The Preakness is this Saturday, but if you caught the last few minutes leading up to the Kentucky Derby, you witnessed a crime. Well, maybe not a crime, but at least reason #748 not to gamble.
One of the so-called experts, Mike Battaglia, correctly picked the winning horse – Animal Kingdom – as they were loading into the starting gate.
But here’s my issue – Mike Battaglia is the official morning line oddsmaker for the Kentucky Derby, and had the horse listed at 30-1.
So why is this a big deal? – Because a lot of people use the morning line to make their picks. When people see a horse at 30-1, they might eliminate the horse from contention. Meanwhile, winners get paid more money when the horse finishes first because fewer people bet on him.
Animal Kingdom eventually went off at 20-1 in the Derby. But I doubt backers would have enjoyed such a big payday if the morning line odds had been 5-1.
So who do I like in the Preakness? A nice day at the pool away from the races. And your mom.
There must be some mistake
I didn’t mean to let them
Take away my soul.
Am I too old, is it too late?