Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: Chiefs-Patriots game postponed Newton in quarantine; Swiss Skydiver edges out the Preakness; plus more

The New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton (1) and running back Rex Burkhead (34) celebrate Burkhead’s touchdown catch against the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday in Foxborough (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Daniel:

1 NFL’s Covid-19 issues — Patriots QB Cam Newton placed on league’s pandemic reserve list; NFL postponed Chiefs-Patriots game

2 Preakness won by filly Swiss Skydiver

3 Swingin’ A’s in the ALDS

4 Aces hope to bounce back in WNBA finals against Seattle; play game 2 today in Florida

5 RIP Bob Gibson, Ron Perranoski, Jay Johnstone hard to believe

Daniel Dullum does Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Preakness Stakes 2020: Swiss Skydiver first filly to win a race since 2009

Filly Swiss Skydiver wins the 145th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Sat Oct 3, 2020 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The only filly in the race, Swiss Skydiver, won the Preakness Stakes on Saturday afternoon, claiming her place in history as only the sixth female horse to do so, and the first in 11 years.

Swiss Skydiver beat all the boys in thrilling fashion, in a stretch duel with Kentucky Derby champion Authentic. The two-horse race was close, but the three-year-old filly held Authentic off and beat him by a nose.

She was the first filly, or young female horse less than four years of age, to win the race since Rachel Alexandria in 2009.

“Just a real honor to be around a horse like this,” Swiss Skydiver’s trainer Kenny McPeek said. “It’s a special moment.”

Swiss Skydiver’s jockey Robby Albarado said he “had an opportunity” when Authentic’s Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez abandoned the rail at the far turn.

“I took advantage of the rail. Johnny stayed off the fence there, made a conscious decision to move at that time. Give or take now,” Albarado said. “If I make that move now or I wait and get smothered.”

With odds of 11-1, Swiss Skydiver upset 3-2 favorite Authentic. Jesus’ Team at 40-1 took third place and Art Collector at 2-1 finished fourth.

Swiss Skydiver was the first filly to compete in the Preakness since 2014, when Ria Antonia came in last. Swiss Skydiver raced in Kentucky, New York, Florida, Louisiana, California and Arkansas this year, and was constantly hungry and eager to train.

“She never gets tired,” McPeek said.

McPeek won the Preakness for the first time and celebrated his second victory in a Triple Crown series after last winning the Belmont Stakes in 2002.

By defeating Authentic and Thousand Words, Swiss Skydiver denied their trainer Bob Baffert of a 17th Triple Crown race win and prevented him from setting a record with eight Preakness victories.

The spectator-less 145th running of the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, came just four weeks after the Kentucky Derby. For the first time, the 1 3/16th-mile-long race was the third leg of the Triple Crown, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The backwards schedule this year kicked off with the Belmont Stakes on June 20, followed by the Kentucky Derby on September 5.

Authentic upset Belmont Stakes champion Tiz the Law, who did not compete in the Preakness as he was not ready, according to Sackatoga Sable managing partner Jack Knowlton. The most recent Triple Crown winner was Justify, trained by Baffert, in 2018.

2020 Preakness Stakes results:

1. Swiss Skydiver – 11/1 2. Authentic – 3/2 3. Jesus’ Team – 40/1 4. Art Collector – 2/1

146th Kentucky Derby report: Authentic is the real deal, finishes ahead of Tiz the Law in Run for the Roses

Authentic gets to the finish line first in the 146th Kentucky Derby Sat Sep 5, 2020 as jockey John Velazquez  rides to victory (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

Against the odds, Authentic raced ahead of favorite Tiz the Law to win the 146th Kentucky Derby on Saturday evening, giving its trainer Bob Baffert a record-tying sixth Run for the Roses victory.

Authentic, at 8-1 odds, showed he was the real deal, maintaining the lead from start to finish. Belmont Stakes champion Tiz the Law, at 3-5 odds, attempted to overtake Authentic in the final turn but was unable to and finished second. Authentic’s upset win brought an end to Tiz the Law’s bid for the Triple Crown.

“Yes! Yes!” Baffert exclaimed from the paddock where he viewed the race on video.

Authentic, ridden by John Velazquez, completed 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.61. Mr. Big News, at 46-1 odds, finished third and Honor A. P. came in fourth.

