One of my favorite moments of anticipation here at VSiN is when I click on the link to Wes Reynolds’ weekly golf Best Bets column.
Given the number of outright longshot winners he has already picked this season (four by my count), it is especially true for Masters week.
Wes doesn’t play favorites, whether you are talking about odds or his personal biases.
He sizes up the course, analyzes the golfer’s form — and makes his draw.
I always like to see what his longest shot is and this week’s is a good one, Patrick Reed at 100-1:
Reed got back in the winner’s circle for the first time in nearly four years last November by winning the Hong Kong Open and followed it up last month with a runner-up in Macau in another Asian Tour event.
Even when he is out of form, the 2018 Masters champion always seems to find something at Augusta and has finished inside the top 12 in four of the last five years.
Another strong finish here can likely get him into the rest of the 2025 majors.
Wes also joins Matt Brown and Kelley Bydlon on the Long Shots podcast.
>More Masters coverage here, including Wes’ player profiles and Gill Alexander’s megapod.
VSiN Pro subscribers should check the golf picks page early and often. There are already more than 60 picks from VSiN hosts and guests.
Pro Tip: If you are in town this week, Circa’s Stadium Swim is a tremendous place to watch the tournament. I will be working my way through the Masters-inspired sandwiches that Stadium Swim offers at Augusta prices ($1.50!): Egg Salad; Ham & Cheese on Rye; and Pimento Cheese. >>Details.
Contest cleanup
On Tuesday’s Follow The Money, Mitch Moss talked about his six-figure payoff on Florida futures. (Well, maybe it wasn’t six figures after he got done hedging, but he was happy.)
I caught up with the winner of the VSiN March Bracket Challenge, Timothy Wakefield of Florence, Ala.
Not sure I deserved to win. Houston looked like the better team for 2/3 of the game, but I think their tough game against Duke on Saturday finally caught up to them late in the 2nd half.
As for me, I just love watching and analyzing sports. It’s a lot of fun to see a game play out like you think it’s going to. I’m a little bit of a nerd when it comes to box scores and expected performance relative to actual performance. What kind of form is a team in and are they underachieving or overachieving. However, analyzing games is definitely just a hobby.
At this point in my life, the most fun thing is watching my kids play youth sports and teaching them to enjoy the competition/time with their friends! Most evenings I can be found at the ball field coaching or watching my kids play.
That certainly sounds like the good life to me.
First place was worth $3,000. >>Standings..
Derby field shapes up
Burnham Square won the storm-delayed Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland to clinch the top spot for Kentucky Derby qualifiers. >>Watch the replay.
Essentially, the Derby field is now set with 17 U.S.-based horses, two from the Middle East/Europe and one from the Japanese circuit.
>>Derby qualifiers leaderboard.
That is, if their connections decide to enter them for the May 3 Run for the Roses.
Keeneland is still open for business today: Picks from Ed Sehon and from Jeremy Plonk.
Fun fact (unless you are the horse): Burnham Square is a gelding. Only 9 geldings have won the Derby — just two since 1929 (2003 Funny Cide and 2009 Mine That Bird).
Quick Hits
MLB: Greg Peterson has filed his top plays for today. Steve Makinen and Adam Burke will file their contributions by mid-morning and you can find them on the MLB page.
NBA: Zach Cohen will have his plays later this morning.
NHL: Jonathan Davis will post his top picks later this morning.
Tennis: Zach has Best Bets for the Monte Carlo Masters.
This is The VSiN Daily newsletter for Wednesday, April 9. Sign up for this free email and get picks and insights delivered to your in-box every morning.
