Cleveland Wins No.1 Pick in 2013 NBA Draft Lottery for Second Time in Three Years

The Cavs were the luckiest team this week, at least during the Pre Draft Lottery. They had one of the worst records in the league and didn’t get a spot in the playoffs, but for the second time in three years, Cleveland won the annual Pre Draft lottery and secured the No. 1 pick in the next NBA draft, beating the odds and all expectations in the process.

After closing the 2012-13 Season with the worst record in the league (20-62), the Orlando Magic entered the Lottery with 25% chances of securing the first pick, but ended up falling back one spot to No. 2. The Washington Wizards jumped from eighth to third in the lottery selection. Charlotte, which is planning to retake the Hornets moniker for next season, was the biggest loser in the lottery selection, falling from second to fourth place.  Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns will get the fifth pick, followed by New Orleans, Sacramento, Detroit, Minnesota, Portland, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Utah.  Finally, the OKC Thunder will use Toronto’s pick as payment for a previous trade.  

Winning the rights to the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA draft gives the Cavaliers the chance to bring new talent, rebuild their team and bounce back from three losing seasons following Lebron James’ departure to the Miami Heat. With James leading the team, the Cavs won the 2009 and 2010 Central Division Championships plus an Eastern Conference Championship in 2007. But since 2010 Cleveland dropped to the bottom of the league, winning only19 games in the 2010-11 season and setting a record for the biggest single-season drop in NBA history and the longest losing streak in league’s history (26-game).

The team lost a total of 63 games, including a 26-game losing streak that set an NBA record and tied the 1976–77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the longest losing streak in any U.S professional sport league. The following year, Cleveland finished the regular season with a 21 wins and 45 losses, improving their previous record and finishing in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

The potential No. 1 pick this year, Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel.  Guards Ben McLemore of Kansas and Trey Burke of Michigan, 2013 Big Ten and National Player of the year and Georgetown forward Otto Porter Jr. are also amongst the top prospects available this year.

 Here’s the complete first-round order for the coming 2013 NBA Draft:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Toronto Raptors)
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz
15. Milwaukee Bucks
16. Boston Celtics
17. Atlanta Hawks
18. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston Rockets)
19. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles Lakers)
20. Chicago Bulls
21. Utah Jazz (from Golden State Warriors)
22. Brooklyn Nets
23. Indiana Pacers
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Clippers
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis Grizzlies)
27. Denver Nuggets
28. San Antonio Spurs
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. Phoenix Suns (from Miami Heat)

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Vyjack, Normandy Invasion and Street Spice Out of 2013 Preakness Stakes

The number of participants running against winner Orb in Saturday's Preakness continues to decline, as on Monday trainer Rudy Rodriguez informed the Maryland Jockey Club that Vyjack (18th in the Derby), will not compete in the 138th Annual Preakness Stakes.

Vyjack joins Street Spice and Normandy Invasion as the participating horses that have dropped out in the past few days. Two days ago, Trainer Chad Brown and owner Rick Porter announced their  decision to give the horse a rest and focus on races further down the road. Porter said the Jim Dandy Stakes July 27 at Saratoga Race Course or the Haskell Invitational July 28 at Monmouth Park, followed by Saratoga's Travers Stakes Aug. 24, is a likely schedule for the bay colt.
"He's training well and eating well. Everything is fine with the horse. The two weeks is a little quick coming back. He needs to put some weight back on, so we decided to wait."  Porter said of the fourth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby.

Street Spice did not run the 2013 Kentucky Derby, and last raced on April 20th in the Illinois Derby, finishing the race in fifth place. Trainer Greg Geier informed Pimlico officials about his decision on
The probable field for the 138th Preakness Stakes is the following:

Orb: Race Records: 9-4-0-1 (2013 Kentucky Derby winner. Prior to the Derby, Orb won both the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, the latter on March 30 in his previous start. He is now 4-for-4 in 2013, including an optional claiming allowance victory at Gulfsteam on January 26 in his 3-year-old bow)

Oxbow: Race Records: 10-2-1-1 (Sixth in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, winner of the Grade 3 LeComte at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, fourth, place in the Grade 2 Risen Star, second in the Grade 2 Rebel and fifth in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby)

Will Take Charge: Race Records: 8-3-1-0 (Eight place in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, First in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, Sixth in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes, First in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes)

Golden Cents: Race Records: 7-4-1-0 (17th in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, First in the 2013 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, Fourth in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, First in the Grade 2 Sham Stakes)

Departing: Race Records: 5-4-0-1 (First in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby, 3rd in the Grade 2 Louisiana derby, 1st in the Texas heritage, 1st

Govenor Charlie: Race Records: 3-2-1-0 (1st in 2013 Grade 3 Sunland Derby)

Mylute: Race Records: 10-2-3-2 (5th place in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, 2nd in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, 7th in the Grade 2 Risen Star)
 
Itsmyluckyday: Race Records: 11-5-2-1 (15th in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, 2nd place in the 2013 Grade 1 Florida Derby, 1st in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes and the 2013 Gulfstream Park Derby)

Titletown Five: Race Records: 7-1-2-1 (4th in the Grade 3 Derby Trail, 9th in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby)

Another five participants are likely to be announced in the hours previous to Post positions will be drawn on Wednesday, May 15th at 6 p.m. You can bet on horse racing at Sports Betting Online. No matter the outcome, you'll get 10% cash back—every week, win or lose—on all your racebook bets. 

2013 Kentucky Derby Winner Goes for Victory at Preakness

Shug McGaughey, trainer of 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, is a true believer.  In a quick meeting with journalists outside the winner's barn at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning, McGaughey had only a few words to say: He’s going for the Triple Crown, and his horse, three-year-old Orb is ready to run the next two legs: the Preakness Stakes on May 18th and the Belmont Stakes on June 8th.

But first, McGaughey and Orb will have to wait a few more days. The field for the 2013 Preakness will be unveiled a few days before the event, but so far, only a small group of the 20 horses competing in the 2013 Derby have conformed their presence at the Preakness Stakes. Among them are Derby participants, Normandy Invasion and Vyjack, have been added to the list of possible candidates for the May 18 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.  Other Derby starters confirmed for the Preakness are Goldencents, Itsmyluckyday, D. Wayne Lukas-trained duo of Oxbow and Will Take Charge.

For some horse racing experts, Orb has a good chance to become the first Triple Crown winner in over three decades.  I’ll Have Another won the first two legs of the Triple Crown by taking the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, but just one day before the Belmont Stakes, the horse was scratched due to tendonitis.

Orb already travelled to New York, where he will stay for a few days. Then the horse will be moved to Baltimore where he and his trainer will complete his preparations heading to the Preakness. The Kentucky Derby winner will arrive at Pimlico Race Course next Tuesday, May 14th.

Odds for this race won’t be unveiled until next week; however, Orb is expected to be the big favorite for the Preakness, in which he will once again have the services of jockey Joel Rosario. 

Putting the expectations aside, winning the Triple Crown is one of the toughest tasks for horses, trainers and jockeys. What makes the Triple Crown the ultimate challenge is the variability in length, speed and timing of the three courses. On top of that, horses face different competitors, weather conditions and other factors that could affect their performance.

Since Affirmed won the three legs of the Crown in 1978, five horses have won the Preakness and Belmont. Three have won the Kentucky Derby and Belmont. None has claimed the three races.

Orb's challenge to the Triple Crown waits for him at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland. If the horse enters first, he’ll be one step closer to accomplishing a feat that hasn't been done in 35 years.  Would you bet on him?

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