ith a toe injury, so Snead is due to be a target monster

vThere are fans of the sport of Thoroughbred racing, and there are fans of Thoroughbred racing because of the intellectual challenge of handicapping and betting. There is some cross over between these two spheres. For example, my love for the game is fueled by both the wagering component, and by my huge respect for the history of the sport. But by and large, Thoroughbred racing is a dichotomous entity.This comes to mind because of Saturdays stakes activity. The road to the Breeders Cup takes a serious turn Saturday with five Grade 1 stakes at Santa Anita, each of them Win and Youre In events for the Breeders Cup on Nov. 4 and 5 that Santa Anita will host. There are also five graded stakes at Belmont Park, three of them Grade 1 contests, two of which are also Breeders Cup WAYI races. And there are stakes-heavy cards at Churchill Downs and Gulfstream Park, although those cards carry less of a significant Breeders Cup impact.Many of these stakes on Saturday are very important from a sporting perspective. A few are even critical, and I will explain why in a moment. But from a wagering standpoint, many of these stakes are, frankly, duds.As prep races for the Breeders Cup go, the stakes at Santa Anita would be important even if you didnt know a single horse entered in any of them. All five of these stakes will be run on the same main track or turf course that their corresponding Breeders Cup races in November will be run on. It is for this reason that these preps take on an added degree of significance. And Saturdays Rodeo Drive, Chandelier, and FrontRunner Stakes will not only be run on the same surface as their corresponding Breeders Cup races, they will also be run at the same distance as the Filly & Mare Turf, Juvenile Fillies, and Juvenile, respectively.Santa Anitas Awesome Again Stakes, the local prep for the Breeders Cup Classic, boasts California Chrome, the best horse in the world (right now, at least), and the future book favorite for the Classic. If California Chrome wins Saturday, hell become an even stronger favorite for the Classic. If he loses, it will turn the Classic on its head.Klimt is in a similar position in the FrontRunner. I have Klimt as the future book favorite for the Juvenile in DRF, and whatever race the favorite for any Breeders Cup event has his or her final prep in, it makes that race a key prep.The Zenyatta, the other big stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, lured Beholder and Stellar Wind, currently the two best older dirt females in the country, leading candidates for the Breeders Cup Distaff, and two horses the likes of which Songbird has not yet met.At Belmont, Flintshire, Americas dominant male turf horse and the favorite for the Breeders Cup Turf, gets his final tune up in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.Also at Belmont, A. P. Indian, winner of two Grade 1 events during the Saratoga meet, and X Y Jet, freakish in Florida early this year and who was a narrowly beaten second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen despite chipping a knee, meet in the Vosburgh. By any measure, A. P. Indian and X Y Jet are top contenders for the Breeders Cup Sprint.And at Churchill Downs, Runhappy, last years champion male sprinter, makes his belated 4-year-old debut in the Ack Ack Stakes, a return that could have significant implications for a couple of Breeders Cup events, and beyond.Clearly, there is big stuff going on Saturday. It doesnt take F. Lee Bailey to make that case.But if youre a bettor who is not a chalk-eating weasel (a term of endearment, sort of, for people who like to wager on short-priced horses), how many of these races are you eager to bet on?Runhappy will be a prohibitive favorite and, in my view, there arent any appealing wagering alternatives in his race.California Chrome will also be a prohibitive favorite. Dortmund looks like the only imaginable alternative to him in the Awesome Again, and even though Dortmund just doesnt seem as good as California Chrome, he wont be much of a price, either.Klimt looks very imposing, and so do A. P. Indian and X Y Jet. But all three will be short prices.Flintshire, who might be the tiniest price of the day, faces only three opponents. And only three others lined up to face Beholder and Stellar Wind, who were going to be heavily bet no matter how many showed up to oppose them.Look, I know declining foal crops have resulted in a shallower pool of available stakes horses. That said, short fields and competitive racing are not necessarily mutually exclusive. You still can have six or seven horse races that are competitive, and thus reasonably attractive, betting-wise.And thats the rub. As important as many of Saturdays stakes might be, satisfying the sports purists, many are also decidedly uncompetitive, frustrating bettors. Fred Warner Super Bowl Jersey . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Trent Taylor Super Bowl Jersey . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. http://www.authenticsf49erspro.com/Jimmie-ward-49ers-jersey/ . