Country Star surged past four horses down the stretch Friday to win the Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland. With Rafael Bejarano aboard, the 2-year-old was running eighth in the field of 10 fillies at the three-quarter pole but took charge from there. “She just exploded,” Bejarano said. “I know the horse can do that because I’ve ridden her before.
Joe Borowski threw the final strike and the Cleveland Indians ran onto the infield to start the celebration. Alex Rodriguez, one leg on the top step of the New York Yankees dugout, stared straight ahead. The Indians were on their way to an AL championship series matchup with the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees were braced for a showdown with their boss, one that could cost Joe Torre his job.
Paul Byrd’s teammates consider him the Professor because of all the time he spends with his laptop in the clubhouse studying scouting reports. All that attention to detail paid off for the Professor on Monday night. Byrd pitched into the sixth inning and helped lead the Cleveland Indians past the New York Yankees 6-4 in the clinching Game 4 of the AL playoffs.
The Red Sox were rooting for the Yankees, if only for one game. Boston has four days off before the start of the AL championship series, having swept the Los Angeles Angels in the first round of the playoffs. Though none of the Red Sox would express a preference in the lone remaining division matchup, they were hoping New York and Cleveland would wear each other out before it’s over.
NFL quarterbacks who turn over the ball six times usually disappear quickly. Tony Romo’s isn’t going anywhere. The unflappable Romo overcame five interceptions and a lost fumble to lead two last-minute drives, and rookie Nick Folk kicked a 53-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Dallas Cowboys an improbable 25-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
Tampa Bay’s Michael Pittman could be sidelined up to two months with an ankle sprain that has the Buccaneers scrambling for experienced help at running back. Coach Jon Gruden said Monday that the team was waiting for the results of an MRI exam, but that it appeared Pittman, injured during Sunday’s 33-14 loss at Indianapolis, will be out six to eight weeks.
Seattle Seahawks fullback Mack Strong has a spinal cord condition that is ending his career immediately — but not affecting his quality of life. And for that, the 36-year-old Pro Bowler, husband and father of two is grateful. “I’ve played a long time, 15 years. I felt like I was pretty lucky, pretty blessed,” a teary-eyed Strong said Monday after learning that a herniated disk in his neck is…
The drunken driver who caused a crash that severed the arm of a groom for Lava Man, the richest claiming horse in thoroughbred racing history, was sentenced Thursday to five years in state prison. Heriberto Castillo pleaded guilty in September to driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and causing great bodily injury to 39-year-old groom Noe Garcia.
So who’s the favorite for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in four weeks? Preakness winner Curlin stated his case Sunday, beating Lawyer Ron by a neck after a riveting stretch duel in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. The victory came a day after Kentucky Derby and Travers winner Street Sense was beaten by Hard Spun in the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park.
ELMONT, New York (Ticker) – Curlin proved he could beat someone older.
