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Track Talk: 5 horses with chance vs. Derby champ in Preakness

Admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:09:10 +0000

(PhatzRadio / SI) —- All eyes will be on Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another when an 11-horse field lines up for the $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday. A victory, and I’ll Have Another will have a chance to become the first Triple Crown champion in 34 years if he goes on to win the Belmont Stakes next month in New York. But a whole bunch of 3-year-olds are out to spoil the party. Some are taking another shot after losing in the Derby, and others, known as “new shooters,” skipped the Derby, have fresh legs and are looking to pull an upset.

Here’s a look at five horses with a shot to defeat the Derby winner in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

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BODEMEISTER

He was the morning-line favorite in the Derby, and he’s the morning-line choice in this one, too. Why? Because he’s fast, and the 1 1/4-mile Derby distance was just a little too far for him to carry all that speed. The Preakness is a sixteenth-of-a-mile shorter, plus Bodemeister won’t be pressured early like he was in the Derby by Trinniberg and Hansen, who are not entered. It probably doesn’t hurt that his trainer, Bob Baffert, has won the Preakness five times in 11 tries. Mike Smith is back to ride, and look for the Hall of Fame jockey to put his colt in front right out of the No. 7 gate.

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WENT THE DAY WELL

A troubled trip that ended with a speedy finish in the Derby gives Went the Day Well fans hope for an upset. The same team that won last year’s Derby with Animal Kingdom only to finish a half-length behind Shackleford in the Preakness is confident their Spiral Stakes winner is ready to win a Classic. The New York-bred colt broke poorly from the No. 13 post under jockey John Velazquez, got caught in traffic through the first turn, but rallied in the stretch to close from ninth and 10 lengths back, to fourth and 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner. In a smaller field, look for Velazquez to avoid early trouble breaking from the No. 5 post and emerge as a major threat down the stretch.

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CREATIVE CAUSE

This gray colt is quite familiar with I’ll Have Another. He lost to him by a nose in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby, and finished fifth – three lengths behind two weeks ago in the 1 1/4-mile Derby. However, Creative Cause beat I’ll Have Another last year in the Best Pal. He also owns a win over Bodemeister in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe. If jockey Joel Rosario can position Creative Cause in striking position turning for home, the colt would have another chance to show he can finish strong. It didn’t happen in the Derby, but the slightly shorter distance may be a positive.

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TIGER WALK

One of the new shooters in the field, he’s competed in a trio of graded-stakes races this year. In his last start, the son of Tale of the Cat finished a non-threatening fourth in the Wood Memorial. He was fourth in the Gotham and third in the Withers before that. Tiger Walk has a tendency to lose ground around the turns so trainer Ignacio Correas will fit the colt with blinkers Saturday in an effort to keep him more focused. He’ll also have a new rider in Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux – a two-time Preakness winner very familiar with the Pimlico racing surface. Long odds at 30-1, but he’s a hometown horse owned by Kevin Plank’s nearby Sagamore Farm.

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COZZETTI

Nowadays, it’s wise not to discard the chances of horses trained by Dale Romans. He won last year’s Preakness with Shackleford, and watched as Dullahan finish a strong for third in the Derby two weeks ago. While his top 3-year-old is sitting out the Preakness, he’s sending out this gray colt with hopes of pulling off a surprise at 30-1. Earlier in the week, this maiden winner who likes to come from behind worked five furlongs in a fast 58.80 seconds over a muddy track at Churchill Downs, and Romans said, “He’s fresh, and he’s going to have to run fast” on Saturday, especially leaving from the outside No. 11 post. He was fourth in the Arkansas Derby, 9 3/4 lengths behind Bodemeister, in his last start.

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Follow Richard Rosenblatt on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/rosenblattap

Track Talk: 5 horses with chance vs. Derby champ in Preakness is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

Tennis Recap: Djokovic, Nadal, Williams sisters advance in Rome

Admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:58:22 +0000

Novak Djokovic of Serbia smashes his racquet in frustration after losing the first set against Juan Monaco of Argentina during day six of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2012 Tennis on May 17, 2012 in Rome, Italy.
(May 16, 2012 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

ROME (AP) — Top-ranked Novak Djokovic overcame a poor first set and a smashed racket to beat 14th-seeded Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 Thursday and reach the Italian Open quarterfinals.

Rafael Nadal routed Marcel Granollers 6-1, 6-1, and the Williams sisters both won. Serena defeated Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3, 6-1 to extend her winning streak to 16 matches, and Venus upset Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-3.

With the wind whipping the red-clay surface at the Foro Italico, Djokovic struggled with his serve and backhand in the opening set before settling down and wearing Monaco.

“It was a very strange match. It was difficult to play with that wind. But the conditions were the same for both us, he just handled it better at the start,” Djokovic said. “I was playing far too defensively and passively and he was controlling everything. He was the better player for a set and a half.”

