.

So now what? The UFC is in a quandary. It’s fairly obvious that the message the promotion was hoping to send didn’t sink in for Diaz. Do they need to pull him in and have a conversation with him face to face explaining how to act? Do they need to fine him again for sending out a misogynistic tweet (and yes, "bitch" is a misogynistic term, no matter how you try and defend it)?

Clearly the UFC needs to do something with Diaz, something that allows the message to sink in.

NY Knicks Hero Was Supposed to Be Cut from Team

Jesse Dorsey — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:38:07 -0400

New York Knicks forward Chris Copeland scored 13 huge points in a Game 5 win over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday and has become a key player off the bench. But the fact that he's even on the team might be his most impressive accomplishment to date.

Copeland's 13 points off the bench led New York's second unit in a game that could have sent the Knicks home for the summer, as he scored eight second-half points to help the Knicks keep the Pacers at arm's length.

After an impressive performance, Mike Woodson remembered back to the concerns over the tweener forward going from the Summer League to the NBA (via Al Iannazzone of Newsday):

We didn’t think he was physically equipped to play at this level and just knowing the game at this level. It took him a while. He sat and learned patiently. We played him here and there. But each time he’s played he’s been productive on the floor.

His performance in Game 5 was huge, with J.R. Smith having another iffy night off the bench and Raymond Felton the only member of the starting lineup to put up double-figure scoring alongside Carmelo Anthony.

For his solid night, Copeland was even one of the three Knicks to represent the team in the postgame press conference.

New York signed Copeland last July with nothing more than a chance to make the roster out of training camp.

Previously, he played in the NBA D-League way back in 2006-07, and he then jumped overseas to play in Belgium, Germany and Spain.

Making the roster out of training camp was a big accomplishment, but even seeing the floor as a guy who hasn't played stateside since 2007 is extremely impressive.

Copeland has proven to be a quality power forward on offense, providing the necessary tools to stretch the floor and give the Knicks continuity from the first unit to the second when they keep a small lineup on the court. His role will likely increase over the course of the next few games if the Knicks are able to survive, and they're even starting to depend on him to add something off the bench.

WWE Extreme Rules 2013: Superstars Who Will Pick Up Much-Needed Wins

Tim Daniels — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:18:36 -0400

Extreme Rules is an important bridge pay-per-view. The road to WrestleMania and the immediate aftermath are usually chaotic, and this year was no exception. Sunday's show is when things begin to normalize again around the WWE.

For superstars, that equates to a chance at a renewed push. The spots that were taken by part-time superstars during the WrestleMania build are now available for the taking. Those who pick up wins at Extreme Rules move one step closer to filling the voids.

Knowing that, let's take a closer look at three superstars who should secure much-needed victories at Extreme Rules and where it could lead them moving forward.

Randy Orton

Orton, once a stalwart member of the main event scene, has been bouncing around feuds without a general direction in recent months. It's time for him to start getting a big push with an eye toward an eventual storyline with World Heavyweight champ Dolph Ziggler.

Facing Big Show in an Extreme Rules match is a good place to start. Big Show's stock has also faded recently, but the gimmick aspect of the encounter should make it more interesting. It will also hide the giant's in-ring deficiencies.

Ultimately, it makes more sense for Orton to get the win as the start of his first sustained push in quite some time. He's still one of the most reliable workers on the roster. A feud with Ziggler down the line is exactly what the World Heavyweight title needs to boost SmackDown.

Fandango

Fandango is quickly learning what Brodus Clay found out when he debuted the Funkasaurus character. An initial surge with a new dancing gimmick enters the danger zone as soon as the fans become bored with the dancing, which doesn't take long.

The wrestler formerly known as Johnny Curtis became an astonishing success after beating Chris Jericho at WrestleMania. His intro music went viral, the fans started doing it during his matches and he started getting featured more prominently.

Now, the fan involvement is starting to fade and so is Fandango's momentum. The focus must shift toward his improving wrestling ability in the rematch with Jericho. The gimmick got him started, but progression must begin at Extreme Rules to avoid him fading out of the spotlight.