Velazquez, who captured his third Kentucky Derby victory, said, “Obviously, Bob, from the beginning, said ‘I’ve got a good one for you.’ This is it.”

Baffert, in turn, complimented Velazquez for “the most incredible ride.”

“The training was lights out. He was fresh. He’s a good horse, he’s our No. 1 pick from the beginning, and here we are,” Baffert said. “The greatest race in the world, and I feel very blessed and fortunate.”

Baffert is now tied with Ben Jones for the most all-time Kentucky Derby wins among trainers. In addition to Authentic, Baffert trained the last two thoroughbreds to win the Triple Crown, American Pharoah and Justify.

Authentic’s win was particularly meaningful for Baffert given his other horse, Thousand Words, reared in the paddock and got scratched minutes before post time. A few other thoroughbreds were scratched prior, making it a field of 15, the smallest since 1998.

The Kentucky Derby is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, but was postponed to the first Saturday in September due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year saw a “backwards Triple Crown” with the Belmont Stakes in June, followed by the Kentucky Derby and finally the Preakness Stakes scheduled for October 3.

Tiz the Law was the first New York-bred horse to win the Belmont Stakes since 1882.

Churchill Downs was without the more than 150,000 spectators who usually attend with elaborate hats and outfits. This year’s Derby was also unusual with several protest groups converging outside the Louisville venue, including Until Freedom calling for justice for Breonna Taylor, the “Black militia” NFAC and Back the Blue counter-protesters.

2020 Kentucky Derby results:

1. Authentic – 8/1 – WIN: $18.80 – PLACE: $6.00 – SHOW: $5.00

2. Tiz The Law – 3/5 – PLACE: $3.40 – SHOW: $3.20

3. Mr. Big News – 46-1 – SHOW: $16.80

 

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: Calif Legislature looking into legalizing sports betting;Wallace insists rope was noose (see photo) ; plus more

@bobpockrass photo: NASCAR’s only black driver Bubba Wallace’s crew member found a noose in his garage stall on Sunday night. Wallace had pushed for banning the Confederate flag symbols at NASCAR races. The FBI concluded from video evidence that the noose had been at stall number four since October 2019 long before Wallace was booked for that stall last weekend it was later determined it was not a noose but a door pull. Wallace on Don Lemon Tonight on CNN said he knows what a noose looks like adding, “tied in 2019 or now it was a noose.”

On Headline Sports podcast with Barbara:

#1 California Legislature is considering legalizing sports betting but casinos are putting up a fight as it would cut into their sports book business.

#2 Bubba Wallace NASCAR’s only black driver who two weeks ago pushed for banning the Confederate flag at NASCAR events. A member of Wallace’s crew found a noose in his garage stall late Sunday afternoon. After bringing in 15 FBI agents for an investigation into who left the noose in garage stall four where Wallace was at Talladega. Video evidence showed that the noose had been there since October 2019 and it was determined it was not a noose but a door pull.  No one would have known that Wallace would have been at that stall going forward. The FBI said they will not pursue federal charges. Wallace insisted on CNN’s Don Lemon Tonight on Tuesday night that it was a noose.

#3 Webb Simpson won the RBC Heritage on Sunday after finishing 7 under Par 64 at Harbour Town at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.

#4 Tiz the Law set a record winning the Belmont Stakes last Saturday in what is one of the few live sports in the Coronavirus era. Tiz the Law with his victory became the first New York bred horse to win at the Belmont in 138 years.

#5 After someone who visited the San Francisco Giants training facility in Scottsdale who was Covid-19 positive the facility was immediately shut down on Friday night. The person was a family member and several other individuals are being tested who had come in contact with this positive tested person. Teams who have closed facilities Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies and the Giants.

Join Barbara for Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

2020 Belmont Stakes: 138 years of waiting is over Tiz the Law NY bred horse wins Belmont

CNN.com still: It wasn’t even close as Tiz the Law wins by four lengths becoming the first New York bred to win the Belmont in 138 years

By Jessica Kwong

Tiz the Law made history at the 152nd Belmont Stakes on Saturday afternoon, as the first New York-bred horse to win on home turf in 138 years. The hometown boy was the 4-5 favorite and proved himself, winning with ease. Jockey Manny Franco, who competed in Belmont for the first time, could be heard screaming with joy.

