The Sportsletter - Run for the Roses 🌹

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 6, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 🙌

A night off from the NBA playoffs leads us into Derby weekend. The fastest two minutes in sports is around the corner. Place your bets and ride the ponies. Plus, the WNBA returns tonight as we tip-off the women's game. Weekend, commence...

Letter Rip!

KY DERBY

The Run for the Roses 🌹

Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images

Everything You Need to Know for the 148th Kentucky Derby

The Fastest Two Minutes in Sports…

In the time it took me to write this article, the Kentucky Derby could’ve been run a dozen times. The fastest event in sports still garners plenty of hype, and the 148th rendition of the Run for the Roses won’t disappoint. Saturday’s premier horserace kicks off the 2022 Triple Crown — Kentucky Derby (May 7), Preakness (May 21) & Belmont Stakes (June 11). The derby fashion, glamorous hats and mint juleps will grab hold of the sports world for an afternoon. Here’s a look at the horses, best bets and more.

Who to Bet On: Zandon (3-1) is the odds-on favorite to win the 148th Run for the Roses, but there are five other competitors viewed as threats. Epicenter (7-2) and Messier (8-1) are good bets to take the crown while three other horses aren’t out of the picture; Mo Donegal (10-1), White Abarrio (10-1) and Taiba (12-1). Bet on anyone other than those six? Good luck.

2022 Kentucky Derby Odds

1. Mo Donegal (10-1)

2. Happy Jack (30-1)

3. Epicenter (7-2)

4. Summer is Tomorrow (30-1)

5. Smile Happy (20-1)

6. Messier (8-1)

7. Crown Pride (20-1)

8. Charge It (20-1)

9. Tiz the Bomb (30-1)

10. Zandon (3-1)

11. Pioneer of Medina (30-1)

12. Taiba (12-1)

13. Simplification (20-1)

14. Barber Road (30-1)

15. White Abarrio (10-1)

16. Cyberknife (20-1)

17. Classic Causeway (30-1)

18. Tawny Port (30-1)

19. Zozos (20-1)

20. Ethereal Road (30-1)

Editor’s Pick: I’ll admit defeat when it comes to my insider knowledge of horse racing, but give me Epicenter from the 3-post.

Race Start: 6:00 pm ET, NBC

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: 2022 KY Derby Odds, Predictions From Experts

Yahoo! Sports: Why Isn’t Bob Baffert at This Year’s Kentucky Derby?

NBC Sports: America’s Day to Wager: The Experts Weigh In On Betting the 2022 KY Derby

WNBA

Tipping Off The 'W'

Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images

Previewing the 2022 WNBA Season

A new season is upon us as the WNBA tips off tonight in Washington D.C, and the preseason storylines are piling up. The defending champion Chicago Sky look to repeat after a stunning playoff run last fall. The Phoenix Mercury will start the season without Brittney Griner who remains detained in Russia. And when the ball tips tonight, the Indiana Fever will look to reverse the curse of five straight losing seasons when they unveil their four new rookies. It’s 36 games plus playoffs to crown a champion in October.

Odds to Win 2022 WNBA Championship

Sun (+350) , Aces (+375), Storm (+450), Sky (+450), Mercury (+600), Lynx (+850), Mystics (+1300), Sparks (+3300), Liberty (+3300), Wings (+5000), Fever (+8000), Dream (+8000)

Opening Night Schedule

Fever at Mystics (7:00 pm ET)

Sparks at Sky (8:00 pm ET)

Aces at Mercury (10:00 pm ET)

Lynx at Storm (10:00 pm ET)

Full Opening Weekend Schedule

Additional Storylines

WNBA: League Provides Update on Brittney Griner in Advance of 2022 Season

SI: WNBA Preseason Power Rankings: How Every Team Stacks Up Heading Into 2022 Season

NHL

Cale As Ice

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Makar Delivers OT Winner for Avs; Other NHL Series Get All-Even After Another Set of Game 2s

The next set of Game 2s hit rewind just like the night before. Three more series evened up at 1-1, making six of the eight opening series all tied up. The Avalanche were the lone outlier thanks to Cale Makar’s OT game-winner. Stars goalie Jake Oettinger tossed a shutout to revive the Stars, and both the Rangers and Panthers won convincingly.