The Miz

The Miz won the Intercontinental Championship on the WrestleMania pre-show. Instead of that leading to a fresh push, he lost the rematch against Wade Barrett on Raw. He then left to film a movie, Christmas Bounty, before recently returning.

He'll face off with Cody Rhodes on the pre-show in what's actually a very important match. Both superstars are waiting for a chance to become involved in bigger storylines and the winner of Sunday's encounter takes the next step. The loser will remain in limbo.

Although The Miz may have to undergo another gimmick change––he's a much better natural heel––before returning to the main event, he's still a better candidate for a push than Rhodes. Expect him to begin his move up the card with an Extreme Rules win.

Jose Mourinho Has Point to Prove at Chelsea After 'Worst Year' with Real Madrid

Ian Rodgers — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:10:07 -0400

There will be few silver linings for Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho after the 2-1 extra-time defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on Friday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo had given Real the lead but Diego Simeone's team hit back through Diego Costa before Joao Miranda headed home the winner in the additional 30 minutes.

The defeat at the Bernabeu Stadium left Mourinho to declare this season as the worst of his managerial career, as BBC Sport reported.

The Portuguese coach's description is not inaccurate. Since 2002, Mourinho had not gone a full calendar year without winning a major trophy at FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real.

It is little wonder that the 50-year-old was left so dejected by the cup final defeat on Friday, which had been his opportunity to extend that sequence of silverware in his managerial career.

With Porto, he won the Portuguese Primeira Liga twice, the UEFA Cup and the Champions League. His feats at Stamford Bridge included successive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, while his time at Inter was crowned by the Champions League win over Bayern Munich in 2010.

At Real, Mourinho won the Copa del Rey in 2011 before breaking Barcelona's hold on the La Liga title in 2012.

Mourinho has been strongly linked with a return to Chelsea this summer, with current interim Stamford Bridge boss Rafael Benitez dropping the biggest hint of all that the Special One would be returning, as BBC Sport reported.

There is an old cliché in football that you should be wary of anyone who has just been hurt, and that aging maxim will be a catalyst to success wherever Mourinho plies his trade next season.

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard claimed in an interview with the BBC's Football Focus programme that the appointment of Mourinho can carry the club to greater heights after the Europa League win over Benfica on Wednesday.

There's no way he'll come back and rest on any laurels or rest on anything that happened before. With him at the helm we are going to give it a great go.

I think he will take the club on again. He has shown it with Porto, with us, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

Like so many other Chelsea supporters and players, the prospect of Mourinho returning is a tantalising one and seemingly now within reach.

But this will be a manager with a point to prove after the disappointment of this season with Real.

Mourinho's team conceded the La Liga title with barely a whimper to Barcelona before falling at the semifinal stage of the Champions League for the third successive season under Mourinho, this time to Borussia Dortmund.

Premier League managers are gearing themselves up for the return of Mourinho with Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas, who worked under him at Porto, backing Chelsea to win the Premier League with the Portuguese coach at the helm, as the Daily Telegraph reported.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also believes Chelsea will be making a statement of intent in the transfer market this summer (via The Mirror).

English football is bracing itself for the return of Mourinho, but this time he will be arriving on the back of disappointment rather than riding the crest of domestic and European successes he enjoyed in 2004.

Mourinho is a wounded beast, which makes him more dangerous than ever, much to the delight of Chelsea.

Preakness Stakes 2013: Key to Victory for Each Favorite at Pimlico

Alex Ballentine — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:01 -0400

The 2013 Preakness Stakes offers horse racing fans plenty of intrigue heading into the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Kentucky Derby winner Orb comes in as the highly touted favorite, but can he live up to the hype? Will Rick Pitino's Goldencents stumble once again? Can one of the long shots make an improbable run to victory?

There are plenty of questions to be answered. And the beautiful thing about horse racing is that anything can happen.

Although Orb is the favorite, there are more than enough quality contenders in the field to make things interesting. Here's the key for each of the field's favorites to come away victorious at Pimlico.