The last New York-bred horse to win the Belmont Stakes was Forester in 1882.

Trained by Barclay Tagg, Tiz the Law accelerated at the final turn and no one could catch up to him near the finish line. He completed the race in 1:46.53. Dr Post, trained by Todd Pletcher, came in second and Max Player, trained by Linda Rice, took third place.

Tiz the Law won by four lengths and paid $3.60 to win, $2.90 to place and $2.60 to show. Dr Post had 7-1 odds and paid $5.80 to place and $4.20 to show. Max Player had 14-1 odds and paid $5.20 to show. Ten horses competed.

The $1 million event took place at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, without spectators because of Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing requirements.

Originally slated for June 6, the Belmont Stakes is traditionally the final leg of the Triple Crown. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it became the first of the three-race series, with the Kentucky Derby following on September 5 and the Preakness on October 3. It is a “backwards Triple Crown,” according to Jack Knowlton, who heads up the Sackatoga Stable partnership which owns Belmont Stakes.

Another change this year for the Belmont Stakes was its length. It is typically the longest race in the Triple Crown, but it was cut down from 1 1/2 miles to 1 1/8 miles to account for the shorter time frame the 3-year-old horses had to build stamina.

Tiz the Law earned Tagg and owners Sackatoga Stable their first Belmont Stakes victory.

“What a win!” Sackatoga Stable tweeted. “We couldn’t have done this without the amazing Barclay Tagg, @robinsmullen [Tagg’s longtime assistant] & @jockeyfranco. Best team in horse racing.”

Tiz the Law’s father is Constitution and his grandfather is Tapit, who fathered three Belmont Stakes winners. Tiz the Law has had six career starts and just one loss. Next up for Tiz the Law is the Kentucky Derby in two-and-a-half months.

The Belmont Stakes finishing order is as follows:

1. Tiz the Law

2. Dr Post

3. Max Player

4. Pneumatic

5.Tap It to Win

6.Sole Volante

7. Modernist

8. Farmington Road

9. Fore Left Jungle Runner

Headline Sports podcast with London Marq: Belmont Stakes one of the very few sports live; MLB negotiations

Tap with jockey John Valazquez is a favorite to win 6-1 in the Belmont Stakes this Saturday at American Grade Stakes Race (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports pod with London:

#1 London one of the very few sports that are live and with little doubt draw millions of fans who are starved for sports action of any kind the Belmont Stakes this Saturday the first of the Triple Crown races.

#2 The Belmont normally is the third race of the Triple Crown behind the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. The other differences in the Belmont as expected no spectators and the length will be 1 1/8 miles instead of the traditional 1 1/2 miles.

#3 Somewhere between 60-70 games the haggling continues with the MLB and the players union, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred proposed 60 games with full prorated pay to MLB players rep Tony Clark and the union has come back saying 70 games and they would have a deal.

#4 MLB also wants to have expanded playoffs with an extra round also with sponsors on the jerseys. These changes although nothing is officially announced are expected to be permanent to help raise revenue.

#5 Some of the NBA players are questioning if coming back is the right thing to do and not because of Coronavirus issues but is it the right thing to do with such racial strife happening in the US?

London joins Sportstalk each Friday for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sir Winston wins the Belmont Stakes

Photo credit: @BelmontStakes

By: Ana Kieu

The 151st running of the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets was a Grade 1, $1.5 million race at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. on Saturday. Sir Winston won the Belmont Stakes, but the victory en route to the Triple Crown was crazy. Sir Winston held off the favored Tacitus by a length.

The win gave trainer Mark Casse the final two jewels in the showcase for three-year-old thoroughbreds. He won the Preakness with War of Will, who was expected to battle Tacitus in the 1 1/2 mile Belmont.

Instead, Casse’s other’s colt took the lead after a ground-saving ride by Joel Rosario.

However, it wasn’t really a shock to Casse.

“I said all week he was doing really well,” Casse told ESPN. “He had a race over the track. What can I say? It’s just exciting.”

Sir Winston, who made his Triple Crown debut, finished second in the Peter Pan Stakes, the traditional prep for the Belmont.

Rosario rode him for the first time in that race, and the two put on a show Saturday in front of a crowd of 56,217, earning $800,000 for owner Tracy Farmer.