NHL Playoff Highlights

Gm 2: Avalanche def. Predators (2-1, OT) | COL Leads (2-0)

Gm 2: Panthers def. Capitals (5-1) | Series Tied (1-1)

Gm 2: Stars def. Flames (2-0) | Series Tied (1-1)

Gm 2: Rangers def. Penguins (5-2) | Series (1-1)

Additional Storylines

NHL: Shesterkin, Rangers Resilient in Game 2 Win Against Penguins

ESPN+: 2022 NHL Playoffs: How the Conn Smythe Trophy Will Be Won

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

⚾️ MLB: Mets 9th-Inning Magic

Trailing by six runs entering the ninth inning on Thursday night, the Mets pulled the biggest comeback the franchise had seen in 25 years. New York stunned Philadelphia with a seven-run rally ignited by Francisco Lindor’s two-run homer. The 8-7 win marked the largest ninth-inning comeback by the Mets since 1997.

⚾️ MLB: Ohtani’s Fantastic Show at Fenway

Another night, another piece of history for Shohei Ohtani. The Angels dominated the Red Sox (8-0) at Fenway Park behind Ohtani’s 11 strikeouts, six hits and zero runs. He also tallied two hits and became the first starting pitcher to bat in the top-four of the lineup since Babe Ruth (1919).

⛳️ PGA: Day Dominates Wells Fargo

A plethora of low scores were found in Thursday’s opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship at TPC Potomac in Maryland, but none lower than Jason Day. The Australian went 7-under to the lead the field. The 34-year-old's last win on the PGA Tour came at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2019.

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Biographer Claims Phil Mickelson Reportedly Lost $40 Million Gambling From 2010-2014 (SI)
• Kylian Mbappe & PSG Agree to Contract Extension Amid Real Madrid Rumors (B/R)
• Magic Johnson Reportedly Joins Bid to Buy Denver Broncos (Yahoo! Sports)
• Greg Norman Denied Special Exemption Into 150th Open Championship (CBS Sports)
• Warriors Draymond Green Fined $25K for Flipping Off Grizzlies Fans in Game 2 (ESPN)

• Sergio Garcia Gets Upset Over PGA Ruling at Wells Fargo, Says He ‘Can’t Wait to Leave Tour’ (NBC Sports)

   

• Mattress Mack Bets Millions on Kentucky Derby After Huge Loss in 2021 (USA Today)

🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

The 148th Run for the Roses takes center stage on Saturday. It’s a full slate of NBA and NHL playoffs once again, and the WNBA’s season tip-off joins the fold. Plus much more. May marches onward…

148th Kentucky Derby

Saturday (6:00 pm)

NBA Playoffs

Gm 3: Heat at 76ers (Fri. 7:00 pm)

Gm 3: Suns at Mavericks (9:30 pm)

Gm 3: Celtics at Bucks (Sat. 3:30 pm)

Gm 3: Grizzlies at Warriors (Sat. 8:30 pm)

Gm 4: Suns at Mavericks (Sun. 3:30 pm)

Gm 4: Heat at 76ers (Sun. 8:00 pm)

NHL Playoffs

Complete Playoffs Schedule

WNBA

Opening Weekend Schedule

Soccer

EPL: Liverpool vs. Tottenham (Sat. 2:45 pm)

LAL: Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid (Sun. 3:00 pm)

MLS Schedule

NWSL Challenge Cup Final

N.C. Courage vs. Washington Spirit (Sat. 1:00 pm)

PGA Tour

Wells Fargo Championship (All Weekend)

Tennis

Madrid Open (All Weekend)

Racing

NASCAR: Darlington (Sun. 3:30 pm)

F1: Miami Grand Prix (Sun. 3:30 pm)

Boxing

Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitiry Bivol (Sat. 10:00 pm)

*All Times ET

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