All odds courtesy of HorseRacingNation.com

Orb

Odds: 1-1

Key to Victory: Overcoming the No. 1 Post Position

There's a reason Orb is coming in at even money to win the race. His come-from-behind win in Louisville was brilliant and there's no reason to think he doesn't have what it takes to come out on top here.

The closing speed that he showed off at Churchill Downs will serve him well at the The Preakness. The only problem is his post position. Starting right next to the rail is less than ideal.

According to David Grening of Daily Racing Form, only one horse has one from the rail since 1961.

If he's going to overcome the difficult position of starting on the inside, he'll either need to get off to a strong start to avoid being pinched off by the other horses trying to get to the inside or risk biding his time and make another late surge on a shorter track.

Even for a strong horse like Orb, it's a difficult situation to be in.

Mylute

Odds: 8-1

Key to Victory: Getting off to a Strong Start

Mylute comes into the race as one of the few that had a strong showing in the Kentucky Derby, finishing fifth at Churchill Downs.

If he wants to build on that showing and do even better things at Pimlico, getting off to a good start will be crucial. In the Derby he was forced to bide his time near the back of the 19-horse field and couldn't quite get enough space to make a strong push at the end.

With the nine-horse field, it should be much easier to avoid being trapped by other horses. Throw in the fact that this will be a shorter track than the one they ran at Churchill Downs and getting off to a good start becomes even more pivotal.

Jockey Rosie Napravnik has the horse to put in a good showing. But she can't afford to fall behind early again.

Departing

Odds: 5-1

Key to Victory: Utilize the No. 4 Post

Departing is a true wild card in this race.

Because he didn't run in the Derby, he's largely unknown among bettors. But that could actually be to his advantage. He's a well rested gelding that has shown off top-flight speed in his few times on the track.

The key to the race will be taking advantage of his No. 4 post position. Unlike race favorite Orb, he has enough space to claim the inside track without being pinched down by other horses.

As long as he can outpace longshot Titletown Five and Goldencents down the initial stretch, he'll have a good shot at cutting off Orb on the first turn.

If he can turn things into a spring down the stretch he's shown that he has the speed to win.

Preakness Odds: Breaking Down Best Prop Bets for Saturday's Race

Tyler Conway — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

While gambling is hardwired into the DNA of all sports, horse racing is one of a select few that openly embrace the monetary debauchery.

There are sanctioned tickets at almost every track across the nation, and horse racing isn't only for the high rollers of the world. Smaller tickets worth mere dollars are available to everyone in attendance, just for those looking to get a mini-thrill. One of my youngest memories is a friend's parents having us each pick up a horse and getting a $2 ticket for us to play. (We lost. And then I cried. Loudly.)

Most of the money spent on horses prior to Saturday's 138th Preakness Stakes won't be of such a small sum. With just nine horses running in this year's field, there has been plenty of time for folks to get a good feel for how each of these horses will fare at the legendary Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

And once the morning lines came out earlier this week, the gambling odds have almost become a story in and of themselves. Orb, the winner of the 2013 Kentucky Derby, is one of the heaviest favorites in recent memory. He comes off at 10-11 odds, which has led to plenty of discussion about the merits of that placement.

But we're not going to focus on the odds for each individual horse in this space. That's been well-covered throughout the World Wide Web and anyone with a bookmark to Alta Vista and a dial-up connection can figure out how the favorites stack out.

Instead, we're going to take a look at the less predictable but arguably more fun prop bets. While the Preakness isn't the Super Bowl and there aren't betting odds on the national anthem length, there are a few attractive wagers actually pertaining to the race worth noting.

Here is a look at a few of the best prop bets as we prepare for Saturday's race.