Djokovic had 22 unforced errors in the first set – including 14 backhands – to Monaco’s 16, and got in only 47 percent of his first serves.

When Djokovic missed two consecutive backhands to hand Monaco the first set, he slammed his racket to the clay twice, breaking it on the second attempt, which drew a warning from the chair umpire.

Nadal will meet seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych, who eliminated No. 12 Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Berdych was the runner-up to Roger Federer at last week’s Madrid Open on the controversial blue clay.

Also, 16th-seeded Richard Gasquet upset No. 4 Andy Murray 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-2; and sixth-seeded David Ferrer beat No. 11 Gilles Simon 6-0, 7-6 (5).

Murray skipped the Madrid Open with a back injury, and he said after the loss that it was still bothering him.

Serena Williams called for the trainer while leading 4-1 in the second set and had her left ankle re-taped. She easily won the last two games.

“I wanted to loosen the tape, and so I called the trainer to retape,” Serena said. “It was too tight.”

With the French Open 10 days away, Serena said she’s ready.

“I feel good and I have had a lot of practice on clay,” Williams said. “Today I was running so much and I was ready to play and feeling good. I wasn’t tired at all.”

Serena’s quarterfinal opponent will be Italian hope Flavia Pennetta , who routed Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-1.

For Venus Williams, it was one of her biggest wins since being sidelined six months following the diagnosis of an autoimmune disease, Sjogren’s syndrome.

“Every match is a lesson and a challenge for me,” she said. “I think that are all great wins nowadays.”

Venus will play the winner of the match between defending champion Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic.

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova struggled before advancing with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 win over Sorana Cirstea of Romania. Her quarterfinal opponent will be Angelique Kerber, who defeated Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-1.

Djokovic eliminated errors from his game in the second set and raised his first-serve percentage. He improved to 6-0 in his career against Monaco.

“It’s not the first time and I don’t think it will be the last time – I’m a player with a lot of emotion,” Djokovic said of breaking his racket. “I hope kids didn’t see it. But then it changed the match. … The momentum swung to my side.”

Djokovic won this tournament for the second time last year, part of his memorable 43-match winning streak.

Tennis Recap: Djokovic, Nadal, Williams sisters advance in Rome is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

NHL 5 stories: Kings put Coyotes on brink

Admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:47:53 +0000

Dwight King, left, celebrates with Los Angeles Kings teammate Trevor Lewis after his third period goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 3. (Harry How/Getty Images)

(PhatzRadio / CBC Sports) — The Los Angeles Kings took a stranglehold over the Phoenix Coyotes, Tom Renney was cut from the Edmonton Oilers’ plans Canada fell to Slovakia at the World Hockey Championships, the Toronto Marlies took the first game of their AHL series, and this paragraph is longer than anything John Tortorella is willing to offer the media these days.

Here are the top five hockey stories from Thursday:

1. The Los Angeles Kings are one win away from their first Stanley Cup Final berth in 19 years after their 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes in Game 3. Will the Kings accomplish a second straight series sweep? Vote in our poll and find out Sunday on Hockey Night in Canada (3 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca).

2. General manager Steve Tambellini said the Edmonton Oilers are “entering a new phase” but they’ll do so without head coach Tom Renney. After two seasons in the NHL’s basement, the Oilers announced Wednesday they won’t be renewing Renney’s contract.

3. One man whose name has been mentioned as a replacement for Renney is Brent Sutter. The former Calgary Flames bench boss coached Canada to a third straight early exit at the world championship Thursday in a 4-3 quarter-final loss to Slovakia. What’s to blame for Canada’s premature elimination from the tourney? Have your say in our poll.

4. 20 words. That’s all John Tortorella gave the media following their Game 2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday. But if that wasn’t enough to satisfy your Tortorella fix, the New York Rangers head coach did have a little more to say in a conference call on Thursday. You can catch Game 3 of the NHL East final Saturday on Hockey Night In Canada (1 p.m. ET, CBC, CBCSports.ca).

5. The Toronto Marlies got an early jump in their AHL series against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Barons. Goaltender Ben Scrivens led Toronto to a 5-0 shutout in Game 1 of the Western Conference final.

NHL 5 stories: Kings put Coyotes on brink is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

NASCAR: Johnson nabs top pit stall for strategy-filled All-Star Race

Admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:42:35 +0000

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 My Lowe’s Chevrolet, is interviewed by Kim Coon while Denny Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota, looks on during the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena on May 17, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
(May 16, 2012 – Source: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images North America)

(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — More segments than ever in the Sprint All-Star Race will mean more strategy and heavily emphasize pit stops during Saturday’s 90-lap exhibition at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The 28th edition of NASCAR’s all-star event will be the first to feature a fifth segment. That 10-lap stint will be preceded by a mandatory pit stop, and the winners of the previous four 20-lap segments will be guaranteed to enter the pits in the top four starting spots (provided their cars stay on the lead lap during the event).