Long-shot Joevia finished third and Tax was fourth.

The Triple Crown grind caught up to Preakness winner War of Will, who ran in all three races. He finished ninth in the 10-horse field.

“I could see where War of Will was struggling a little bit,” Casse told ESPN. “He looked like maybe he was a little flat today.”

The Belmont capped an entertaining Triple Crown highlighted by the disqualification of Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby. It sparked interest in thoroughbred racing despite no possibility of the third Triple Crown winner in five years, coming on the heels of Justify in 2018 and American Pharoah in 2015.

Last but not least, the Belmont was a positive event with no tragedies on the track, and most importantly, no horse deaths.

War of Will bounces back in the Preakness Stakes

Photo credit: @PreaknessStakes

By: Ana Kieu

After clashing with Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby, War of Will bounced back in the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. War of Will’s jockey was Tyler Gaffalione.

Today was the day for War of Will! pic.twitter.com/Qf8ylTY4xe

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) May 18, 2019

This year’s Preakness Stakes was rather unusual. It was the first to not include a Kentucky Derby winner in 23 years. Maximum Security was initially this year’s Kentucky Derby winner until the controversial disqualification occurred at the hands of the officials. Maximum Security didn’t race. Country House, the designated winner, also didn’t race. That being said, there was no contender for the Triple Crown.

Among the horses War of Will held off was a jockey-less one, who threw his rider off right out of the gate. Fans in attendance and at home were shocked by that particular moment.

At the 144th Preakness Stakes Winners Party, Horseware provided the coolers for the winning horses, including War of Will. Everyone at the Winners Party toasted to the glorious success achieved Saturday.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason: Decision at Kentucky Derby impacts the event; Warriors-Rockets could be evenly matched teams; plus more

Photo credit: apnews.com

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 How much of an impact was the decision of the officials at the Kentucky Derby to eliminate and disqualify Maximum Security and allow Country House the winner? The first time a winning horse has ever been disqualified in 145 years.

#2 With the Golden State Warriors, you never know what team is going to show up, They handled the Houston Rockets in first two games with a four-point win in Game 1 and a six-point win in Game 2, but it was Game 3 where they lost to the Rockets by five and lost another one in game 4 on Wednesday night as the series is tied 2-2.

#3 After having two comeback victories against the Cincinnati Reds during their four-game series, the San Francisco Giants split with the Reds, losing Monday. Giants starter Drew Pomeranz got lit up in 1.2 innings, nine hits and seven runs. While striking out two batters, Pomeranz continues to labor in the 12-4 loss.

#4 The LPGA Mediheal Championship was held at Lake Merced in Daly City from April 29th through May 5th. The leaderboard showed Sei Young Kim taking the $270,000 winnings finishing on top with a par 281 on Sunday.

#5 The San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche battled in Game 6. The Avs came away with a 4-3 win to tie the series in overtime 3-3, to force a Game 7, bringing the game back to San Jose.

Barbara Mason is filling in for Amaury Pi-Gonzalez for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast at www,sportsradioservice.com

After an objection review, Country House declared winner of the Kentucky Derby

Photo credit: @KentuckyDerby

By: Ana Kieu

For horse racing fans, the Kentucky Derby is the greatest two minutes in sports. This year’s was Country House. Last year’s winner was Justify.

Rain poured in Louisville, Ky. for about an hour before the post time. As a result, officials were forced to downgrade the track condition to sloppy for the third year in a row.

Despite a muddy track at Churchill Downs, the 65-1 Country House won the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Country House, however, was technically not supposed to be the winner. The favorite, Omaha Beach, was pulled out of the race days ago.

There was a controversial objection on the field and the officials reviewed a light touch between Maximum Security and Country House. Jockeys briefed while the judges watched replays of the race. The official results and payouts were determined after the completed objection review.

The initial winner was Maximum Security, who was immediately disqualified after the objective review. Maximum Security was 4-1.

During the objection review process, Maximum Security jockey Luis Saez told NBC that he did all he could to help his horse stay straight after he became scared of the muddy surface.

Maximum Security trainer Jason Servis said, “He straightened up right away and I don’t think it affected the outcome of the race.” Servis reportedly prayed to the racing gods.

This was the first time in Kentucky Derby history where the horse who finished first was disqualified.