Santa Anita Handicap goes to Heatseeker

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03/01/2008 - Arcadia, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Heatseeker, ridden by Rafael Bejarano, held off a late running Go Between to capture Saturday's 71st running of the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap. The time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:00.42.

Strub Stakes winner Monterey Jazz took the lead shortly after the start and proceeded to open a seven length lead on the field entering the backstretch. Running second was Air Commander followed by Student Council and Heatseeker in the 14 horse field.

Around the final turn Monterey Jazz, under jockey Russell Baze, began to tire but still had the lead coming off the turn. Heatseeker found running room down the middle of the track as Go Between and rider Garrett Gomez began their run.

Heatseeker took the lead with a furlong to go as Go Between cut into his margin. At the wire, Heatseeker prevailed by a neck over the late running Go Between with Champs Elysees finishing third.

"I was in great position all the way", said Bejarano.

Rounding out the order of finish for the Big 'Cap was Tiago, Zappa, Student Council, Awesome Gem, Great Hunter, Air Commander, Big Booster, Seminole Native, Monterey Jazz, Medici Code and Celtic Dreamin.

Heatseeker is the first horse other than Lava Man to win the Big 'Cap in three years. Owned by William Deburgh, Heatseeker collects $600,000 with the victory and now has $927,776 in earnings. He has won six of 15 lifetime starts, including the Native Diver at Hollywood Park last December.

Jerry Hollendorfer trains the five-year-old who was second last month in the San Antonio Handicap to Well Armed. In January of this year he was third to Zappa in the San Pasqual Handicap.

Heatseeker returned $16.00, $7.00 and $4.80. Go Between paid $7.00 and $5.20, Champs Elysees paid $7.80 to show.

Lava Man, winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in 2006 and 2007, is nearing his first workout at his Hollywood Park headquarters after several months off.

"He's doing great," said Dennis O'Neill, brother and associate of trainer Doug O'Neill. "I think he's scheduled to work in about two weeks, but he's doing absolutely fantastic. His weight is good and his coat looks really good."

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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