Because there is no requirement for tires and Charlotte’s relatively fresh asphalt (repaved in 2006) isn’t conducive to wear, the final stops are expected to be stop and go, and it’s unlikely the winner will come from outside the first two rows. Carl Edwards led the final 10 laps last season, and five of the past seven All-Star Race winners have led at least the last 10 laps.

PHOTOS: Sprint Cup crashes in 2012

Thurday’s Pit Crew Challenge at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte might play a critical role in the race. Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 pit crew won the event and first choice on pit-stall selection for Saturday’s race.

The five-time Sprint Cup champion thought it could carry him to his third victory in the All-Star Race.

“That was something every crew chief and pit crew knew,” Johnson said. “It really can make a difference on that final stop in the race. That first pit box’s going to be a huge advantage, and these guys earned that tonight.

“Now it’s up to (crew chief) Chad (Knaus) and I to take advantage of it in the race.”

Kasey Kahne has said any driver starting outside the top four spots in the final segment “probably won’t have a shot at winning,” and Matt Kenseth doubted any driver in the top seven would take fresh tires for the 10-lap dash to the $1 million check for the victor.

“(Being up front) will be way more important,” Kenseth said. “If you run eighth or ninth, you might get tires and an adjustment and hope for something crazy to happen.”

The Roush Fenway Racing driver likes the format because of its emphasis on strategy, which could result in some pressure-packed mistakes. In the 2007 All-Star Race, Kenseth was caught speeding on a stop-and-go before the final segment. He started the final segment at the rear and finished seventh after leading a race-high 36 laps.

“I like it and think it’s a little more interesting,” Kenseth said. “You don’t have to pit at all until the last segment, but no one can run 90 laps on fuel. There is some strategy to be had figuring when you get tires and fuel and probably a couple of schools of thought. Winning a segment is really important.

“Do you skip getting tires and fuel and stay out to try to win one of the segments or get them early and be behind in the first segment? That’ll be the interesting part is how people position themselves for the last pit stop.”

This is the eighth format change in the All-Star Race, which started in 1985.

The field will consist of race winners in 2011 and 2012, active Sprint Cup champions and All-Star Race winners from 2002 to 2011 and the top two finishers in Saturday’s Sprint Showdown warmup. A 23rd and final spot will be awarded to one driver selected via fan voting.

Among the drivers who will try to make the field via the Showdown or the fan vote are: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Martin Truex Jr. and Juan Pablo Montoya.

NASCAR: Johnson nabs top pit stall for strategy-filled All-Star Race is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

Boxing: Floyd Mayweather supports same-sex marriage

Admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:35:22 +0000

(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao always seem to be in opposite corners.

This time the two superstar fighters have opposing views on gay marriage.

While Pacquiao said he never advocated death to gays (through a bible passage), he does oppose President Obama’s support of marriage for gays because it is “against the law of God.”

BOXING: L.A. mall reverses course and will accept Pacquiao vist

Yesterday Mayweather tweeted his support:

I stand behind President Obama & support gay marriage. I’m an American citizen & I believe people should live their life the way they want.

Boxing: Floyd Mayweather supports same-sex marriage is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

Ice hockey: Canada, U.S. and Sweden eliminated by late goals

Admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:30:42 +0000

(Reuters) – Jesse Joensuu scored a late winner as Finland dumped the United States out of the world ice hockey championships at the quarter-final stage.

The Finnish forward struck with nine seconds left on the clock to snatch a 3-2 victory for the hosts in front of a fanatical home crowd in Helsinki.

Canada were also packing their bags after going down 4-3 to Slovakia, and Sweden lost by the same score after a late Czech Republic goal in Stockholm ended their interest in the competition.

After a group stage that was short on surprises, the world ice hockey championships exploded into life as the knockout games began.

Having beaten Slovakia 3-2 in the group stage, the Canadians had what appeared to be a routine encounter on their way to the semis but it quickly became apparent their opponents had not read the script as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes.

Canada pulled one back before the end of the first period and upped the tempo in the second, scoring twice and outshooting the Slovaks 17-7 as they took a one-goal lead into the final period.

But again the Slovaks struck back and Milan Bartovic set up a tense finish when he equalized with less than seven minutes to play.

With two and a half minutes remaining Canada’s Ryan Getzlaf received a match penalty for kneeing and player and the Slovaks punished his indiscretion as Michal Handzus fired home the game-winning power play goal.

At the Hartwall Arena, hosts Finland left it late against the United States as Joensuu scored twice to set up a semi-final against Russia.