Preakness Field and Odds

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	10-11
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O’Neill	8-1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	28-1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	13-2
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	13-2
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	16-1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12-1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	10-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10-1

Via Bovada

Top Prop Bets (Via Bovada)

The Lock: Will Orb Finish in the Top 3? (Yes, -500)

If you even slightly believe in Orb, this prop might as well be called the "free money" bet. There are only nine horses in this field. Orb has a 33 percent chance of finishing somewhere within the first three positions by sheer basic probability. And considering Orb is the defending Kentucky Derby champion and rightful favorite of this race, the colt finishing outside the top three would be a profound shock to even the most strident detractors.

There is one major drawback of this bet—the astronomical deposit figure needed to make it worthwhile. It will cost $500 for anyone to win $100 on this prop. That's not a small amount of money, and even "free money" bets backfire sometimes. Horse racing remains one of the more unpredictable sports from a race-to-race basis because of the mitigating factors that not even jockeys can control.

With this one, you have to feel fully comfortable with Orb finishing inside the top three, which we do. He's the biggest favorite in this field and in the Triple Crown race since Big Brown in 2008, and has shown nothing but fine form throughout the process.

What we like most about this prop is the ability to hedge a bit. Most who have faith in Orb are going to take the 10-11 odds that he's going to win the race—even though they're slightly risky by themselves. Taking that number might be tempting on the surface, but it also affords nil in terms of wiggle room. If Orb gets off to a slow start and is pinched in behind by Goldencents in the No. 2 post for the first quarter-mile—a totally reasonable possibility—it may be just enough to deter him from actually winning the race.

But finishing outside the top three? We simply cannot see that happening, barring an injury. If you're willing to take a risk on a near-guarantee, here's your spot.

Other Orb bets worth considering: Will Orb win the Triple Crown? (Yes, +225), Orb over Departing (-225), Orb over Goldencents (-400).

Head-to-Head Matchup: Mylute vs. Goldencents (Mylute, -170)

The head-to-head props are completely straightforward: Who do you think will finish higher in the race? It doesn't matter whether these horses finish eighth and ninth or first and second at Pimlico—and that's the beauty of those picks.

Of any of the head-to-head matchups, we feel strongly about Mylute defeating Goldencents for a multitude of reasons. The first, of course, being their respective Kentucky Derby finishes. Mylute finished fifth at the Derby, but is the second-highest finisher among those headed to Pimlico.

Goldencents is coming off the most miserable finish of his career. After heading into the Derby with massive expectations following a triumph at the Santa Anita Derby, Goldencents finished 17th out of 19 horses participating in Lexington.

What's more, Mylute's surrounding pedigree suggests the three-year-old colt might be Orb's most strident contender on Saturday. Jockey Rosie Napravnik has become a national sensation in her quest to become the first woman to ever win the Preakness, and it's hard to bet against her history at this track.

Growing up in New Jersey, the 25-year-old Napravnik was a regular fixture at Pimlico in her youth. She won her first career race at the track and seems excited to get back on her home track.

‘‘It’s always an advantage if you know a track well,’’ Napravnik said (h/t The Boston Globe). ‘‘I won a lot of races at Pimlico and I like the track. I know the track like the back of my hand, and I appreciate that fact.’’

With Goldencents struggling and a bunch of signs pointing in Mylute's favor, this one seems like a no-brainer.

Just for Fun: Margin of Victory: Under 1.5 Lengths (-120)

Remember my little sob story about losing on that $2 ticket from the introduction? Well, if you're bringing a child or younger sibling to the track, do yourself a favor and give them this ticket—just don't spend anything resembling a significant sum of money.

There's almost no way we can scientifically break this prop down. The length by which a horse wins a race is one of the flukiest things in a sport filled with a never-ending stream of fluky happenstances.

Betting the over on this prop is equivalent to betting the under on a football score. While everyone else is cheering about the thrilling finish and high-scoring acrobatics, you're the guy wallowing that these darn players made the game too fun.

Same thing here. No one wants to see a blowout race. Everyone wants the photo finish and will invariably check out midway through if Orb or whoever opens up a lead so commanding that it becomes insurmountable.

Bet $5-10, give the ticket and have some fun. And if the bet loses and the child starts sobbing uncontrollably, buy him ice cream. I always wish we had gotten ice cream.