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. 49ers Super Bowl Jerseys . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Kentavius Street Super Bowl Jersey . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. The fantasy football playoffs have arrived, so lets bring that trophy home!Injuries to monitor in Week 14:WR Julio Jones -- toe (game-time decision)WR Mohamed Sanu -- groin (out)WR Michael Thomas -- footWR Marvin Jones?-- quadWR A.J. Green -- hammy (out)RB Mark Ingram -- toe / kneeRB Lamar Miller -- ankle / ribsRB Theo Riddick -- wristTE Jordan Reed -- shoulderNews and notes:QB Robert Griffin III -- will start for the the BrownsRB Jacquizz Rodgers -- will have an expanded role with BuccaneersRB Justin Forsett -- signed with the BroncosLocksQB: Jameis Winston @ New OrleansWinston has passed for over 3,000 yards this season and takes on a Saints defense that has allowed the second-most passing yards to quarterbacks. Winston averages 25 fantasy points per game when chucking the rock at home, and the Saints give up an average of 20 fantasy points to opposing gunslingers. Winston should be #ActiveAndAttractive in Week 14.(Others: Matthew Stafford vs. Chicago, Kirk Cousins @ Philadelphia)WR: Jordan Matthews vs. WashingtonMatthews returns from an ankle injury to take on a Washington secondary that is very kind to opposing receivers, especially those who play out of the slot. Matthews has a very favorable matchup against rookie Kendall Fuller. Expect a ton of targets and fantasy points from this Eagle.(Others: Larry Fitzgerald @ Miami, Emmanuel Sanders @ Tennessee, Golden Tate vs. Chicago, Tyrell Williams @ Carolina)RB: Jeremy Hill @ ClevelandHill is getting a ton of playing time with Giovani Bernard on injured reserve. Next up, the Browns, who allow over 125 yards per game to ball carriers. Hill destroyed Cleveland in Week 7 with 192 total yards. The Browns have given up the third-most fantasy points to running backs in 2016.(Others: Theo Riddick vs. Chicago, Robert Kelley @ Philadelphia, Thomas Rawls @ Green Bay)TE: Antonio Gates @?CarolinaGates is the Chargers top target in the red zone this season. In Week 14, he gets a great matchup against a Panthers defense that has given up nine touchdowns to opposing tight ends. Carolina has given up the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends in 2016.(Others: Jason Witten @ New York Giants, Zach Ertz vs. Washington)FlopsQB: Blake Bortles vs. MinnesotaBortles passer rating under pressure is 9.8, and the Vikings bring A LOT of pressure. Minnesota has the fourth-ranked defense in the NFL and has given up the third-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season..WR: Julio Jones @ Los AngelesJones suffered a turf toe injury in Week 13.dddddddddddd Word out of Atlanta is that he will be a game-time decision. Even if he does play, my gut is telling me he wont be anything more than a decoy. Jones is a huge risk in Week 14.RB: Doug Martin vs. New OrleansMartin played only about half of the Buccaneers offensive snaps in Week 13. The Bucs plan to activate Charles Sims and give Jacquizz Rodgers touches as well. The Tampa Bay backfield just got way too crowded for me to trust Martin, who is averaging fewer than 3 yards per carry in three of his past four games.TE: Kyle Rudolph @ JacksonvilleRudolph has three straight games without a touchdown. He faces a Jacksonville team this week that has allowed only 5.2 fantasy points a game to tight ends in 2016. The Jaguars defense has allowed just three opposing tight ends to score through 12 games.SleepersQB: Andy Dalton @ ClevelandDalton has a juicy matchup against the 29th-ranked Browns defense. Dalton passed for over 300 yards and two scores in Week 7 against Cleveland. Will history repeat itself? I believe so. The Browns have given up the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.(Honorable mention: Colin Kaepernick vs. New York Jets)WR:?Willie Snead?@ Tampa BaySnead faces a Bucs defense that allows a lot of fantasy points to wide receivers each week. Michael Thomas is dealing with a toe injury, so Snead is due to be a target monster. I love his matchup out of the slot against Vernon Hargreaves. Snead is a great sleeper play for Week 14.(Honorable mentions: Dontrelle Inman @ Carolina, Taylor Gabriel @ Los Angeles, Kenny Britt vs. Atlanta, Tyler Boyd @ Cleveland)RB: Isaiah Crowell vs. CincinnatiThe Bengals allowed 79 total yards and a touchdown to Crowell in Week 7. Crowell is being utilized more in the Browns passing attack of late. Cincinnati has given up the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs this season.(Honorable mention: Shane Vereen vs. Dallas)TE: Cameron Brate vs. New OrleansBrate has become the second receiving option for the Bucs after?Mike Evans. His role continues to expand, and he has a nice matchup against a Saints defense that ranks 24th against opposing tight ends this season.(Honorable mentions: Ladarius Green @ Buffalo, C.J. Fiedorowicz @ Indianapolis)Good luck in Week 14! ' ' '