The game came to life when Joensuu scored his first in the 14th minute of the second period. The U.S. hit back almost immediately through Anaheim Ducks centre Kyle Palmieri and Bobby Ryan then fired home a rebound to put them in front.

The Finns got back on level terms when Valtteri Filppula’s shot was deflected in off the skate of Mikko Koivu.

Joensuu then sent the home crowd into ecstasy when he fired home Petri Kontola’s feed from behind the goal with seconds left.

Sweden conceded a goal with just 29 seconds left in the game against the Czech Republic to end their hopes of qualifying for the semis.

The Swedes scored early in the first period and had plenty of possession, but the Czechs went 3-1 up in the second as the hosts struggled to convert their chances into goals.

A 90-second burst between the second and third periods put Sweden back on level terms.

Henrik Zetterberg reduced the deficit with 45 seconds left in the second, before Jonathan Ericsson equalized in the first minute of the third.

The Swedes looked the more likely of the two teams to win in regulation time, but their wasteful touch in front of goal was to cost them.

Czech forward Milan Michalek had a chance with 29 seconds left, stealing the puck and dribbling in from the right before firing high into the net.

Having gone unbeaten through the group stage, Russia faced Norway in Stockholm and fired in three goals in the final period to take the game 5-2.

The action now moves to Helsinki for the semi-finals on Saturday, when Finland take on Russia and Slovakia face the Czech Republic.

(Reporting by Philip O’Connor; Editing By Alison Wildey)

Ice hockey: Canada, U.S. and Sweden eliminated by late goals is a post from: PhatzRadio.com

Preakness 2012: I’ll Have Another, Bodemeister to duel again

Admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:10:05 +0000

(PhatzRadio / USA Today) — BALTIMORE – The only certainty entering the 137th Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course is that it won’t look anything like the Kentucky Derby.

I’ll Have Another enjoyed the luxury of sitting comfortably off the pace in the early going while Bodemeister set scorching fractions in the Run for the Roses, then pounced late to reel in the weary pacesetter by 1½ lengths.

Trainer Doug O’Neill knows that what worked at 1¼ miles in a 20-horse field at Churchill Downs won’t necessarily fly in the 1 3/16-mile middle leg of the Triple Crown since Pimlico is known for its tight turns and speed-favoring surface.

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As strange as it might sound coming from Derby-winning connections, O’Neill vows a change in the instructions that will be given to precocious 25-year-old jockey Mario Gutierrez before the 11 starters go to the gate. “We’ll be involved early,” he said.

If they are not, the fear is that Bodemeister and his rider, Mike Smith, can run off and give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his sixth Preakness triumph while extending the longest drought in Triple Crown history since Affirmed swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1978.

“We think we can break well and sit off Bodemeister,” said Dennis O’Neill, Doug’s brother and top assistant. “We just can’t let him get away. If we’re within a length, or a length and a half of him turning for home, we’ll be in good shape.”

The major question hanging over the Preakness concerns the quality of Bodemeister. He looked to be the best of the 3-year-old class when he set the pace and dominated the Arkansas Derby by 9½ lengths April 14 at Oaklawn Park.

Bodemeister carved out scorching fractions in the Derby — he blazed 6 furlongs in 1:09 4/5 seconds — before that took its toll on the first Saturday in May. He nearly became the first horse that was unraced at 2 to bring home the roses since Apollo in 1882.

Bodemeister was impressive enough to be established as the early 8-5 favorite for the Preakness over the Derby winner, who is 5-2. But he will compete for the sixth time this season and the third time in five weeks.

“I really don’t think about the field as much as I worry about Bode,” Baffert said. “He looks great.”

Baffert owns Preakness victories with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002) and Lookin At Lucky (2010).

He deflects credit for that by saying, “I’ve won it with the best horse. That is the best advantage I have.”

Given Bodemeister’s workload and recent big efforts, the Preakness represents a massive challenge for the son of Empire Maker.

“If he wins, he’s going to have to be a heck of a horse, and he could be,” Dennis O’Neill said. “To run three huge races like that in five weeks, that would be a special horse.”

Went the Day Well and Creative Cause return to test I’ll Have Another after rough Derby trips. They were fourth and fifth, respectively, at Churchill Downs. Both loom as contenders.

Barry Irwin, chief executive officer of Team Valor, said in describing Went the Day Well’s chances, “I think we’re as live as live can be.”

Trainer Mike Harrington says Creative Cause will prove he belongs after being defeated by 3 lengths in the opening leg.

“Several people have asked me, ‘How come you came?’ like it was foolish for him to come,” Harrington said. “He’s beaten both of those horses (I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister), and he only got beat 3 lengths in the Derby. So why not come?”

Preakness 2012: I’ll Have Another, Bodemeister to duel again is a post from: PhatzRadio.com