Follow @tylerconway22

Copa Del Rey 2013: Cristiano Ronaldo Should Stay at Real Madrid Following Loss

Joseph Zucker — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

The lasting image of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid can't be the star winger getting sent off in Madrid's 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Copa Del Rey final.

Already on a yellow, Ronaldo was sent off after it was judged he kicked Gabi in the face. You can see the challenge below.

It's a bit inconclusive to determine just how much Ronaldo connected. But what that doesn't show is what led up to the incident. Spanish football expert Graham Hunter was upset with the foul by Gabi that had preceded Ronaldo being given an early exit:

This is arguably the nadir for what has been a disappointing season for Ronaldo and Real Madrid as a whole. The club finished second to Barcelona in La Liga, was humbled by Borussia Dortmund in the semifinal of the Champions League and lost to Atletico for the first time since 1999.

There's the ever so slight chance that Ronaldo could leave the Santiago Bernabeu this summer. It would represent a poor move on the part of the star player. More likely, the speculation is done by Ronaldo in order to give him more leverage in future contract talks.

Say what you want about Ronaldo, there's no questioning his desire and motivation. There's no getting around the fact he's an extremely driven player. You don't become the best in the world simply by relying on your God-given talent.

Maybe he could spend a couple of years among the best in the world without working too hard off the pitch, but he's won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 and finished second on four other occasions. That's a sustained level of dominance.

Of course, he could make more money at PSG or maybe even at Manchester United if he doesn't get a pay raise from Madrid. If salary was his sole motivation, though, he would have fallen off like the original Ronaldo, Adriano and Ronaldinho as he began earning hundreds of thousands of pounds a week.

Ronaldo has an insatiable desire to be the best in the world and win the Champions League title with Real Madrid, which would be the historic "La Decima."

Sure he went through his "sad" period earlier this season, but there should be no question as to his future with the club. If anything, this loss to Atletico should embolden his desire to remain at Real Madrid.

If in the minute chance the Copa Del Rey final does in fact prove to be one of Ronaldo's last matches with the club, he'll forever have that be what many will remember of his time at the Bernabeu. Plus, he will have left without bringing the 10th European title to Madrid.

There have been plenty of legends to come through the club. You've got the likes of Alfredo Di Stefano, Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Brazilian Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Emilio Butragueno, Fernando Hierro, Raul and Hugo Sanchez. That's just a snippet of the greats who have worn the white shirt.

Ronaldo is in rarefied air at Madrid. All of the names, and yet, he could become the best yet. He's scored an unfathomable 146 goals in 135 league matches for Madrid and 35 goals in 40 European fixtures.

If he leaves without winning the Champions League, he'll still be considered a great player. His career narrative will always carry around his European failures, though. Throw in the Copa Del Rey final and you've got a poor end to what has been a fantastic run of form for Ronaldo in Spain.

He can't possibly go out that way.

Preakness 2013: Small Field Will Make Race More Appealing

Brian Mazique — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Much is being made of the shrinking Preakness field, but a race with only nine horses has its benefits.

There is the obvious matter of space. There will simply be more room to run. Pacesetters like Goldencents are less likely to get bogged down early like he did at the Kentucky Derby.

This could allow for an even faster pace to be set at Pimlico, which is already considered a fast track. The horse racing world could be in store for blazing speeds from the field.

Speed is always a good thing.

Since Derby winner Orb drew the first post position, there was some concern about his ability to win from the rail.

Limiting Orb's chances may be good for some oddsmakers, but it is bad for the big picture. Horse racing needs a Triple Crown winner badly. The popularity that the feat would generate would do wonders for the sport of kings.

Anyone interested in growing the image of the sport and reaching more fans should be rooting for Orb.

With less horses creating pressure on his right side, he is more likely to overcome his less-than-favorable post position.

In addition to aiding Orb's chances to win and creating a faster pace, smaller fields in a Triple Crown event allows fans to know more about each horse.

Knowing your horse is a good thing.

