Online Gambling - Racing

Staff Writer
June 17, 2009

On Saturday, 20 June, the Colonial Turf Cup will be held at Colonial Downs, an important race in the lead up to the Breeders’ Cup series at the end of the year.

Only inaugurated in 2005, the Colonial Turf Cup has quickly become a highly competitive Grade II race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, having been upgraded from a Grade III event for 2009 and onwards. Offering a purse of $750,000, the race is the first leg of the Grand Slam of Grass, a set of some of the most important turf races in North America. The other races are the Virginia Derby, the Secretariat Stakes, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf at the end of the year. A horse that manages to take all four races earns a bonus worth millions.

For the 2009 Colonial Turf Cup, there are no clear favorites, with long futures odds at many sportsbooks. The shortest futures odds BetUS is offering are on Battle of Hastings at +200. Winner of the $100,000 La Puente Stakes in April, one of four wins out of his last six starts, Battle of Hastings looks to be the strongest contender. The comparative quality of the competition means the horse is by no means a sure thing, however.

Close to Battle of Hastings are Take the Points at +300 and Lime Rickey at +350. While Take the Points may have finished last in the Preakness Stakes, his trainer is hoping that the colt will have better luck on turf. This will be his first grass race, but expectations are still high. Lime Rickey has finished out of the money in only 1 of 10 races on turf, though, coming in with a proven turf record.

At longer odds still, Al Khali is being given +2000 at BetUS, but this runner may have an underrated advantage in the form of jockey Kent Desormeaux, winner of the Belmont Stakes. Al Khali’s record is not very good, though, coming in sixth in his last race and eighth in the one before that. These followed a winning performance at Gulfstream Park, however, so this horse’s abilities can be somewhat unpredictable.

The following futures odds have been posted by BetUS for the 2009 Colonial Turf Cup:

Al Khali  +2000
Winning Vow  +3000
Rescue Squad  +600
Straight Story  +1000
Take the Points  +300
Mark S the Cooler  +1000
Final Count  +1200
Battle of Hastings  +200
Dover Street Art  +3000
Lime Rickey   +350

This race could set up a potential Grand Slam of Grass champion and will be an excellent indicator of contenders for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships later in the year. Those who would like to place a bet on the Colonial Turf Cup should consider BetUS. Offering both a sportsbook with futures odds and a dedicated racebook with daily horse racing, BetUS is one of the best sites online for sports and racing bettors. New BetUS members can also benefit from 50% bonuses on their first and second deposits, allowing them to make a wider spread of bets on the 2009 Colonial Turf Cup or any other horse race or major sporting event.