With just nine thoroughbreds, it is easy for each of their identities to remain fresh in a fan's mind. Horse Twitter accounts like this one helps as well.

Who doesn't want to get to know a horse better?

The volume of entrants can be overwhelming for a casual fan, thus most may just focus on the favorites. I've already memorized the names of the nine confirmed horses in the field. By the afternoon, I may have the jockeys' names committed to memory.

The more fans know about horses, the more apt they are to bet on them—even if it's just for the sake of taking chances on a long shot.

In horse racing, betting is always a good thing.

Follow me because I firmly believe nine is enough

Follow @BrianMazique

2013 Preakness Post Positions: Horses That Will Have to Overcome Poor Draws

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

Kentucky Derby winner Orb is the favorite to win the Triple Crown's second leg on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course, but he'll have to overcome a tough post draw in order to keep his impressive winning streak alive.

Orb drew the rail for Saturday's 2013 Preakness Stakes. It's been 19 years since a horse won the Preakness from post No. 1. Tabasco Cat was the last to do so back in 1994.

But the Triple Crown hopeful isn't the only horse that will have to overcome a poor starting slot this weekend.

Below we'll take a look at where each horse will start on Saturday, breaking down three colts that will have their work cut out for them before the race even starts.

2013 Preakness Stakes Post Positions

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1/1
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O’Neill	8/1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	30/1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	6/1
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5/1
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	15/1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12/1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	12/1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10/1

*Odds via Preakness.com.

Orb, Post No. 1

It's never good to draw the rail, but luckily for Kentucky Derby winner Orb, he drew the first post at Pimlico instead of Churchill Downs.

Orb's trainer, Shug McGaughey breaks down why it's better Orb drew the rail this time around as opposed to two weeks ago (via ESPN.com):

It's not nearly the problem it would be in the Derby. The Derby is kind of catty-cornered. You got to shove your way out of there or you get shut off down in there. It's pretty straightforward here. There are only nine horses. There's not going to be that kind of jockeying into the first turn. We'll just hold our position and see how the race plays out.

But Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman delivers another troubling stat for McGaughey and Orb:

Regardless of what's happened in the past, though, Orb certainly has the closing speed to outlast the field at Pimlico on Saturday. He'll need to get out fast and avoid being freight trained by the pack right out of the gate, if he wants to have a shot.

If Rosario can keep him clean early on, his poor post position will become forgotten history.

Goldencents, Post No. 2

It's been nearly 30 years since a horse won the Preakness Stakes from post No. 2.

On Saturday, Goldencents will attempt to become the first since Snow Chief in 1986 to run out of the second slot and into the history books.

Rick Pitino's talented colt burst onto the scene after winning the Santa Anita Derby, but then turned out a dismal performance at the Kentucky Derby, finishing 18th despite entering the post as a heavy favorite to win.

While the 1 3/16-mile distance at Pimlico is a fraction shorter than that of Churchill Downs, that doesn't mean much for Goldencents, who was running 15th after a mile at the Derby two weeks ago.

Titletown Five, Post No. 3

Keeping the close-to-the-rail theme alive, long-shot Titltetown Five will have to not only overcome poor odds, but an unfavorable draw on Saturday in order to pull off the shocker.

After all, it's been 20 years since a horse won the Preakness Stakes from post No. 3. Prairie Bayou was the last to do it 1993.

While it's not the rail, post No. 3 could spell serious doom for the underdog of D. Wayne Lukas' group, especially with Orb and Goldencents starting to the inside of him. If the two favorites can get out fast it may be Titletown Five that ends up getting pinned down by the pack.

It's safe to say that Titletown Five is one long-shot to avoid on Saturday.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

The 10 Best in-State Rivalry Games in College Football

Ian Berg — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400

College football has a number of unique traditions, but the one that drives the conversation year-round are the in-state rivalry games.

There are a number of in-state contests that are played every year, but these 10 catch the spotlight no matter the records entering the game.

Matchups like the Iron Bowl and the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy are among college football’s best.

What other showdowns make the cut?

Begin Slideshow